Introduction
A board-foot estimate is only half of a log’s value – the other half is the price someone will pay per thousand board feet. Log prices move with species, quality, region, and which scale the quote is based on, so the same pile of logs can be worth very different amounts depending on how it is scaled and sold. Understanding the pricing structure keeps you from accepting a Doyle-quoted price on small logs or selling premium species at commodity rates.
The Log Board Feet Calculator gives you the volume side of the equation – board feet under Doyle, Scribner, and International 1/4-inch rules from diameter and length. This guide covers the money side: how logs are priced, typical per-MBF ranges, milling costs, and the factors that move a quote up or down. All prices below are typical planning ranges; actual prices vary significantly by region, season, and market conditions.
How Logs Are Priced
Logs are priced per MBF (one thousand board feet) on a named log scale. A quote of “$600 per MBF Doyle” means the Doyle board footage times $0.60 per board foot. Two details make or break the math:
- The named scale changes the volume. A 16-inch, 12-foot log scales 108 BF Doyle but 125 BF Scribner. At $600 per MBF, that is $64.80 Doyle versus $75.00 Scribner for the same log – about a 16 percent difference from the scale choice alone.
- Grade and species set the rate. Veneer-grade walnut and commodity pine do not live in the same price universe. The per-MBF rate reflects what the mill can make from the log.
Always get the scale in writing before agreeing to a price. A buyer quoting Doyle on 10 to 14-inch logs is effectively discounting the wood 25 to 35 percent against Scribner or International – know that before you shake hands. The formula-explained guide shows exactly how the scales diverge by diameter.
Typical Log Price Ranges
The table below gives typical planning ranges for log prices in the US market. Treat these as starting points for negotiation, not quotes – regional markets, haul distance, species mix, and current demand move real prices well outside these bands.
| Log category | Typical range (per MBF) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commodity softwood (pine, fir) | $250-$500 | Scribner scale typical in the West |
| Standard hardwood (red oak, poplar) | $400-$800 | Doyle scale typical in the East |
| Premium hardwood (walnut, cherry) | $800-$1,500+ | Grade and veneer potential drive the top end |
| Utility / pallet logs | $150-$350 | Small diameter, lower grade |
In metric terms, $600 per MBF equals about $254 per cubic meter ($600 divided by 2.3597 cubic meters per MBF). If you are comparing against quotes in dollars or euros per cubic meter, convert the scale volume to cubic meters first.
Worked Example: Pricing a Single Log
Take the 16-inch, 12-foot log: Doyle = (16 – 4) squared x 12 / 16 = 108 BF. Scribner = about 125 BF. International 1/4-inch = about 117 BF. The log is about 40.6 cm in diameter and 3.66 m long, representing roughly 0.255 to 0.295 cubic meters depending on scale.
At a typical standard-hardwood price of $600 per MBF:
- Doyle: 108 / 1000 x $600 = $64.80
- Scribner: 125 / 1000 x $600 = $75.00
- International: 117 / 1000 x $600 = $70.20
Scale that to a small lot: ten such logs total roughly 1,080 to 1,250 BF depending on scale – about $650 to $750 at this price level. Haul costs, which commonly run $100-$300 per load for local moves, come out of that number if the buyer is not picking up. The estimating guide covers how to tally a full log deck so small lots like this are counted accurately.
Milling Costs: Turning Logs Into Lumber
If you mill the logs yourself or hire it done, the sawing cost is the second half of the economics:
| Milling option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hire a portable sawmill (hourly) | $50-$100 per hour | Small lots; you supply the labor |
| Hire a portable sawmill (per BF) | $0.30-$0.60 per BF | Larger lots; cost tracks output |
| Buy a portable band mill | $3,000-$8,000+ purchase | Ongoing milling; pays back over many logs |
| Chainsaw mill attachment | $150-$400 purchase | Occasional slabs; slowest option |
Rule of thumb: if the milled lumber is worth at least twice the milling cost plus the log value, the job usually pencils out. A 16-inch, 12-foot oak log yielding roughly 100 BF of boards worth $2-$4 per BF retail ($200-$400) against $30-$60 of milling cost is a comfortable margin – which is why portable milling thrives. The hire-vs-DIY decision is covered in the DIY vs pro guide.
What Moves the Price
- Species: the single biggest factor. Walnut and cherry command multiples of oak; oak commands a premium over poplar and soft maple.
- Diameter: larger logs yield wider, clearer boards. Mills pay more per BF for 20-inch-plus (50 cm-plus) logs than for 12-inch (30 cm) logs of the same species.
- Grade and defects: straight, sound logs with no rot, sweep, or embedded metal. One nail can destroy a saw blade – and the log’s value with it. See the material guide for defect deductions.
- Length: standard even-foot lengths (8, 10, 12, 16 ft) sell best; odd lengths limit what the mill can cut from them.
- Haul distance: trucking eats margin fast. Logs 50 or more miles (80 km) from the mill are worth materially less at the landing.
- Season and market: logging is seasonal in many regions; prices firm when mills are hungry and soften when yards are full.
Costly Mistakes
- Accepting a Doyle quote on small logs without adjusting. On 10 to 14-inch logs, Doyle reads 25-35 percent under Scribner. Either negotiate the scale or negotiate the price.
- Skipping the defect check. Rot in the center of a big log can erase half its value. Inspect – and if in doubt, bore – before you price.
- Forgetting haul costs. A $700 log lot 40 miles from the buyer can net $400 after trucking.
- Selling premium species as commodity. Get a second quote on walnut, cherry, and white oak – specialty buyers pay for figure and veneer potential.
More pricing pitfalls are covered in the common mistakes guide.
Related Guides
- Complete Guide – log board feet basics, the three scales, and a full worked example.
- Formula Explained – the Doyle, Scribner, and International 1/4-inch math step by step.
- Estimating Guide – how to measure and tally logs accurately in the field.
- Material Guide – species, quality, and defect deductions that affect value.
- DIY vs Pro – when to mill it yourself and when to hire a sawyer.
- Case Study – a hypothetical walkthrough from log deck to lumber pile.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a log worth?
Multiply its scaled board footage by the per-MBF price for its species and grade. A 108-BF (Doyle) standard-hardwood log at $600 per MBF is worth about $64.80 at the landing, before haul costs. Premium species and larger diameters raise the per-MBF rate substantially.
What does “per MBF” mean?
Price per one thousand board feet. A $600 per MBF quote equals $0.60 per board foot, or about $254 per cubic meter.
Why did the buyer offer less than my estimate?
The three usual reasons: the buyer scaled on a different (lower-reading) rule, defect deductions reduced the payable volume, or haul costs were netted out of the price. Ask which scale was used and request the tally sheet.
Is milling my own logs cheaper than buying lumber?
Often, if the logs are free or cheap and you have volume. Retail hardwood lumber runs $2-$8 per BF while custom milling costs $0.30-$0.60 per BF – the margin is real, but drying time, labor, and equipment costs count too.
How do I convert dollars per MBF to dollars per cubic meter?
Divide by 2.3597 (cubic meters per MBF). $600 per MBF is about $254 per cubic meter.
Should I sell logs or milled lumber?
Logs are fast cash at wholesale rates; milled and dried lumber sells for 3 to 5 times more per board foot but takes months of drying plus labor and storage. Weigh the tradeoff honestly before choosing.
Get Your Number
Log value is volume times rate: scale the logs on the rule your market uses, multiply by the per-MBF price for the species and grade, and subtract haul and milling costs to find what is actually in it for you. The Log Board Feet Calculator handles the volume side across all three scales – run your logs, price them at two or three local buyers, and never agree to a scale you have not verified yourself.
Disclaimer: Prices in this guide are typical planning ranges, not quotes. Actual log and milling prices vary widely by region, species, season, and market conditions. Calculator results are planning estimates; verify volumes and prices with local buyers, mills, or a professional scaler before committing to a sale.
