Timber buyers, and how buying works
A timber buyer is the business on the other side of the sale. That can be a sawmill, a dedicated buyer, or a logging contractor who buys timber as well as harvesting it. This guide explains what each one takes and what to confirm before you agree to a sale, then points you to the companies working near you.
Before you talk to a buyer
- Decide what you are selling. Standing timber, felled logs, or a mix. The answer changes who you should call and what the deal looks like.
- Confirm what the buyer takes. Not every buyer handles every species, size or volume. Ask directly, and ask whether they buy at the gate or in the woods.
- Ask who does the work. If you sell standing timber, make clear who is responsible for felling, hauling, roads, water crossings and cleanup.
- Put it in writing. Agree the scope, the timber included, the payment terms and the responsibilities before work starts.
Buyers, sawmills and logging companies
Buyers overlap with sawmills, who are often the actual end buyer, and with logging contractors, some of whom buy timber as well as harvest it. If you need someone to harvest the stand rather than buy it, start with choosing a logging company.
Find companies by state
List your business
If you buy timber, you can ask to be added to the directory. Submit a business
Timber buyers: common questions
Who buys standing timber?
Usually a sawmill, a dedicated timber buyer, or a logging contractor that also buys. Which one suits you depends on whether you want to sell the trees in the ground or the logs once they are cut. Ask each business what it buys before you assume.
What is the difference between selling standing timber and selling logs?
Standing timber is sold before it is cut, so the buyer arranges the harvest. Selling logs means the timber is felled and you are paid for the logs, often delivered to a yard. The two routes carry different responsibilities for access, labour and risk.
How much will a timber buyer pay me?
We do not quote prices and we do not make offers. This page is only for finding and contacting buyers; what your timber is worth and how to get bids is a separate question, handled outside this directory.
How do I list my timber-buying business?
Use the submit-your-business page and give us the business name, address, phone number, website and the states it serves. Listing is free while the directory is being built, and we publish business facts only.