Calculate cedar tree, log, and landscape value from DBH, log size, defect, stumpage price, and assessed ratings for sawtimber, single logs, or a simplified landscape estimate.

Illustrative taper model: default bark deduction 1 in, taper 0.5 in per 4 ft and minimum top diameter 8 in. Adjust these to your trees.

Fractional logs allowed; International ยผ requires 0.25-log (4-ft) increments.

Deductions and tree assumptions

Related Calculators

Cedar Tree Value Formula

When a price is given in $/board foot, you must first estimate the treeโ€™s board-foot volume (commonly via a log rule such as International 1/4, Scribner, or Doyle). Then convert volume to dollars using the stumpage price. (A board foot is a volume of 144 cubic inches = 12 in ร— 12 in ร— 1 in.)

CTV = BFโ‚™โ‚‘โ‚œ ร— P, BFโ‚™โ‚‘โ‚œ = BFgross(1 - (Defect) / (100))

Variables:

  • CTV is the estimated cedar tree value ($)
  • BFgross is the estimated gross board feet (from a log rule)
  • Defect is the deduction percentage (%)
  • BFnet is the estimated net board feet after deductions
  • P is the stumpage price ($/BF). If price is given in $/MBF, then P = (price per MBF) รท 1000.

To calculate cedar sawtimber value, estimate board feet first (using an appropriate log rule/volume method), apply any defect deduction, and multiply by the price per board foot. The Simplified landscape estimate mode uses the legacy trunk-area ร— local unit cost ร— assessed rating factors model. It is not a certified CTLA appraisal.

How to Calculate Cedar Tree Value?

The following steps outline how to calculate an estimated cedar tree value from board feet.

  1. Measure DBH (diameter at breast height, 4.5 ft above ground).
  2. Estimate merchantable height (e.g., number of usable 16โ€‘ft logs) and choose a log rule (International 1/4, Scribner, or Doyle).
  3. Estimate gross board feet (BFgross) using the selected log rule for the merchantable logs.
  4. Estimate defect/deduction (%) and compute net board feet: BFnet = BFgross ร— (1 โˆ’ Defect/100).
  5. Convert price to $/BF (if needed) and calculate value: CTV = BFnet ร— P.
  6. Check your results using the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

DBH = 20 inches

Merchantable height = 2 usable 16โ€‘ft logs

Stumpage price = $0.60 per board foot

Log rule = International 1/4, Defect/Deduction = 10% (using the calculatorโ€™s default assumptions for taper and bark)

Estimated results (from the calculator): Gross volume โ‰ˆ 390.297 BF, Net volume โ‰ˆ 351.267 BF, Estimated value โ‰ˆ $210.76 per tree.