Estimate how much a cedar tree is worth from its diameter, merchantable logs and your local stumpage price, or value a single log or a landscape tree.

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

How much is a cedar tree worth?

Cedar can have timber value, but there is no single price per tree or reliable value chart based only on diameter. Species, usable log volume, quality, local buyers and harvesting access all affect the offer. Western redcedar and eastern redcedar should not be assigned the same generic price.

For a standing tree, ask a local forester or timber buyer for a current stumpage price for the species and product you have. Match the quote to the volume unit and log rule used here. A mill-delivered log price includes cutting and hauling costs and is not the same as stumpage. A price per ton cannot be entered as a price per board foot without a suitable conversion.

A single yard tree may cost more to remove and transport than its wood will sell for, especially where access is difficult or the trunk contains metal. Its landscape value is a separate estimate from timber sale proceeds; a positive calculator result does not guarantee a buyer or free removal.

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.