🌳 Forestry Hub – Log Scaling

Doyle Log Scale Calculator: Board Feet, 3-Rule Comparison, Multi-Log Tally, and Stumpage Value for US Timber Markets

Built and reviewed by (MBA Finance) · Updated October 2026

The only Doyle calculator that shows Scribner and International 1/4-inch side-by-side for the same log, auto-converts outside bark to inside bark by species, and runs a full tally session with stumpage value. Built for US foresters, timber buyers, and landowners in the eastern hardwood belt.

🪓 Doyle Formula 📈 3-Rule Comparison 📝 Multi-Log Tally 🌳 Species Bark Deduction 📄 PDF Scale Ticket 📱 Field-Ready Mobile
🪓 Log Dimensions
inches

Measure at the small end of the log, inside the bark. Round down to nearest inch per US scaling convention.

feet

Standard US log lengths: 8, 12, 16, or 20 ft. Use same length your mill will scale.

🍇 Bark Deduction by Species (Optional)
in DOB

Select species first, then enter DOB. DIB field updates automatically with standard bark deduction.

📈 Stumpage Value (Optional)
$/MBF Doyle

Enter the stumpage rate your buyer quoted. Leave blank to skip value calculation.

📝 Log Tally Session  0 logs
#DIBLengthSpeciesDoyle BFRemove
Total BF:0 BFValue: –
📈 Board Feet by Diameter: Doyle vs Scribner vs International 1/4″ (16-ft Log)

The Doyle Log Rule: Why the American South Still Uses a 200-Year-Old Formula for Hardwood Timber

In 1825, Edward Doyle developed a log scaling formula so simple a sawmill operator could calculate board feet from a single diameter measurement using mental math or a pocket table. The formula is BF = ((D – 4)^2 times L) / 16, where D is the small-end diameter inside the bark in inches and L is the log length in feet. That formula has not changed in two centuries. Walk into any sawmill receiving yard from Georgia to West Virginia to Tennessee on any morning of the week, and there is a reasonable chance the log scaler is using a variation of this same arithmetic to determine what the logger gets paid.

The reason Doyle survived is not mathematical accuracy. Researchers at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin documented as early as the 1940s that the Doyle rule systematically underestimates the board foot yield of logs under 16 inches in diameter by 20 to 50 percent compared to what a modern efficient sawmill actually produces. A 10-inch log that scales 36 board feet Doyle might yield 55 to 60 board feet of actual lumber. The Doyle rule survives because it became the legal and contractual standard across a large geographic region before better rules were widely available, and because changing a regional standard requires consensus among buyers, sellers, mills, and state forestry agencies that has never materialized in the eastern hardwood belt.

Understanding the Doyle rule and its relationship to the Scribner and International 1/4-inch rules is essential for any landowner, timber buyer, or forester operating in the United States. The stumpage price you are offered, the mill gate price on your load, and the total value of your standing timber all depend on which rule your buyer uses and how that rule compares to others. This calculator shows you all three simultaneously so you can understand the full picture before you negotiate or sign a contract.

The Doyle Formula in Plain Language

The formula works like this: take the small-end diameter inside bark, subtract 4 inches (accounting for slab loss and saw kerf), square the result, multiply by the log length in feet, and divide by 16. That division by 16 converts the result from the units of the formula to board feet based on a 16-foot standard log length. For a 12-inch log 16 feet long: (12 minus 4) equals 8, squared is 64, times 16 feet, divided by 16, equals 64 board feet. For a 16-inch log 16 feet long: (16 minus 4) is 12, squared is 144, times 16, divided by 16, equals 144 board feet.

The 4-inch constant in the formula represents the assumed slab and saw kerf loss. This was calibrated to the thick kerf circular saws and relatively inefficient milling practices common in the mid-1800s. Modern thin-kerf band saws and optimizing headrig systems recover significantly more lumber from the same log, which is why actual mill recovery consistently exceeds Doyle scale on logs under 24 inches in diameter at modern US sawmills.

Why Small-Diameter Logs Are Penalized by the Doyle Rule in Eastern US Markets

The Doyle penalty on small logs is the central economic issue in eastern US timber markets. Consider two logs: one 8 inches in diameter and one 20 inches in diameter, both 16 feet long. The 8-inch log scales at (8 minus 4) squared times 1 = 16 board feet Doyle. The 20-inch log scales at (20 minus 4) squared times 1 = 256 board feet Doyle. Now compare to International 1/4-inch scale: the 8-inch log is about 34 board feet and the 20-inch log is about 295 board feet. The ratio of Doyle to International is roughly 47% at 8 inches but 87% at 20 inches. Small logs on the Doyle scale are worth far less relative to their actual yield than large logs, which is why small-diameter timber sales in the eastern US often appear economically marginal to landowners even when the timber itself is perfectly sound.

How the Doyle Log Scale Calculator Works Through Each Input

This calculator implements the full Doyle formula with three additions that no other online Doyle calculator provides: a bark deduction tool for converting outside-bark field measurements to inside-bark scale measurements by species, a three-rule simultaneous comparison showing Scribner and International results for the same log, and a running tally session where you can accumulate multiple logs and track total board feet and stumpage value for an entire truck load or timber sale.

Small-end diameter inside bark (DIB): This is the critical measurement for all three US log rules. It is taken at the small (top) end of the log, measured on the inside of the bark. In the field, log scalers either measure inside-bark directly by pressing the graduated end of a scaling stick against the raw wood surface after the log is cut, or they measure outside-bark diameter and apply a species-specific bark deduction factor. US convention rounds the DIB measurement down to the nearest inch before applying the formula, regardless of whether the actual measurement is 11.8 inches or 11.1 inches. That rounding is built into standard US log scale tables.

Species-based bark deduction: Select the tree species and enter the outside-bark diameter, and the calculator applies the USDA Forest Products Laboratory standard bark deduction factor for that species to compute an estimated DIB. White oak with its thick, blocky bark has a deduction factor of 0.90, meaning a 12-inch outside-bark measurement becomes approximately 10.8 inches inside bark. Southern yellow pine with its thick, deeply furrowed bark has a factor of 0.86. These factors follow the tables published in USDA Miscellaneous Publication 1036 and the regional scaling manuals for major timber species in each US forest type.

Multi-log tally: Click Calculate, then Add to Tally after each log. The tally accumulates all logs entered during your session, shows the total board feet Doyle, and if you entered a stumpage price, shows the total timber value. The PDF scale ticket exports the complete tally with all log details for documentation. This mirrors the workflow a log scaler uses during a truck-weigh-in or cruise session.

Stumpage value: Enter the price per thousand board feet (MBF) that your buyer quoted and the calculator converts board feet to dollars at that rate. Timber prices in the eastern US vary widely by species, log quality, proximity to markets, and current market conditions. In the Appalachian hardwood markets, white oak sawtimber has sold anywhere from $200 to $600 per MBF Doyle in recent years depending on export market demand. Walnut consistently commands a premium. Pine sawtimber in the US South typically ranges from $150 to $350 per MBF.

Three Real Doyle Log Scale Calculations from US Timber Markets

Tennessee Landowner Evaluating a Timber Offer on Mixed Hardwoods

A landowner in Sevier County, Tennessee receives a timber bid from a local hardwood buyer offering $275 per MBF Doyle for white oak sawtimber and $180 per MBF Doyle for mixed hardwood (red maple, hickory, sweetgum). A forester helps them cruise the timber and identifies 12 white oak logs averaging 14-inch DIB at 16 feet, and 8 mixed hardwood logs averaging 10-inch DIB at 16 feet.

White oak tally: 12 logs at ((14-4)^2 x 16)/16 = 100 BF each = 1,200 BF Doyle. At $275/MBF: $330. Mixed hardwood tally: 8 logs at ((10-4)^2 x 16)/16 = 36 BF each = 288 BF Doyle. At $180/MBF: $51.84. Total stumpage value: $381.84. At International 1/4-inch scale the white oak logs would have been 132 BF each (1,584 total) and the mixed hardwoods 60 BF each (480 total), but the local market operates on Doyle.

Result: Doyle total = 1,488 BF, stumpage value = $381.84. International equivalent would be 2,064 BF showing the landowner the degree to which Doyle undervalues their timber vs a rule-based on actual yield. Shopping a second bid using this data is a reasonable negotiating step.

West Virginia Logger Scaling a Load for a Panel Mill in Elkins

A logger in Randolph County, West Virginia delivers a load of mixed red oak and yellow poplar logs to a panel mill that pays on Doyle scale. The load has 6 red oak logs at 16-inch DIB, 16 feet long, and 4 yellow poplar logs at 18-inch DIB, 12 feet long. He needs to verify the mill’s scale ticket before signing.

Red oak: ((16-4)^2 x 16)/16 = 144 BF each x 6 = 864 BF. Yellow poplar: ((18-4)^2 x 12)/16 = 147 BF each x 4 = 588 BF. Total: 1,452 BF Doyle. At the mill’s posted price of $310/MBF: $450.12. He can verify the mill’s ticket against this calculation and flag any discrepancy before signing the weigh slip.

Result: Total should be 1,452 BF Doyle and $450.12 at $310/MBF. If the mill’s ticket reads significantly different, the diameter or length measurements need to be rechecked. A one-inch error in DIB on a 16-inch log shifts Doyle scale by 26 board feet per log.

Georgia Forestry Consultant Pricing Standing Timber for a County Family Farm

A forestry consultant in Lowndes County, Georgia assesses a 40-acre stand of loblolly pine for a family farm timber sale. During the timber cruise, she identifies an estimated 180 pine logs averaging 12-inch DIB at 16 feet, representing the merchantable sawtimber volume across the stand. Local pine sawtimber markets are paying $220 per MBF Doyle at the mill, with a delivered log price of approximately $260/MBF. She uses outside-bark measurements from the cruise and applies the Southern Yellow Pine bark deduction of 0.86.

Outside-bark average: 14 inches. DIB = 14 x 0.86 = 12.0 inches. Per log Doyle: ((12-4)^2 x 16)/16 = 64 BF. 180 logs x 64 BF = 11,520 BF = 11.52 MBF Doyle. At $220/MBF stumpage: $2,534.40 gross timber value. This estimate is refined further using USDA volume tables during the formal appraisal.

Result: Estimated stand value: 11.52 MBF at $220/MBF = $2,534 stumpage, or $3,000 delivered. The bark deduction from 14-inch DOB to 12-inch DIB reduced scale by approximately 26 BF per log, a difference of $258 across the full 180-log tally. Accurate bark deduction matters at production scale.

Expert Tips for Accurate Doyle Log Scaling in US Timber Operations

Always Round DIB Down, Never Round Up

Standard US log scaling convention rounds the inside-bark diameter down to the nearest inch regardless of the actual measurement. A log measuring 11.7 inches DIB scales as an 11-inch log, not a 12-inch log. This is universally applied in all three log rules and all published scale tables. Using the actual decimal measurement instead of rounding down produces results that will not match a certified log scaler’s ticket and can create contract disputes at the mill receiving yard. Build this rounding step into your measurement habit: measure to the nearest half inch, then round down to the nearest whole inch before entering the diameter into any log scale calculation.

Verify Which Rule Your Buyer Uses Before Comparing Prices

A timber buyer in Georgia quoting $350 per MBF and a Pacific Northwest mill quoting $280 per MBF are not necessarily offering different prices for the same logs. The Georgia buyer almost certainly means $350 per MBF Doyle. The Pacific Northwest mill almost certainly means $280 per MBF Scribner. Because Scribner scale is typically 15 to 25 percent higher than Doyle scale on most commercial-diameter sawlogs, the $280 Scribner offer may actually represent more money per log than the $350 Doyle offer. Always ask which log rule is the basis for any timber price quote before comparing bids from different regions or different buyers who may use different scales.

Know the Break-Even Diameter Where Doyle Becomes More Favorable

At very large diameters (above 28 to 30 inches), the Doyle formula actually begins to overestimate board foot yield relative to what a modern sawmill achieves. This is because Doyle was calibrated to old-growth timber with a different taper profile than second-growth timber common today. For large-diameter logs above 24 inches, Doyle scale becomes increasingly favorable to the seller. The cross-over point where Doyle scale approaches the accuracy of International 1/4-inch scale is approximately 24 to 28 inches DIB. Below that, International scale is more accurate and more favorable to sellers. Above it, Doyle may be comparable or even slightly more favorable. The three-rule comparison in this calculator makes this dynamic visible for any log you enter.

Quick Reference: Doyle Log Scale Table for Common US Log Sizes

Board feet per log using the Doyle formula BF = ((D-4)^2 times L) / 16. Source: USDA Forest Service log scale tables and the Doyle formula as adopted in state forestry measurement standards across the US eastern hardwood belt. All values use diameter inside bark at small end, rounded to nearest inch.

DIB (in)8-ft log10-ft log12-ft log14-ft log16-ft log20-ft log
6″233445
8″81012141620
10″182327323645
12″324048566480
14″50637588100125
16″7290108126144180
18″98123147172196245
20″128160192224256320
24″200250300350400500

Frequently Asked Questions About the Doyle Log Rule

What is the Doyle Log Rule and who uses it in the United States?
The Doyle Log Rule is a formula developed by Edward Doyle in 1825 that estimates the board foot volume of a log based on its small-end diameter inside bark and length. The formula is BF = ((D – 4) squared times L) divided by 16. It is the dominant log scaling standard across the eastern and southern United States, including states such as Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and Indiana. Timber buyers, logging contractors, and sawmills in these states typically quote prices and write contracts in dollars per thousand board feet (MBF) Doyle. The Doyle rule is less common in the Pacific Northwest, where the Scribner Decimal C rule dominates, and in the Northeast, where the International 1/4-inch rule is preferred for hardwood appraisals.
Why does the Doyle rule underestimate small-diameter logs so severely?
The Doyle formula subtracts a fixed 4 inches from the diameter before squaring, which was intended to account for saw kerf and slab loss in mid-1800s sawmill technology. On a small log, 4 inches is a large proportion of the total diameter, so the subtraction eliminates most of the predicted volume. On an 8-inch log, subtracting 4 inches leaves only 4 inches to square, giving 16 BF for a 16-foot log. The actual lumber yield from a sound 8-inch log on a modern thin-kerf bandsaw is approximately 34 to 40 board feet. On a 20-inch log, subtracting 4 inches leaves 16 inches to square, giving 256 BF, which is much closer to actual recovery of about 270 to 295 board feet. The fixed deduction penalizes small diameters disproportionately because it represents a larger fraction of a small log than a large one. This characteristic makes the Doyle rule systematically unfavorable to sellers of small-diameter timber and favorable to buyers.
What is diameter inside bark (DIB) and how do I measure it in the field?
Diameter inside bark (DIB) is the diameter of the wood cylinder inside the bark layer, measured at the small end of the log. For standing trees, DIB is estimated by measuring outside-bark diameter and applying a species-specific bark deduction factor. For cut logs, DIB can be measured directly by pressing a diameter stick or flexible tape against the wood surface inside the cut face. If the cut face is irregular or the log is oval, take two measurements at 90 degrees to each other and average them. Standard US log scaling convention then rounds this measurement down to the nearest whole inch before applying any log rule formula. Bark thickness varies significantly by species: Southern Yellow Pine has thick, deeply furrowed bark with up to 1 inch of bark per side on a 12-inch log, while American beech has thin, smooth bark with only about 0.3 inches per side. This calculator includes species-specific bark deduction factors from USDA Forest Products Laboratory reference data.
What is the difference between MBF and board feet in timber pricing?
Board feet (BF) is the basic unit of lumber and log volume measurement in the United States. One board foot equals a piece of wood that is 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long, representing 144 cubic inches of wood. MBF means thousand board feet and is the standard unit for pricing timber in US markets. A stumpage price of $350 per MBF means $350 per 1,000 board feet of log scale volume. A log that scales 144 board feet Doyle is worth 0.144 MBF, or $50.40 at $350 per MBF. Most US timber contracts, stumpage agreements, and mill purchase orders express prices in dollars per MBF for the applicable log rule. The log tally in this calculator accumulates total board feet and converts to stumpage value using the price per MBF you enter.
How do I convert a Doyle price quote to a Scribner or International price for comparison?
The conversion factor between log rules varies with log diameter, which makes a single universal conversion factor impossible. However, for the commercial diameter range of 10 to 20 inches that covers most US sawlog markets, the following approximate conversions apply: Scribner scale is typically 30 to 50 percent higher than Doyle scale on the same log, and International 1/4-inch scale is typically 40 to 65 percent higher than Doyle. To compare a Doyle price to a Scribner price, multiply the Doyle price by the ratio of Scribner BF to Doyle BF for your average log size. For a 12-inch log: 86 BF Scribner versus 64 BF Doyle, ratio = 1.34. A $350 per MBF Doyle offer is equivalent to approximately $350 divided by 1.34 = $261 per MBF Scribner for 12-inch logs. The three-rule comparison in this calculator shows you the exact ratio for your specific log dimensions.
What log lengths are standard for sawlogs in the eastern United States?
Standard sawlog lengths in the eastern US market are 8 feet, 10 feet, 12 feet, 14 feet, 16 feet, and 20 feet, with 16 feet being the most common for hardwood sawlogs. Logs are cut to these specific lengths (or multiples) because hardwood lumber is manufactured to standard even-foot dimensions and mills need to minimize waste from off-length material. In practice, loggers cut logs slightly longer than the nominal length, often by 3 to 4 inches (called the trim allowance), to ensure the log can be trimmed to exactly the standard length at the mill if needed. So a 16-foot sawlog is typically felled and bucked to about 16 feet 4 inches. All log rule formulas use the nominal length (16 feet) for calculations, not the actual cut length. Pulpwood in the US South is often cut at 5 feet or 8 feet. Railroad ties are cut at 8.5 feet.
How do timber prices vary by species in the eastern US hardwood market?
Timber prices in the eastern US hardwood market vary substantially by species, log quality, location, and current market conditions. As a general guide for the Appalachian and Central Hardwood regions, black walnut consistently commands the highest stumpage prices, often $400 to $900 per MBF Doyle or more for high-quality veneer-grade logs. White oak has seen strong prices driven by export demand for bourbon barrel stave wood, ranging from $250 to $600 per MBF depending on quality and market conditions. Red oak, hard maple, and cherry range from $150 to $350 per MBF for sawtimber quality. Yellow poplar and sweetgum are typically lower at $80 to $200 per MBF. Hickory, beech, and most other species fall between $100 and $250 per MBF. These are rough guides only; actual prices depend on local mill demand, log quality, and current national lumber markets. The State Forestry agency in your state, often part of the Department of Natural Resources or Department of Agriculture, typically publishes quarterly timber price reports with regional averages.
Do I need a licensed forester to sell timber from my property in the US?
Most US states do not legally require you to hire a forester to sell timber from private land. However, most state forestry agencies and the USDA Forest Service strongly recommend professional assistance for any significant timber sale. A licensed consulting forester (Registered Forester or Consulting Forester designation varies by state) provides services including timber cruise and volume estimate, stumpage appraisal, bid solicitation from multiple buyers, contract preparation, and sale administration. Their fee is typically 10 to 15 percent of the sale proceeds but often returns far more than that fee in higher stumpage prices through competitive bidding and better contract terms. The Society of American Foresters maintains a list of Certified Foresters by state. Many state Forestry offices also offer free technical assistance to small landowners through Service Forestry programs. For a large sale, never rely solely on a single timber buyer’s cruise estimate; always get an independent appraisal.
What is a log scale stick and how does it work in the field?
A log scale stick (also called a Biltmore stick or scaling stick) is a graduated wooden or metal rule used in timber cruising and log scaling. The standard scaling stick has two scales: the face shows diameter measurements calibrated for use at a specific distance from the eye for estimating DBH on standing trees, and the reverse or an adjacent scale shows log rule values directly. For Doyle scale sticks, the diameter markings on the stick are placed such that when you hold the stick at arm’s length (approximately 25 inches from your eye) and align it with the edges of the tree, the reading on the stick directly shows the tree diameter. A separate scale strip on the same stick shows board feet for various diameter and length combinations from the Doyle table. Log scalers use the stick to quickly estimate diameter at the log yard and cross-reference the board foot table without manual calculation. Our calculator replicates and extends what the scale stick does, adding all three log rules and the multi-log tally that a manual stick cannot perform.
What is a board foot and how does it relate to cubic feet of wood?
A board foot is the standard unit of volume for lumber and log timber in the United States. It equals the volume of a piece of wood that is 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long, or 144 cubic inches. One cubic foot of solid wood contains exactly 12 board feet. However, logs are not solid cylinders of usable lumber: they contain bark, the saw kerf removes material, slab cuts remove the rounded edges, and internal defects reduce yield. Log rules estimate how many board feet of finished lumber can be sawn from a log, not how many board feet of solid wood the log contains. A 12-inch DIB, 16-foot log contains approximately 9 cubic feet of solid wood (about 108 board feet equivalent), but Doyle scale predicts only 64 board feet of recoverable lumber, reflecting assumed losses. Cubic foot volume measurements are used in some western US markets and for pulpwood, but board feet remain the standard unit for sawlog pricing in the eastern US.
How accurate is the Doyle Log Rule compared to actual sawmill output?
Studies at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory and at various state university forestry departments have consistently found that the Doyle rule underestimates actual lumber recovery by 20 to 50 percent for logs in the 8 to 14 inch diameter range and by 10 to 20 percent for logs in the 14 to 20 inch range. At 24 inches and above, Doyle scale approaches actual recovery more closely, and at very large diameters on old-growth timber, Doyle may slightly overestimate. The degree of underestimation also depends heavily on sawmill technology: a modern thin-kerf band saw operation with optimizing headrig software recovers significantly more lumber from the same log than a vintage circular saw mill that Doyle was originally calibrated against. For a modern efficient US sawmill, Doyle scale consistently understates the board foot value available in a log, which is economically advantageous to mills buying on Doyle scale and disadvantageous to landowners and loggers selling on it.
What timber species command the highest Doyle log prices in the Southeast?
Black walnut is consistently the most valuable hardwood in the eastern US, often bringing $500 to $900 per MBF Doyle for high-quality sawtimber and significantly more for veneer-grade logs. White oak has experienced strong price premiums driven by demand for barrel stave production (bourbon is the primary driver in Kentucky, Tennessee, and surrounding states) and export demand from Asian furniture markets. Cherry is a premium cabinet and furniture wood. Hard maple brings premium prices in the northeastern US for flooring and furniture. In the Deep South, the highest-value species include white oak, water oak, and hickory. Red oak remains the volume workhorse of Appalachian hardwood markets. Species prices are published quarterly by most southeastern state forestry agencies and are available through your state Department of Agriculture or Forestry Commission. The USDA Southern Research Station also publishes regional timber price trends.
Can I use this calculator for pulpwood volume or firewood calculations?
No. The Doyle formula calculates sawtimber volume in board feet and is not appropriate for pulpwood or firewood. Pulpwood is measured by the cord (a stack 4 feet wide, 4 feet tall, and 8 feet long, approximately 128 cubic feet of stacked wood) or by green ton (the weight of fresh-cut wood including moisture). Firewood is sold by the cord, half cord, face cord, or cubic foot. The Doyle, Scribner, and International rules are all sawtimber rules calibrated to log diameters and lengths appropriate for sawmill production, generally 8 inches minimum diameter and 8 feet minimum length. For small-diameter material below 8 inches that would typically go to pulp or biomass rather than a sawmill, weight-based pricing (tons) or cord-based pricing is the appropriate measurement system in the US market.
What is the minimum log diameter that produces a positive Doyle board foot value?
The Doyle formula produces a positive value only when the diameter exceeds 4 inches inside bark. At exactly 4 inches, the formula gives zero: (4 – 4) squared times any length divided by 16 equals zero. At 4.5 inches, a 16-foot log gives only 0.25 board feet, which is essentially worthless as a sawlog. Practical minimum sawtimber diameter for most US mills buying on Doyle scale is 6 to 8 inches, and even at 6 inches the formula gives only 2.5 BF for a 16-foot log (less than 0.003 MBF, negligible stumpage value). This is another expression of the small-log penalty: Doyle effectively disqualifies small-diameter timber from economic sawlog value even when the actual lumber yield from a modern sawmill would make the log perfectly saleable. Many US mills set their own minimum diameter thresholds, often 8 or 10 inches inside bark, regardless of what the Doyle formula would compute at smaller diameters.
How do I read and verify a mill scale ticket from a timber buyer?
A mill scale ticket (also called a load ticket or scale slip) records the log tally from a single truckload. It typically shows: the date and load number, the buyer and seller names, the log rule used (Doyle, Scribner, or International), a tally of individual logs or grouped logs by diameter class and length, the total board feet or MBF, and the price per unit with total value. To verify the ticket, check that the diameter readings match what your logs would actually measure (they should be inside-bark, small-end, rounded down), that the length is correct for the specification you agreed to, and that the board feet per log match the formula for the rule listed. Use this calculator to spot-check any log on the ticket by entering its diameter and length. A 10% discrepancy between your calculation and the mill’s ticket is worth investigating. Certified log scalers in most states are licensed and bonded; if you dispute a scale, you can request a recheck by the state’s Forestry agency in many states.
Where can I find current timber prices for my region in the United States?
Current stumpage and delivered log prices for US timber are published quarterly by most state forestry agencies. The Tennessee Division of Forestry, Georgia Forestry Commission, Virginia Department of Forestry, North Carolina Forest Service, and similar agencies publish free stumpage price reports for their respective states. At the national level, the USDA Southern Research Station publishes timber price trends for the southeastern US, and the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station covers the western region. For hardwood markets specifically, the National Hardwood Lumber Association and Hardwood Market Report provide market information. The best current prices come from competitive bidding: soliciting sealed bids from multiple buyers through a Registered Consulting Forester typically produces 15 to 40 percent higher stumpage returns than accepting the first offer from a single buyer, according to research published by several southeastern state university extension programs.

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Legal Disclaimer and Editorial Transparency

This Doyle Log Scale Calculator implements the standard Doyle formula BF = ((D – 4)^2 times L) / 16 as published in USDA Forest Service measurement standards. Scribner Decimal C values use the standard approximation formula BF = (0.79 times D^2 minus 2D minus 4) times L/16. International 1/4-inch values use the formula BF = (0.22 times D^2 minus 0.71 times D) times L/4. All results are estimates for planning purposes. Log scale results may differ from certified mill scale tickets due to measurement rounding, bark deduction variations, log defect deductions, and scaling method differences. Species-specific bark deduction factors are based on USDA Forest Products Laboratory reference data and represent averages that may not match site-specific conditions. Stumpage price calculations are for illustration only and do not constitute a timber appraisal. For official timber sales, consult a Registered or Certified Consulting Forester and use certified log scalers. USCalculators.com is not affiliated with the USDA Forest Service or any timber company. Authority references: USDA Forest Service Forest Products Measurement; USDA Forest Products Laboratory; USDA Southern Research Station. Tool last updated August 2026.