A tree value calculator is an essential tool that determines the value of just about any backyard tree. And although the monetary value can be placed on a tree, the real value of any tree includes its benefits to the environment and ecosystem where it grows.
Trees provide so much more than a renewable resource. As one of the world’s best carbon sinks, forests are working hard to store and sequester carbon emissions around the world, provide oxygen, fresh water, and a host of other benefits. Check it out!
But, using a tree value calculator is also used to determine the estimated compensation for a specific tree.
As a valuable resource, timber can be harvested when done correctly, to ensure the health of a forest and meet needs. The key is knowing how much a tree is worth and how removing the tree can impact the surrounding ecosystem.
The most basic tree value calculator requires the tree type, circumference in a designated measurement unit, and height in a designated measurement unit to calculate the value of any given tree.
This complete guide provides all value information for 23 of the most sought after trees using the latest prices.
That Tree in Your Backyard Could Be Worth a Lot of Money
Did you know that tree in your backyard could be worth a lot of money? Mature trees can have an average appraised value of between $1,000 to $10,000, depending on the species and size.
The easiest way to calculate the estimated value of backyard trees is to use a tried and trusted formula:
Base Tree Value x Cross Section Area x Species Class x Condition Class x Location Class = Tree Value
Tree Value Calculator
Tree value is determined by using a tree value calculator, but before the calculator is used, it is useful to know exactly what the most profitable backyard trees are:
- Shade trees
- Trees meant for landscaping
- The Japanese maple tree
- Several types of fruit trees
- Different types of palm trees
- Willow tree
- Flowering dogwood trees
- Nut-producing trees
- Christmas trees
- Bonsai trees
According to the tree value calculator, the below prices are the average for each tree ranked (based on size and type of tree):
Type of Tree | Size of Tree | Average Value of Tree |
1. Poplar Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$840 |
2. Loblolly Pine Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$1,320 |
3. Birch Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$1,560 |
4. Douglas Fir Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$2,250 |
5. Beech Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$2,544 |
Type of Tree | Size of Tree | Average Value of Tree |
6. American Elm Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$3,240 |
7. Black Locust Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$4,200 |
8. Paulownia Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$4,440 |
9. Eucalyptus Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$5,040 |
Type of Tree | Size of Tree | Average Value of Tree |
10. Red Oak Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$5,160 |
11. Black Cherry Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$5,520 |
12. Maple Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$5,856 |
13. Ash Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$6,192 |
Type of Tree | Size of Tree | Average Value of Tree |
14. American Chestnut Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$7,392 |
15. Cedar Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$7,560 |
16. Yellow Birch Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$7,632 |
17. White Oak Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$8,472 |
18. Black Walnut Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$9,240 |
Type of Tree | Size of Tree | Average Value of Tree |
19. Teak Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$21,312 |
20. Rosewood Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$26,688 |
21. Mahogany Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$36,384 |
22. Fruitwood Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$43,488 |
23. Black Ebony Tree | Circumference: 40 inches Height: 60 feet |
$133,8003 |
Related Reading: How to Tell How Old a Tree Is (Trick Works Every Time on All Tree Types)
The Value of Growing Trees
The value of growing trees also goes beyond just determining the compensation of a single tree. Growing certain large trees in a backyard can raise the entire property value by at least 15%.
In fact, you can use a footprint calculator to measure your emissions, and then plant trees to offset that amount.
Furthermore, backyard trees absorb stormwater runoff, by absorbing excess water into their roots. These same roots filter the runoff before it eventually ends up in surrounding lakes and other bodies of water.
In addition, large trees provide daily shade, especially during the summer months, which helps keep the interior of a house cool, which in turn lowers electricity bills.
And then, of course, the value of growing trees includes the improvement of air quality because trees absorb CO2. For instance, one maple tree can absorb up to 694 pounds of CO2 per year.
Types of Trees
The most common and different kinds of trees planted in backyards include the following:1
Common Backyard Tree | Benefits of Growing |
Hickory Tree | Hickory trees provide aesthetic value, especially during the fall, which makes them a favored backyard addition. |
Douglas Fir Tree | Douglas Fir trees make for beautiful Christmas trees, and they support local ecosystems by providing food and shelter to small animals and birds. |
White Oak Tree | White Oak trees live for a long time and over that time they vastly improve air quality by capturing and storing CO2. Oak trees also reduce water pollution by absorbing contaminants such as fertilizer and pesticides. |
Cypress Tree | Cypress trees are known for their medicinal properties and produce an essential oil that can help relieve respiratory issues such as congestion and asthma. Bald cypress trees soak up excess floodwater and help to prevent excessive erosion. Furthermore, these trees are excellent at capturing contaminants and preventing them from spreading. |
Common Backyard Tree | Benefits of Growing |
Red Maple Tree | Maple trees are often seen as only providing aesthetic value, but there are a lot more benefits to planting these trees. One maple tree can capture up to 22 pounds of CO2 every year, and silver maple trees are excellent at reducing flood risk. |
Cedar Tree | Cedar trees act as windbreaks for smaller plants in the backyard. Cedar trees are also great for keeping out snow, and they protect topsoil from being eroded by large amounts of water by absorbing up to 50 gallons a day. |
Aspen Tree | Aspen trees become carbon sinks as they mature, and these trees provide shelter for birds and butterflies. The soil in which aspen trees grow also retains more organic carbon than conifer soil. |
Cherry Tree | Cherry trees, along with other fruit trees, are good at cooling temperatures on land and water. Fruit trees also provide cleaner air and healthier soil. Furthermore, cherry trees provide edible and valuable fruit. |
Flowering Dogwood Tree | Flowering dogwood tree also becomes carbon sinks as they mature, even though their stature is smaller than that of most other trees. These types of dogwood trees are very popular backyard trees because of their seasonal foliage. |
How To Determine the Value of Mature Trees
When learning how to determine the value of mature trees in a backyard, the above-mentioned formula is used:
Base Tree Value x Cross Section Area x Species Class x Condition Class x Location Class = Tree Value
The different components of the equation are explained as follows:
- The cross-sectional part of the tree trunk is measured one foot above the surface level. This is applicable to trees that have trunks up to twelve inches in diameter, or trees that are at least four and a half feet above the surface level and a trunk wider than twelve inches.
The formula for establishing the cross-sectional value is diameter 2 x 0.7854.
- The species class of a tree is determined by the form of the tree, the characteristics of the tree as well as the growth, lifespan, pest resistance and maintenance required. The value assigned to each tree species ranges between five classes (in percentage): 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100. These values must be indicated in decimal form when used in the formula, for example, .80.
- The condition class is also indicated in percentage and decimal form when used in the formula. Value is assigned according to the condition of the tree, with very few trees scoring full marks for perfection.
- The location class is determined by the functionality and aesthetic value that a tree brings to a backyard or location, as well as the importance of the tree to the wider community. An example of this is a historic tree being of much higher value than a tree growing in an unassuming location.2
Table of Cost of Mature Trees
The below chart is the table of cost of mature trees. This table indicates the average price of a tree per one cubic inch:
Type of Mature Tree | Basic Value per Cubic Inch |
Beech Tree | 1.06 per CI |
Black Cherry Tree | 2.3 per CI |
Black Ebony Tree | 55.75 per CI |
Black Locust Tree | 1.75 per CI |
Black Walnut Tree | 3.85 per CI |
Type of Mature Tree | Basic Value per Cubic Inch |
Chestnut Tree | 3.08 per CI |
Douglas Fir Tree | 1.05 per CI |
Elm Tree | 1.35 per CI |
Eucalyptus Tree | 2.1 per CI |
Fruit Wood Tree | 18.12 per CI |
Type of Mature Tree | Basic Value per Cubic Inch |
Poplar Tree | 0.35 per CI |
Loblolly Pine Tree | 0.55 per CI |
Mahogany Tree | 15.16 per CI |
Paper Birch Tree | 0.65 per CI |
Paulownia Tree | 1.85 per CI |
Type of Mature Tree | Basic Value per Cubic Inch |
Red Oak Tree | 2.15 per CI |
Rosewood Tree | 11.12 per CI |
Maple Tree | 2.44 per CI |
Teak Tree | 8.88 per CI |
Cedar Tree | 3.15 per CI |
Type of Mature Tree | Basic Value per Cubic Inch |
White Ash Tree | 2.58 per CI |
White Oak Tree | 3.53 per CI |
White Pine Tree | 1.85 per CI |
Yellow Birch Tree | 3.18 per CI3 |
Related Reading: What State Has the Most Trees? All 50 States Ranked (With Map)
Oak Tree Value Calculator
An oak tree value calculator requires the following inputs:
- Species (White or Red)
- Height
- Circumference
When determining the stumpage value for sawlogs and veneer logs the following inputs are required:
- Species
- Log Length
- Board Feet (total)
An example is as follows:
White oak log of 38 inches in diameter at breast height, and 24 feet wide, with total board feet of 878 net.
- One 10-inch veneer log is 441 board feet
- One 14-inch sawlog is 437 board feet
The calculation looks like this:
Value for sawlog: $0.60 board feet x 437 board feet = average of $262.20
Value for veneer log: $2.50 board feet x 441 board feet = average of $1,102.50
Pine Tree Value Calculator
The inputs of a pine tree value calculator should look like this:
- Tree age
- Types of pine trees
- Quantity of timber that the tree can provide
Large pine trees on average are worth $30, while logs are worth around $60 per 1000 board feet.4
Cedar Tree Value Calculator
A cedar tree value calculator requires the inputs of height, circumference, and type of cedar trees.
For instance, if the tree is 40 feet tall and has a 30-inch circumference, the approximate value of the tree is $3,780.
Walnut Tree Value Calculator
Walnut trees are very valuable as the walnut tree value calculator will indicate.
For instance, if the walnut tree is 20 inches in circumference and 40 feet tall, the approximate value of the tree is $3,080.
Black Walnut Tree Worth
Understanding the worth of a tree, including black walnut tree worth, when using a tree value calculator is key to understanding this tool.
Black walnut trees are exceptionally valuable, to the extent that they have to be guarded against theft and ‘poaching’ in some instances.5
Black Walnut Tree Value Calculator
The black walnut tree value calculator indicates that a black walnut tree that is 4 feet in diameter and 80 feet tall has an approximate value of $14,784.
Using a Tree Value Calculator
A tree value calculator can also be used to determine the national benefits of any given tree in dollars. Examples of this are indicated below:
- 40-inch Magnolia tree in a residential setting = $198 of benefits every year.
This includes $71.89 of stormwater runoff interception value and $96.71 of added property value.
- 40-inch Flowering Dogwood tree in a residential setting = $60 of benefits every year.
This includes $22.75 of stormwater runoff interception value and $18.47 of added property value.
- 40-inch Weeping Willow tree in a residential setting = $198 of benefits every year.
This includes $71.89 of stormwater runoff interception value and $96.71 of added property value.
- 40-inch American Sycamore tree in a residential setting = $365 of benefits every year.
This includes $187.40 of stormwater runoff interception value and $114.45 of added property value.
- 40-inch Leyland Cypress tree in a residential setting = $222 of benefits every year.
This includes $108.87 of stormwater runoff interception value and $53.30 if added property value.
- 40-inch Eastern Cottonwood tree in a residential setting = $365 of benefits every year.
This includes $187.40 of stormwater runoff interception value and $114.45 of added property value.
Related Reading: What Does a Cottonwood Tree Look Like? Use This Easy Identification Trick
- 40-inch Mimosa tree in a residential setting = $60 of benefits every year.
This includes $22.75 of stormwater runoff interception value and $18.47 of added property value.
- 40-inch California Palm tree in a residential setting = $11 of benefits every year.
This includes $4.07 of stormwater runoff interception value and $4.84 of added property value.6
Different Kinds of Trees
As is clear from the above values and estimated prices, there is quite a vast difference in the worth of different kinds of trees and woods.
The below table indicates the values of the most expensive woods around the world.7
Type of Wood | Average Price | Characteristics | Uses |
African Blackwood | $100 per bf | African Blackwood is exceptionally hard with a fine texture and even grain. The tree that produces the wood is not remarkable but can grow to a height of around 50 feet. | Musical instruments, utility tool handles, and chess boards. Throughout history, African blackwood was used for medical instrument handles. |
Ebony Wood | $10,000 per kg | Ebony wood is highly popular because of its dark appearance and flat grain. This type of wood is very heavy and some varieties of ebony wood can appear dark green. | Ebony wood is commonly used for black piano keys and expensive furniture. |
Sandalwood | Chunks – up to $85 per 100 g
Chips – up to $250 per kg |
Sandalwood has been around for at least 4,000 years, according to written history. It is a heavy wood that is yellow in color with a fine grain. A sandalwood’s scent can last for up to a century. | Sandalwood is commonly used for fragrancing purposes and was once used to embalm Egyptian mummies. |
Holly | Up to $40 per bf | Holly wood typically sports an irregular grain and a smooth texture. The wood is white and a popular fixture around the festive season. Sometimes holly wood is dyed black to become a substitute for the far more expensive ebony wood. | Holly wood is often used to manufacture the handles of paint brushes, furniture, and inlays. |
Pink Ivory | Up to $80 per bf | Pink ivory wood is sought after for its bright coloring. Some ivory wood shades are a deep hue of purple-red. The pink ivory tree is found in Africa where it is often harvested for artistic uses. | The wood from pink ivory trees is used to make billiard cues, chess pieces, drums, and various types of ornaments. |
Type of Wood | Average Price | Characteristics | Uses |
Brazilian Rosewood | Up to $70 per bf | Brazilian rosewood comes in a variety of shades from dark brown to light purple. Sometimes the wood contains a grain pattern that resembles a spider web. | Brazilian rosewood is an expensive wood that is used for high-end furniture, various musical instruments, and cabinets. Brazilian rosewood is currently listed as vulnerable on the IUCN red list. |
Ziricote | Up to $60 per bf | Ziricote is part of a group of tonewoods that range in color from light to dark brown. Much like Brazilian rosewood, there are sometimes streaks present in ziricote wood that look like spiderwebs. | Because ziricote has tonal properties, it is popular for use in musical instruments including guitars. Furthermore, this wood is also used to make cabinets and fine furniture. |
Macassar Ebony | Up to $65 per bf | Macassar ebony wood has a stunning striped look and is sometimes a dark shade of red-brown with dark streaks. Macassar ebony is very difficult to work with because it is dense and heavy and it is also prone to splitting when dry. | This type of wood is used for specialty items, as well as cabinets, instruments, and fine furniture. However, Macassar ebony is endangered and very rare in modern times. |
Koa | Up to $62 per bf | Koa wood is often mistaken for mahogany wood. It is golden or red in color and can contain streaks and waves. Koa wood is not durable because of its vulnerability to termites but is easy to work with. | Koa wood is found in abundance in Hawaii is commonly used to make guitars and other instruments, as well as canoes and different types of furniture. |
Cocobolo | Up to $65 per bf | Cocobolo comes in various shades including yellow, red, and brown. The wood contains a high amount of oil and is dense enough to blunt cutting tools. | Colobolo is a hardwood that is used to make intricate knife handles and handguns. The wood is also used for chess pieces and musical instruments. |
Type of Wood | Average Price | Characteristics | Uses |
Bubinga | $17 and more per bf | Bubinga wood coloring ranges from pink to red to purple and it sometimes contains dark streaking. Most Bubinga species are highly durable and easy to work with. | Bubinga wood is commonly used for high-end furniture and other specialty wood items. Sometimes large pieces of Bubinga wood are processed into counters and tabletops. |
Bocote | $40 per bf | Bocote wood is yellow-brown in color and sometimes contains dark stripes. This type of wood is prone to ‘eye patterns’ and is a moderate wood to work with. Some species of bocote contain silica which has a dulling effect on tools and cutters. | This type of wood is popular for flooring purposes, boat construction, high-end furniture, and instruments. |
Lignum Vitae | $8 per pound | Lignum Vitae is also known as the tree or wood of life and is almost olive to dark brown in color. Continued exposure to light keeps darkening this very heavy and dense wood. It is difficult to work with and contains a high amount of natural oils. | Because of the hardness and durability of lignum vitae wood, it is often used for high-pressure items such as mallet heads and the handles of tools and other objects. |
Agarwood | Up to $100,000 per kg | Agarwood is also known as eaglewood and its resin becomes valuable after it is infected by mold. It also produces oil that is very expensive. | Agarwood is commonly used for medicinal and fragrance purposes, and the oil is used in various religious ceremonies. |
Purpleheart | $15 per bf | Purpleheart wood is named for its violet coloring which takes place after the wood is cut and exposed to oxygen. Often when working with purpleheart wood, a glue-type resin will emerge when dull tools are used. | Purpleheart wood is used for construction, flooring, durable furniture and boat construction. It is a very strong wood that holds up very well under adverse weather conditions. |
Timber Value Calculator
In addition to calculating the value of trees, and the value of wood, the value of standing timber can also be estimated with the help of a timber value calculator.
A timber value calculator requires the type of tree and tree volume to produce an estimated standing timber value.
The most important factor to consider when calculating timber value is the harvested board footage. A mature tree of 20 or more inches (circumference) will contain anywhere between 250 and 500 board feet. The exact number depends on the height of the tree. Trees that are voluminous and ready to be harvested, contain more board footage and are worth more when sold.9
Timber prices in 2022 are as follows:
- Hard logs: $229.71 per cubic meter
- Hard sawn wood: $685.45 per cubic meter
- Soft logs: $245.84 per cubic meter
- Soft sawn wood: $315.21 per cubic meter8
These prices are expected to rise each year.
Another type of tree value calculator can be used to determine tree value with enhanced factors.
This type of calculator requires more involved data including the following inputs:
- Species
- Tree grade
- Price of 4/4 lumber in $/Mbf
- Cost of conversion in $/Mbf
- Diameter at breast height
- Number of usable logs
- Form class
- Doyle
- Doyle stumpage in $/Mbf
- Scribner
- Scribner stumpage in $/Mbf
- International
- International stumpage in $/Mbf
These inputs will be converted into a calculation of tree value. This tree value calculator may be a little more tricky to use, but the input of the correct data will ensure a better tree value estimation.10
Frequently Asked Questions About Tree Value Calculator
What's My Tree Worth?
Trees, depending on the species and the location can be worth thousands of dollars. The best way to determine a tree’s worth is to have the tree assessed by an arborist or to use an online tree value calculator.
How Do I Calculate the Value of a Tree?
A tree value calculator can be used to determine the value of a tree.
What Is a Tree Value Calculator?
There are several different types of tree value calculators of which the most basic calculators only require the diameter, height and species of tree.
How To Use the Tree Value Calculator?
A tree value calculator works with inputs. For instance, the calculator would require the height, diameter, and type of tree, as well as the basic value of the tree. The equation used is circumference x height x basic value = tree value.
What Is the Rarest Tree in the World?
The rarest tree in the world is believed to be the Pennantia baylisiana, which is known as the Three Kings Kaikomako.
References
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