Sassafras Logs
for Sale & Wanted
Sassafras albidum — White Sassafras / Golden Elm
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a medium-sized Appalachian hardwood with an unmistakable spicy aroma from oils in the root bark and wood. The leaves have three distinctive shapes on the same tree — unlobed, mitten-shaped, and three-lobed. Sassafras heartwood is a warm orange-brown with prominent growth rings; sapwood is pale yellow. The wood splits easily, works well, and has moderate natural rot resistance.
Market Insight — Sassafras 2026
Sassafras historically had many uses including fence posts, barrels, buckets, small boats, and traditional sassafras tea (now limited due to safrole content). Modern markets use sassafras for specialty furniture, paneling, carving, turned products, and occasional fence post applications. The wood's light weight, attractive color, and ease of working make it a favorite of craft woodworkers.
Per the KY Division of Forestry Q3+Q4 2025 report, sassafras sawlog prices in Kentucky run $150-$300/MBF (Doyle) for #1/F2 grade, $250-$500/MBF for Prime/F1, and $100-$200/MBF for pallet/utility grade. The market is relatively small and specialty-oriented; most large mills don't process sassafras in volume. Amish mills, custom furniture shops, and craft suppliers are the primary buyers (occasionally paying modest premiums above canonical ranges for clear large-diameter stock).
About Sassafras Timber
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a medium-sized Appalachian hardwood with an unmistakable spicy aroma from oils in the root bark and wood. The leaves have three distinctive shapes on the same tree — unlobed, mitten-shaped, and three-lobed. Sassafras heartwood is a warm orange-brown with prominent growth rings; sapwood is pale yellow. The wood splits easily, works well, and has moderate natural rot resistance.
Sassafras historically had many uses including fence posts, barrels, buckets, small boats, and traditional sassafras tea (now limited due to safrole content). Modern markets use sassafras for specialty furniture, paneling, carving, turned products, and occasional fence post applications. The wood's light weight, attractive color, and ease of working make it a favorite of craft woodworkers.
Per the KY Division of Forestry Q3+Q4 2025 report, sassafras sawlog prices in Kentucky run $150-$300/MBF (Doyle) for #1/F2 grade, $250-$500/MBF for Prime/F1, and $100-$200/MBF for pallet/utility grade. The market is relatively small and specialty-oriented; most large mills don't process sassafras in volume. Amish mills, custom furniture shops, and craft suppliers are the primary buyers (occasionally paying modest premiums above canonical ranges for clear large-diameter stock).
Custom Furniture
Warm honey-brown tone
Fence Posts
Moderate ground-contact life
Carving
Soft, easy to work
Paneling
Aromatic interior specialty
Sassafras Grades & What Buyers Pay
| Grade | Key Requirements | Typical Buyers | Delivered Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select / Prime | 14"+ SED, clear heart | Custom furniture, carving suppliers | $250–$500/MBF |
| Standard Sawlog | 10"+ SED, sound | Specialty mills, paneling shops | $150–$300/MBF |
| Fence Post | 5"+ SED, heartwood | Local fence contractors | $8–$20/post |
| Pulpwood / Low | 4"+ top | Pulp, aromatic oil extraction | $30–$60/ton |
Tips for Selling Sassafras
- Find Amish buyers. Amish mills across the Appalachian region regularly buy sassafras for specialty furniture and crafts at premium prices. Large commodity mills often won't take sassafras at all.
- Heart-percentage drives price. The orange heartwood is what buyers want. Wide-sapwood logs price lower. Older trees yield better heart ratios.
- Post market absorbs smaller stock. Sassafras under 10" DBH is typically worth more as fence posts than sawlogs, especially in local agricultural markets.
- Don't mix with other species on specialty loads. Sassafras is a niche sale. Don't mix with oak or poplar loads going to commodity mills — call craft and specialty buyers directly.
- Keep logs short. Sassafras often has sweep or fork at longer lengths. Many buyers prefer 8-foot or 10-foot logs over longer lengths to maximize clear-wood recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sassafras Logs
What are sassafras logs worth?
Per the Kentucky Division of Forestry Q3+Q4 2025 Delivered Log Price Report, sassafras sawlogs trade $150-$300/MBF Doyle for #1/F2 grade and $250-$500/MBF for Prime/F1. Pallet/utility grade runs $100-$200/MBF. Specialty markets for clear, large-diameter logs (craft furniture, aromatic uses) may bring modest premiums above canonical ranges. Fence post-sized material sells by the piece at $8-$20 each depending on length and diameter (not by MBF).
Is sassafras suitable for fence posts?
Yes — sassafras heartwood has moderate natural rot resistance, typically giving 10-15 years of ground-contact service life. This is less than cedar (20-30 years) or black locust (40-50 years) but better than non-resistant species. Sassafras posts are a regional tradition in Appalachia and still used by many smaller farms.
Does sassafras wood have the same aroma as the root?
Partially. The distinctive root-beer aroma of sassafras is strongest in the root bark where safrole oil concentrates. The heartwood has a milder but still noticeable spicy aroma. Freshly-cut sassafras fills a workshop with fragrance; finished sassafras products retain a subtle scent.
Why is sassafras tea no longer commercially available?
The FDA banned commercial sassafras tea production in the 1960s after safrole — the aromatic compound in sassafras root bark — was identified as a potential carcinogen in high doses. Traditional home use continues in some Appalachian communities, and sassafras is still used as a flavoring after safrole removal. The wood itself has no commercial safrole concerns.
Is sassafras a common timber species?
Sassafras is abundant as a small-to-medium tree but rarely grows to large commercial sawlog size. Most sassafras is post-sized or small sawlog-sized. Large-diameter sassafras (14"+ DBH) suitable for premium lumber is uncommon and commands specialty pricing.
Can I sell sassafras for turned bowls or crafts?
Yes — sassafras turns beautifully and takes finish well. Craft suppliers and bowl-turning hobbyists actively buy sassafras blanks. Small-diameter sassafras too small for fence posts or sawlogs can often find a home in the turning and craft market at $2-$8 per board foot depending on quality.
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