Wood Products
Forests and forest products are an essential part of Pennsylvania’s economy. In this section, obtain detailed information on forest wood products, including hardwood lumber, paper, veneers, chemicals, and firewood. Tips on estimating lumber prices and calculating the green weight of wood are available as well.
Hardwood and Softwood Lumber
Forests cover almost 60% of Pennsylvania’s 28 million acres of land. These woodlands protect wildlife, provide clean air, and offer numerous recreational opportunities. PA forests are also known for growing some of the finest hardwood timber in the world.
The majority of the state’s forests (approximately 90%) are covered by mixed hardwoods. Some of the more commercially important types of hardwood in the Commonwealth are northern red oak, black cherry, yellow poplar, chestnut oak, and sugar maple. Many of these species are valuable for making lumber and can be recognized by their broad, flat leaves in summer. Pennsylvania’s hardwood lumber is used to produce numerous forest wood products, including furniture, kitchen cabinets, and factory-made wooden buildings.
Softwood trees are often referred to as evergreens or conifers. They have narrow leaves, and most species remain green all year round. Common softwood species include eastern white pine, red pine, and eastern hemlock. Softwood grading is often visual, and the softwood lumber grades are based on strength and appearance.
Estimating Timber Volume and Value
With 17 million acres of forestеd land, Pennsylvania has a significant timber resource. To assess and determine the value of standing timber, it is generally necessary to complete an inventory of the trees’ species, size, and volume.
Landowners considering selling timber are further advised to familiarize themselves with the board foot content – or volume – of the trees intended for harvest. To determine the volume of standing trees, foresters use timber ‘cruise’ assessment and utilize different measuring tools and volume tables. Join the Valuing Standing Timber course for comprehensive information on valuing timber and obtaining fair market pricing.
Information and recommendations on estimating timber value can be obtained through Penn State Extension. In this section, discover more about the grading of hardwood lumber and calculating the green weight of wood. In addition, find current stumpage prices for Pennsylvania in the quarterly Timber Market Report. The report provides prices for common tree species by state region.
Other Forest Wood Products
Along with lumber, forests can produce a wide array of other, non-timber products and services. These include paper products, veneer, and a range of fibers. Also, forests have good potential for producing woody biomass for energy by utilizing biomass harvesting methods for timber stand improvement. The performance of biomass fuel, however, can be affected by several characteristics, including heat value and moisture level.
Access Penn State Extension resources to learn more about non-wood products and the effects of using biomass as an energy source in the forest community. Further, discover how utilizing low-use wood in a sustainable way can create opportunities like using commercial-scale biomass heat and replacing coal with biochar.
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WebinarsFree
Forest Contracting 101
When 10/22/2025Length 1 hour session, 4 weeksEvent Format Virtual | LiveDiscover how forest contracting supports healthy forests while creating business and career opportunities across Pennsylvania's 16.6 million acres. -
VideosWhy Does Lumber Need to be Dried?
Length 9:01After lumber is sawn from the log it must be dried before it can be put into use. The forest products industry spends a lot of time and money to dry lumber and this video explains the reasons why. -
ArticlesLockout/Tagout for the Wood Products Industry
Using the proper lockout/tagout procedures will eliminate the possibility of employees becoming injured and prevent deaths within the wood products industry. -
VideosBent Wood Beautiful Strength
Length 4:57Bent Wood is a unique product made from hardwood lumber. It adds beauty and strength to furniture, construction, art, sports equipment, buggy wheels, and many other items. -
ArticlesReaction Wood in Trees
Reaction wood in trees is a mechanism to help a crooked tree to grow straight or to help the tree get more sunlight. Learn how reaction wood affects lumber that is sawn from it. -
ArticlesHardwood or Hard Wood?
This article explains the difference between a hardwood and a wood that is hard. -
VideosTree Burl Breakdown
Length 5:44Tree burls are tumor-like growths in trees that produce dense, beautifully figured wood. They are highly prized and valuable for making one-of-kind objects. -
ArticlesWhat Is Heartwood in Trees?
The dark-colored area of a tree is called heartwood, and the lighter-colored area is called sapwood. What causes this change in color in the wood, and how does it affect the wood properties? -
ArticlesFactors That Influence Timber Prices
Timber prices can fluctuate from year to year, month to month, and even week to week. This article will explain some of the factors that can influence the price that is paid for timber at any given time. -
ArticlesUsing Your Own Lumber For Building Projects
Using your own lumber for building projects is not as straightforward as it seems. This article will offer some things to consider before starting a project using your own, ungraded lumber. -
ArticlesWhat is Selling Forest Carbon Like? Three Landowners' Experiences
This article describes the experience that three Pennsylvanian forest landowners had selling carbon. -
ArticlesWhat is Spalted Wood?
Rotting wood, if found at the right time, can sometimes produce magnificent pieces of art. -
ArticlesBe Safe Around Wooden Pallets!
Wood pallets are indispensable components of modern supply chains; without them, our system of moving raw materials and finished goods would be much slower, less efficient, and more costly. -
VideosUnderstanding Equilibrium Moisture Content
Length 5:47A look at how moisture in the air affects the moisture content of lumber. -
ArticlesBrown Rot in Wood
Brown rot, sometimes called cubical brown rot, is one type of decay fungi that can attack wood that leaves the wood with a reddish color and small, cube-shaped pieces of wood. -
ArticlesHeating with Wood: An Introduction
This article walks through how to begin heating with firewood, including how to safely and cheaply procure firewood. It also discusses some methods for processing, seasoning, and storing firewood. -
ArticlesIntroducción a la Calefacción con Madera
Este artículo introductorio aborda los conceptos básicos para comenzar a utilizar la madera como fuente de calefacción de hogares, incluyendo cómo adquirir leña de manera segura y económica, así como su secado y almacenamiento. -
ArticlesAir Drying Lumber from Your Own Forest
Using lumber from trees on your own property is a goal for many landowners. This article will explain if air drying the lumber is the right choice to meet your needs. -
ArticlesWhat Makes a Good Tonewood for Musical Instruments?
Guitars, clarinets, pipe organs, xylophones – what do they all have in common? Wood, of course! -
ArticlesPowderpost Beetles
Powderpost beetles breed in dead and dried hardwoods. Their presence may be overlooked until they are discovered in stored lumber, rafters, joists, floors, and furniture. -
ArticlesToxicity of Yew Wood and Roots
A case study of yew toxicity in fresh and aged yew roots and stem. -
ArticlesSelf-organizing Microtubule Networks in Cellulose Science
Have you ever heard of nanotechnology? Better yet, have you ever heard it with respect to wood science, and wondered why? -
ArticlesCalculating the Green Weight of Wood Species
How much does wood weigh? The question is simple enough for dry wood, but more difficult when wood is freshly cut. -
ArticlesForest Products
Forest products may include lumber and its byproducts, medicinal plants, maple syrup, and mushrooms just to name a few. -
ArticlesValuing Standing Timber
This 24-page publication describes simplified methods for estimating timber volumes and values, and is designed to help landowners/loggers understand how the economic value of timber is determined.
