If you have logs — from a felled yard tree, storm damage, or land clearing — a portable sawmill service can turn them into usable lumber for a fraction of what that lumber would cost at retail. Here's how sawyers typically charge, with real rates from mills listed in our directory.
The two main pricing models
Most portable sawyers charge one of two ways:
- Hourly: commonly in the range of $60–$125 per hour of sawing, depending on region, mill size, and whether a helper is included. From our directory: Williams Wood in Tillamook, OR charges $60/hour for on-site cutting; Drinkwater Milling in the Willamette Valley charges $100/hour plus a $100 travel fee.
- Per board foot: typically in the range of $0.25–$0.50 per board foot sawn, with higher rates for wide slabs, dense hardwoods, or very small jobs.
Rates vary by region and job — always confirm pricing and minimums directly with the sawyer. The figures above are typical ranges, not quotes.
Common extra charges
- Travel / setup fee: a flat charge (often $50–$150) to bring the mill to you, sometimes waived within a radius.
- Minimum job: many sawyers set a half-day or dollar minimum — small single-log jobs may not be economical on their own.
- Blade damage: hitting metal (nails, fence wire, old hardware) in a yard tree usually means a blade charge of $25–$50 per ruined blade. Urban and yard trees are the usual culprits.
- Log handling: if logs aren't staged and accessible, moving them takes billable time. Having logs in one spot, off the ground, saves real money.
What a typical job costs
| Job | Typical range |
|---|
| Single yard tree (2–3 logs) into boards | $150–$400 |
| Half day of sawing (staged logs) | $300–$600 |
| Full day, storm cleanup or land clearing | $600–$1,200 |
| Wide live-edge slabs from one large hardwood | $200–$600+ |
How to keep your cost down
- Stage your logs. One accessible pile beats logs scattered across the property.
- Scan for metal in yard trees before the sawyer arrives — or at least flag suspect trunks.
- Batch with a neighbor. Sharing a day rate across two properties is the cheapest milling there is.
- Decide your cut list in advance. Knowing you want 2x lumber vs. slabs saves on-site deliberation time.
Is it worth it?
Usually, yes — if the logs are sound. A single mature hardwood can contain several hundred board feet of lumber; at retail hardwood prices, milling your own log often pays for itself several times over. And for sentimental trees, the value isn't really about the money at all.