As you read this article, you’ll find detailed information on the price of walnut wood per board foot and the factors influencing this lumber cost.
This knowledge helps you make better purchase decisions.
Black Walnut Lumber Prices
Black walnut wood is among the most desirable and expensive woods you’ll find.
Others in this category include African black wood, ebony, Indian sandalwood, pink ivory, and Dalbergia. Black walnut wood is valued for several reasons.
Prices tend to be higher due to multiple factors, mainly supply and demand.
About Black Walnut Wood
This wood is derived from black walnut trees, mostly found around the South-central to South-eastern United States. One reason this tree is considered valuable is its close-grained nature.
Plus, it’s easy to work. At maturity, this walnut tree species reaches 80-130 ft.
Black walnut trees thrive in both full sun and shade. They prefer clay and loam soils with medium moisture. USDA growing zones 4 through 9 support their growth.
This tree blooms in late spring, a period that lasts only 2 weeks.
Is Walnut Wood Expensive?
For many readers, this will be asking the obvious. Of course, black walnut trees are expensive, mainly because of the scarcity of wood. Due to this lack, demand always outstrips supply. Apart from its scarce supply, black walnut wood is beautiful and strong.
It’s used across a wide range of applications, including veneers, gunstocks, trim & moldings, cabinets, flooring, furniture, and cutting boards. It takes about 35 years for black walnut wood to be cut and processed, or milled, for lumber. This alone reveals why it’s so expensive to buy.
Black Walnut Price Per Board Foot
So far, we’ve focused on providing you with the basics (by way of introduction) of black walnut wood.
If this wood is expensive, as we’ve seen, then how much does it sell for? Starting with unprocessed black walnut wood, the average price for a 4×4 will be around $5.25 per foot.
Quarter-sawn black walnut will sell for around $7.5 to $8 per foot. Now, it’s logical to expect much higher prices for black walnut wood when it’s processed.
The average cost for such will be around $9 per foot, while wider slabs will likely cost as much as $12 per foot.
To help you better appreciate the cost, a single black walnut tree may go for as much as $20,000. When it comes to the timber value of an acre of black walnut trees, this will go for around $100,000 per acre.
Single logs of black walnut wood can cost up to $200 per piece.
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More Details on the Value of Black Walnut Wood
When it comes to the cost of black walnut wood, the finer details involve size or dimensions, degree of processing, and moisture content.
Although we’ve mentioned some pricing aspects, the following should clarify what’s obtainable.
A black walnut wood measuring 8×4, 1/2 “thick, would cost around $6.25. Wide stock walnut wood of around 7 to 10” wide starts from around $1. The widest stock walnut wood measuring 10’ + in width starts from $2.
Live-edged black walnut slabs between 14 to 20” wide for $9
Why is Black Walnut Woods Expensive?
If you’re wondering why black walnut wood is expensive, this section should satisfactorily answer your questions. Black walnut wood is valued for its excellent finishing qualities, resistance to mold and water, beautiful color, high durability, and intricate grain patterns.
i. Excellent Finishing Qualities
As stated earlier, it’s not difficult to see why black walnut wood is valued. A look at its excellent finishing tells the story. Such finishes are very smooth, hence their use for specialty wood jobs.
Every work done with this wood tends to stand out. Given these features, it’s easy to see why black walnuts are costly.
ii. Resistance to Mold & Water
Moisture poses a real danger to homes’ wood and other structural components. With the steady degradation of wood comes mold growth. However, not all wood types are susceptible to moisture damage.
One of these is black walnut wood, which is also pricey.
iii. Beautiful Color
The “black” in the name doesn’t translate to the actual color of the wood. Black walnut wood has a rich, brown color that gives furniture made from it a rich texture.
The color variations range from light to dark brown. This feature quickly sets this wood apart from many others.
iv. High Durability
One of the features of black walnut wood that can’t be overstated is its durability.
This durable characteristic makes it ideal for construction or wood projects. Furniture and items made of black walnut wood have a lifespan of between 150 and 400 years!
v. Intricate Grain Patterns
The grain patterns on black walnut wood are intriguing.
This is one of the main reasons why these woods attract a premium. The straight grain, and sometimes the curly or wavy patterns, are a sight.
Coupled with these natural features, the processing technique enhances its beauty.
Where to Buy Black Walnut Wood
Having found out the prices of black walnut wood, you’ll also need to know where to buy it. While some readers will have an idea, others may not, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Some great sources to shop include Wood Slabs, Cherokee Wood Products, Nuts, Baird Brothers, Hearne Hardwoods, and Woodworker Source.
Other sources include Advantage Lumber and Bell Forest Products.
You may want to compare prices between sellers to get a good bargain. This will give you an idea of where to buy your wood, and you’ll also need to check their quality.
The black walnut wood prices discussed above are only averages and may not accurately reflect what’s available. The cost idea provided allows you to use the details supplied to make informed decisions.