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Onsite sawing pricesQ.
I charge $150 per thousand board feet and $20 for a blown blade. I expect to cut 2000 feet per day (average). I cut stickers from their stock (free). The customer is often present or has a helper handy to stack lumber. (I have a problem with this for insurance and risk reasons.) I expect to average not more than 10% expenses, although 25% is acceptable. I expect $300 per day income and as much as $75 in expenses is acceptable. Or a $225+ a day profit (on average). I set "saw log" guidelines for the customer. 8-36 inches, 8-21 feet, clean, straight, stacked, limbs trimmed flush. I don't have different rates for different stock or charge for repositioning, mileage, or dirty logs. I establish a minimum day’s work (2000 feet of lumber on the far away ones). I don't bring handling equipment. Forum Responses
Working alone, I have cut up to 1500 board feet. On the worst day, 650 board feet, due to nails and dirty logs. The best day was 4200 feet of 2 by oak with three experienced, strong helpers, clean, large logs and no stickers or stacking involved.
I’m from Michigan. I stopped charging by the board foot because the logs often looked like they had been dragged through the mud and air-dropped at the site. I spent too much time moving and cleaning logs, and customers weren’t too helpful. I now charge $50 per hour, from the time I leave my home to the time I finish the job (less down time and lunch). I also charge $20 per blade if I hit something in the log, even if it is an older blade that’s been sharpened 3 or 4 times. And I charge more if they want a loader or the edger. I mill 1000-3000 board feet per 8 hour day, depending on size and type.
I live in N. Florida and the guy here charges me as follows. If I bring the logs to him, $35 an hour whether I help or not, plus $25 per blown blade. If he comes to my site, $25 setup fee, plus $35 and hour for milling (whether I help or not) and $35 an hour for any tractor work involved. Same deal for the blown blades. I charge 28 cents per board foot for everything but 1”, in which case the price is 31 cents. One dollar per mile, one way, plus more if lodging is necessary. $8 for a blade sharpening, $20 for a broken blade. $25 for each move, $65 per hour for skidding, bucking, etc. I give every customer a price list, so there are no hidden charges. No two milling jobs are the same, so I try to cover all considerations. I charge $50 an hour for small logs, ugly logs or logs shorter than 8 feet. I charge 25 cents per board foot for logs 8 - 18 feet, 30 cents per board foot over 20 feet, 1/4 sawn, or under 1" thick. $10 for trashed blade. I've been sawing for 6 years and charge $38 per hour. If customers help, they save money. If the customer doesn't care about quality, I work fast. Depending on the situation, I charge $12 - $20 if I hit something in the log. Would you like to add information to this article? Interested in writing or submitting an article? Have a question about this article? Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below? 
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