How much does a small sawmill cost?

A “small sawmill” can mean anything from a hobby-grade portable bandsaw mill to a serious hydraulic setup. For most homeowners, homesteaders, or small woodshops, the typical price ranges are:

Basic hobby sawmills: about $1,500–$5,000

Mid-range portable mills: about $5,000–$12,000

Professional portable mills: about $12,000–$25,000+

The biggest price factors are:

Log diameter capacity

Engine size

Manual vs. hydraulic handling

Track length

Portability

Brand reputation

For example, entry-level mills often handle 18–26" logs and require more manual labor, while larger hydraulic mills can process heavy logs much faster.