There is no reliable, current global price list that proves which five tree species are the most valuable. The answer changes depending on whether you mean resin, oil, logs, sawn timber or a finished object—and on quality, origin, unit and market. These five examples show why some tree-derived materials command high prices, while distinguishing agarwood, which is a resinous material formed in trees, from the trees themselves.
Why “most valuable” is hard to rank
A kilogram of aromatic resin and a cubic metre of timber are different products, measured and sold in different markets. A useful comparison needs to specify what is being sold, its grade and provenance, the unit, geography and date. The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) publishes indicative market prices and trends, but its trade reporting also shows that units can vary; neither gives a single apples-to-apples ranking of these materials. ITTO market information and its CITES Tree Species Programme provide market and trade context.
Five valuable tree species and tree-derived materials
1. Agarwood: valuable resinous heartwood
Agarwood—also called oud, eaglewood or gaharu—is fragrant resinous material that forms in the heartwood of mainly Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees after mould infection. It is used in incense, perfume and carvings. It is not a tree species, and its value depends heavily on quality and product form.
The FAO says prices in consumer countries have ranged from a few dollars per kilogram for very low-grade material to more than US$30,000/kg for top-quality wood. In 2022, ITTO reported that prices up to US$100,000/kg had been recorded for top-quality agarwood. These are source-attributed high-end figures, not current uniform prices or what a typical buyer should expect to pay. FAO’s agarwood overview and ITTO’s 2022 report describe the material and trade.
#1 Best Overall
- A Variety of Rare Wood Species: this set of wood boards contains four rare woods -purpleheart, zebrawood, padauk, okoume, 2 of each of the 4 types of wood, a total of 8, enough to meet the needs of artistic creation
- Optimal Size: the single strip measures about 12 x 2 x 0.75 inches/ 30.48 x 5.08 x 1.91 cm; The uniform size is convenient for layout and splicing; This size is the good size for making small cutting boards
- Natural Textures: purpleheart, zebrawood, padauk and okoume each have natural grain and color, making them suitable for making small cutting boards, decorative panels, or handicrafts; The wood itself is easy to oil and polish, and the finished product has a superior texture
- Materials: the wood panel is made of solid wood with a unique and layered surface texture; After preliminary drying, it is suitable for turning, planing, cutting and gluing
- Wide Range of Applications: can be applied in woodworking, handicraft production, cutting board processing or as a carving and inlay material
2. Sandalwood: valuable, but the name covers different products
Sandalwood refers to products from different species and regions, which are not interchangeable. The CITES trade report also includes East African sandalwood, Osyris lanceolata, so the common name alone does not identify a species or product. The sources cited here do not establish a comparable current price per kilogram for sandalwood; assigning one would create a false comparison.
3. Ebony: a historical high-end timber figure
Ebony is a commercial wood category associated with multiple Diospyros species and known for dense, dark heartwood. A 2020 review of Diospyros crassiflora cites an earlier upper figure of up to US$18,000/m³, attributed to Jenkins et al. (2002). This is a historical, secondary-source figure—not a current quotation—and it is measured by volume, not weight. CITES’ selected African tree species report lists Diospyros spp. as ebony and records an Appendix II listing in 2013. The 2020 review explains the figure’s context.
Rank #2
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4. African blackwood: valued for instruments and craft
African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) is a dark, dense wood used in musical instruments and craft. The sources here do not establish a current, primary-source price suitable for ranking it against the other examples, so a per-log price would be misleading. Trade rules depend on the relevant taxon and product; broad rosewood reporting should not be assumed to settle every species-specific requirement.
5. Rosewood: a trade name, not one uniform timber
Rosewood covers multiple Dalbergia species and trade contexts. ITTO’s CITES Tree Species Programme report lists Dalbergia spp. as rosewood, with Appendix II listing years of 2013 and 2017 and annotations. The sources here do not provide one current price that can represent all rosewood. Species, product form and applicable annotations matter when interpreting trade rules.
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Best Value
- Variety of Wood Species: this set of exotic wood boards contains four woods -zebrawood, purpleheart, , padauk, walnut, 1 of each of the 4 types of wood, a total of 4, enough to meet the needs of artistic creation( Friendly reminder: purpleheart needs to be placed in a well-ventilated area for a few days; It will turn purple
- Optimal Size: the single hardwood lumber measures about 12 x 4 x 0.75 inches/ 30.48 x 10.16x 1.91 cm; The uniform size is convenient for layout and splicing; This size is the good size for making woodworking processing
- Natural Textures: purpleheart, zebrawood, padauk and walnut each have natural grain and color, making them suitable for making woodworking processing, decorative panels, or handicrafts; The wood itself is easy to oil and polish, and the finished product has a texture
- Materials: the hardwood lumber board is made of solid wood with a unique and layered surface texture; After preliminary drying, it is suitable for turning, planing, cutting and gluing
- Wide Range of Applications: can be applied in woodworking, handicraft production, or as a carving and inlay material
Rank #4
- A Variety of Rare Wood Species: this set of wood boards contains four rare woods -purpleheart, zebrawood, padauk, okoume, 2 of each of the 4 types of wood, a total of 8, enough to meet the needs of artistic creation
- Optimal Size: the single strip measures about 18 x 2 x 0.75 inches/ 45.72 x 5.08 x 1.91 cm; The uniform size is convenient for layout and splicing; This size is the good size for making small cutting boards
- Natural Textures: purpleheart, zebrawood, padauk and okoume each have natural grain and color, making them suitable for making small cutting boards, decorative panels, or handicrafts; The wood itself is easy to oil and polish, and the finished product has a superior texture
- Materials: the wood panel is made of solid wood with a unique and layered surface texture; After preliminary drying, it is suitable for turning, planing, cutting and gluing
- Wide Range of Applications: can be applied in woodworking, handicraft production, cutting board processing or as a carving and inlay material
Rank #3
- Ethically Sourced Exotic Hardwoods from South America
- Untreated Lumber Ends / Cut Offs from Sawmill
- All boards 1/2"-2" thick
- All boxes will include at least 2 different species and may include (but are not limited to); Purpleheart, Greenheart, Teak, Wamara, Darina, Ipe, Angelique & Wallaba
- Box measures 12” x 12” x 6 inches and is full of wood
What the published price figures do—and do not—show
| Example | Product and reported figure | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Agarwood | Top-quality wood: more than US$30,000/kg in the FAO overview; up to US$100,000/kg recorded in ITTO’s 2022 report. | High-end reported figures, not a current standard price; grade and product form vary. |
| Ebony | Up to US$18,000/m³, cited in a 2020 review from earlier work. | Historical, secondary-source upper figure; not a live quote and not comparable by unit to agarwood. |
| Sandalwood | Comparable current price: not stated in the sources cited here. | Species and regional products differ. |
| African blackwood | Comparable current price: not stated in the sources cited here. | No suitable current primary-source figure established for this comparison. |
| Rosewood | Comparable current price: not stated in the sources cited here. | The common name covers multiple species and trade contexts. |
What to check before buying or specifying these woods
- Identify the material. Ask for the botanical species where known, rather than relying on a broad name such as “rosewood” or “sandalwood.”
- Compare like with like. Confirm whether the quote is for resin, oil, a log, sawn timber or a finished product, and note its grade, provenance, unit, market and date.
- Check trade requirements. CITES listings and annotations apply to specified taxa and specimens; national rules may also apply. All Aquilaria and Gyrinops species are listed in CITES Appendix II, according to ITTO’s 2022 report. That is not the same as a blanket ban, nor does a common name alone establish that a product may be traded. Check current official requirements for the exact species, product and jurisdiction before buying, importing or exporting. ITTO’s CITES Tree Species Programme offers trade context; it is not a substitute for current official rules.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
