Hardwood is easily one of the most sought-after resources in Stardew Valley. This valuable material comes in handy while crafting important items, building essential structures, and creating durable Hardwood Fences. Whether you're a new player or a veteran farmer looking to optimize your hardwood gathering, this guide covers everything you need to know about finding, farming, and using hardwood effectively.
| RESOURCE | SOURCE | VALUE | ITEM ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood | Tree Stumps & Large Logs | 15g | 709 |
Hardwood is an essential part of many crafting recipes, gifts, buildings, bundles, and is also sought after in various quests from NPCs. Unlike regular wood, hardwood cannot be purchased and must be gathered from specific locations.
Quick Answer: Where to Find Hardwood
The fastest way to get hardwood is: Visit the Secret Woods daily for 12 hardwood (6 large stumps), or play on Forest Farm for 16 additional hardwood per day. You need a Copper Axe for tree stumps (2 hardwood) and a Steel Axe for large logs (8 hardwood).
How to Get Hardwood in Stardew Valley
Hardwood in Stardew Valley can be harvested by cutting down Large Stumps with a Copper Axe or breaking Large Logs with a Steel Axe. These special trees look different from regular trees and appear in specific locations throughout the valley.
| SOURCE | TOOL REQUIRED | HARDWOOD YIELD |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Stumps | Copper Axe or better | 2 per stump |
| Large Logs | Steel Axe or better | 8 per log |
Daily Respawnable Hardwood Locations
- Secret Woods - 6 large stumps respawn daily = 12 hardwood per day
- Forest Farm - 8 large stumps in the southwest area = 16 hardwood per day
- Mines - Break barrels and crates for chance at hardwood drops
Additional Hardwood Sources
- Lumberjack Profession - Forester Level 10 skill that gives 25% chance for hardwood from normal trees
- Winter Star Feast - Gift 25 hardwood from Robin on Winter 25
- Forest Farm Map - Additional hardwood sources available year-round
Secret Woods Guide: How to Access & Farm
The Secret Woods is one of the best locations for consistent hardwood farming. Here's exactly how to find it:
- Go to Cindersap Forest (the area south of your farm)
- Head to the bottom-right corner of the forest
- Use your Steel Axe to break the large fallen log
- Walk through the cleared path to enter the Secret Woods
Once inside, you'll find 6 large hardwood stumps that respawn every day. This area is accessible year-round, including winter, making it an excellent source of hardwood when other foraging options are limited.
Best Hardwood Farming Strategies
Different players have different options based on their farm map choice and progression. Here's how to optimize your hardwood gathering:
1. Secret Woods Daily Run (All Players)
Yield: 12 hardwood/day
Time: ~2 minutes
Requirements: Steel Axe
Visit the Secret Woods every day to harvest the 6 respawning stumps. This is the most reliable method for all players regardless of farm type.
2. Forest Farm Strategy
Yield: 28 hardwood/day (12 Secret Woods + 16 Farm)
Time: ~5 minutes
Requirements: Forest Farm map choice
Forest Farm players have access to 8 additional large stumps in the southwest corner of their farm. Combined with Secret Woods, this provides the most consistent daily yield.
3. Lumberjack Profession
Yield: Variable (25% chance per tree)
Requirements: Foraging Level 10, choose Lumberjack path
At Level 5 Foraging, choose Forester. At Level 10, choose Lumberjack. This gives you a 25% chance to get hardwood when chopping any normal tree. While inconsistent, this can yield significant hardwood over time.
Stardew Valley 1.6 Update: What's New?
The Stardew Valley 1.6 update (released in 2024) brought several quality-of-life improvements and new content. While the core hardwood mechanics remain unchanged, here's what players should know:
- New Crafting Recipes: Some new recipes were added that may utilize hardwood in future updates
- UI Improvements: Better inventory management makes tracking hardwood easier
- Balance Changes: Some spawn rates and drop chances were tweaked for better game balance
- Secret Woods: Remain the premier location for hardwood farming post-1.6
Tip: Always check the official patch notes for the most current information, as ConcernedApe continues to update the game with new content and balance changes.
Can I Buy Hardwood in Stardew Valley?
No, hardwood cannot be purchased from any vendor in Stardew Valley, including Robin's carpenter shop or the traveling cart. The only ways to obtain hardwood are by harvesting tree stumps, breaking large logs, or through the special sources mentioned above. This limitation makes hardwood a truly valuable resource that must be gathered through effort and planning.
What Can You Use Hardwood For?
Hardwood is used for some of the most valuable items in the game. Here's a complete breakdown of every recipe, building, and use for this precious resource.
Crafting Recipes Using Hardwood
| RECIPE | INGREDIENTS | SOURCE | USE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain Totem | 1 Hardwood 1 Truffle Oil 5 Pine Tar | Foraging Level 9 | Increases chance of rain tomorrow |
| Cask | 1 Hardwood 20 Wood | Cellar Upgrade | Ages cheese & wine |
| Worm Bin | 25 Hardwood 50 Fiber 1 Gold Bar 1 Iron Bar | Fishing Level 8 | Produces bait |
| Warp Totem: Farm | 1 Hardwood 20 Fiber 1 Honey | Foraging Level 8 | Warps to farmhouse |
| Warp Totem: Mountains | 1 Hardwood 25 Stone 1 Honey | Foraging Level 7 | Warps to mountains |
| Warp Totem: Beach | 1 Hardwood 10 Fiber 2 Coral | Foraging Level 6 | Warps to beach |
| Cork Bobber | 5 Hardwood 10 Slime 10 Wood | Fishing Level 7 | Increases fishing bar size |
| Oil Maker | 20 Hardwood 50 Slime 1 Gold Bar | Farming Level 8 | Produces truffle oil |
| Cheese Press | 10 Hardwood 45 Stone 45 Wood 1 Copper Bar | Farming Level 6 | Makes cheese from milk |
| Hardwood Fence | 1 Hardwood | Foraging Level 6 | Most durable fence (no decay) |
Note: Recipe sources have been corrected for accuracy. Warp Totems are learned through Foraging skills, not Fishing as previously stated in some guides.
Buildings That Require Hardwood
Hardwood is essential for several important building projects on your farm:
| BUILDING | HARDWOOD COST | OTHER COSTS | PURPOSE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stable | 100 Hardwood | 5 Iron Bars 10,000g | Horse storage & riding |
| Farmhouse Upgrade 2 | 150 Hardwood | 50,000g | Unlock children, kitchen expansion |
| Mill | Not required (uses regular wood) | - | Wheat into flour, beets into sugar |
| Gold Clock | Not required (uses stone & gold) | - | Prevents debris on farm |
Community Center Bundles
Hardwood is required to complete the Construction Bundle in the Crafts Room:
- Construction Bundle: 10 Hardwood required
- Reward: 30 Coal & 5 Hardwood Fence recipes
Quests Using Hardwood
Robin will occasionally request hardwood through the mail:
- Robin's Request: 10 Hardwood on Winter 21 (by mail)
- Reward: 500 Gold and 1 Friendship Heart with Robin
Gift Guide: Who Likes Hardwood?
Hardwood is a loved gift for only one villager, making it highly situational for gift-giving:
| VILLAGER | GIFT REACTION | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Robin | Loves It | She's the carpenter - makes perfect sense! |
Who Dislikes Hardwood: Almost everyone else! 30+ villagers dislike hardwood as a gift, so only give it to Robin. The NPCs who dislike hardwood include Alex, Abigail, Clint, Linus, Leah, Caroline, Dwarf, Demetrius, Elliot, Krobus, Jodi, Jas, Harvey, George, Haley, Gus, Penny, Pierre, Evelyn, Emily, Wizard, Vincent, Maru, Lewis, Sandy, Sebastian, Sam, Pam, Kent, Willy, Shane, and Marnie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Secret Woods in Stardew Valley?
The Secret Woods is located in the southwest corner of Cindersap Forest. To access it, you'll need a Steel Axe to break the large fallen log blocking the entrance. Once cleared, the path remains open for the rest of the game.
What axe do I need to cut hardwood Stardew Valley?
You need a Copper Axe (first upgrade) to harvest tree stumps for 2 hardwood each. For large logs that give 8 hardwood, you'll need a Steel Axe (second upgrade).
Can you plant hardwood trees in Stardew Valley?
No, hardwood trees (Mahogany) cannot be planted by players. They only spawn naturally in specific locations like the Secret Woods and certain areas of the Forest Farm. The Lumberjack profession is the closest you can get to "growing" hardwood from regular trees.
Is hardwood farmable in winter?
Yes! The Secret Woods hardwood stumps respawn daily year-round, including winter. This makes hardwood one of the few forage resources consistently available during the winter season.
What's the fastest way to get hardwood?
The Forest Farm map type provides the most hardwood per day (28 total with Secret Woods). For non-Forest Farm players, the daily Secret Woods run for 12 hardwood is the most reliable method.
Does hardwood regrow?
The large stumps in Secret Woods respawn daily, as do the stumps on Forest Farm. Large logs that you find in the world do not respawn, so they're one-time harvests.
Can you buy hardwood from Robin?
No. Despite Robin being the carpenter and loving hardwood as a gift, she does not sell it. You must gather all your hardwood yourself through the methods described in this guide.
Pro Tips for Efficient Hardwood Farming
- Save before chopping: When you find a large log outside of daily respawn areas, save your game first. If you don't get hardwood (rare bug), reload and try again.
- Plan ahead: Stockpile hardwood in chests before major building projects like the Stable or Farmhouse upgrades.
- Use fences wisely: Hardwood fences never decay, making them perfect for permanent animal pens and crop borders.
- Winter farming: Use winter to focus on hardwood gathering when crops aren't available.
- Warp Totems: Craft Warp Totems: Farm to quickly return home from hardwood runs.