Where To Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – 10 Best Places (2024)

Railroad ties are unique. They add character, depth, and warmth to a garden or landscaping project. So where to buy railroad ties, you ask?

You can buy railroad ties from Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, A&K Railroad Material, Rural King & Bridgewell Resources. You have many other great options, too; let’s dive in!

Let’s explore your options in further detail so you can make the most informed decision, select the right tie and get the best price!

Read on.

Where To Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – 10 Best Places (1)

1. Home Depot

Home Depot sells used railroad ties that are creosote treated. (remember to use gloves and protective clothing when handling railroad ties.

You will have to check online to make sure your local store has some in stock.

They have 2,300 stores across North America.

Entering in your postcode on their website will show the closest store that has railroad ties in stock and also the amount.

Railroad Tie Specifications & Details

Size

7 in x 9 in x 8ft (96 in)

Price

$29.98 each

Delivery

Home Depot offers a flat fee of $79 for 1 -100 used railroad ties.

The store will set delivery time and date at the time of ordering.

You will need to contact them directly to change delivery times.

Pickup Options

You can opt for in-store pickup too; if the store has availability for this, there will be an option on the website.

Opening Hours

You can order online 24/7 or Home Depots are generally open Mon-Sat 6:00am -10:00pm & Sun: 7:00am – 8:00pm

Availability

Home Depot usually has railroad ties for sale. As we know, that can get hard to come by, especially in spring.

A great thing about Home Depot is that if there is no stock available in your local store, they will show you the next closest store and stock options.

Return Policy

Home Depot states that returns are available, but it is up to you to organize transport.

Further Important Details

Some further important information from Home Depot about their used railroad ties:

  • Used railroad ties weigh approximately 150-200 pounds.
  • Home Depot will not cut used railroad ties in-store.
  • Used railroad ties are not illegal to use or sell.
  • Used 16-in ties are not available, but new 16 ties are; check your local store.
  • Sizes may vary between each tie; please allow for a variance of +/- 1/2”.
  • Home Depot does have a helpful chat on its website to ask any questions.
  • 80% of customers recommend this product
  • Home Depot does not offer a military discount on building materials
  • Always use gloves and protective clothing when handling creosote treat ties.

Contact

Please contact Home Depot here to place an order.

Another great option is Lowe’s; let’s see what railroad tie options they have.

Where To Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – 10 Best Places (2)

2. Lowe’s

Lowes also has used railroad ties for sale which are another great option to consider.

Lowe’s has 2,197 stores across North America, so there is bound to be one near you!

Let’s check out their options.

Railroad Tie Specifications & Details

Size

7 in x 9 in x 8.5ft (slightly longer than Home Depots)

Price

$22.58 each BUT prices can be as low as $15 per tie!

Note: Lowes does not price match their own stores, only competitors’ stores!

Delivery

Lowes offers delivery for all orders $50+ of railroad ties but states that you must allow 7-10 days for delivery.

They charge $79 for 1 – 100 railroad ties.

Pickup Options

Lowes offers in-store and kerbside pickup too. If the store has availability for this, there will be an option on the website at the time of ordering.

Opening Hours

You can order online 24/7 or Lowe’s Stores are generally open from Mon – Sat 6:00am -10:00pm & Sun: 8:00am – 8:00pm

Availability

Lowe’s normally has railroad ties for sale, but they do sell out.

Although they will direct you to the nearest store with availability, it’s best to purchase your railroad ties in advance.

Return Policy

Returns are possible but painful and take time, so better to choose in-store to be sure.

Please contact the company directly with any questions.

Further Important Details

  • 80% of customers recommend these railroad ties
  • Lowe’s used railroad ties are 0.5ft longer than Home Depot’s
  • Lowe’s used railroad ties are $22.58 or $7.40 cheaper per tie
  • For regular buyers, Lowe’s has a mobile app you can use too
  • You don’t have control of quality when ordering online, something to keep in mind.
  • Grades of ties can vary dramatically; best to pick in-store
  • Lowe’s offers a 10% military discount

Contact

You can check out Lowe’s website here.

Another great option is Menards; let’s check them out below.

Where To Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – 10 Best Places (3)

3. Menards

Although a lot smaller than Home Depot and Lowe’s, Menards still has 335 stores in about 15 states and is another great option to buy railroad ties.

Let’s check out what they offer.

Railroad Tie Specifications & Details

Size

7 in x 9 in x 8 ft (same size as Home Depot)

Price

$23.99 each ( $21.35 with Mail-In Rebate)

Delivery

Menards does offer delivery, but it can get expensive, up to $200+ depending on size and location.

Delivery is calculated upon checkout.

Pickup Options

If the store has stock, there will be an option on the website at the time of ordering.

Opening Hours

You can order online 24/7 or Menards Stores are open Mon-Sat 6:00am – 9:00 pm & Sunday 7:00am – 8:00pm

Availability

Railroad tie availability can vary dramatically; make sure to call in advance.

Although they will direct you to the nearest store with availability, it’s best to purchase your railroad ties in advance.

Further Important Details

  • Menards no longer offer a military discount.
  • Unlike Home Depot & Lowe’s, Menards has no customer reviews on railroad ties
  • Delivery can be very expensive
  • Some stores may require a minimum order quantity
Where To Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – 10 Best Places (4)

4. A&K Railroad Materials

A&K Railroad materials have been selling ties for over 60 years and are the largest seller of railroad ties in the U.S.

They pride themselves on having constant stock, unlike some other sellers

A&K specialize in railroad ties; let’s explore their options.

Railroad Tie Specifications & Details

Size

7x 9 in, 7×8 in & 6×8 in (height/width) many lengths available, contact direct.

Price

$6 – $40+ NB: They sell as single pieces or offer bundles of 25

Delivery

They will deliver up to 50 railroad ties at one time and calculate delivery at the time of checkout.

You can get more delivered, but you will need to contact the closest store directly to confirm additional charges.

Also, they will deliver up to 100 miles from their location.

Pickup Options

Pickup is an option, and generally, if you order by 4 pm, you can pick up the next day.

Also staff will give you a hand to load your truck or trailer.

A full list of their yard locations can be found here

Opening Hours

8am – 4pm Monday – Friday

Availability

A&K railroads pride themselves on having constant stock; in fact they keep over 2 million ties over a selection of grades and lengths

Further Important Details

  • A&K Railroads grade their railroad ties, so you know what you are getting.
  • Their pricing can be more expensive, but again they sort their qualities by hand.
  • All ties delivered are bundled for delivery
  • They offer a cutting service too!

Contact

You can contact A&K here.

There is another option that is worth checking out too, let’s check out Rural King

Where To Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – 10 Best Places (5)

5. Rural King

With over 130 stores in 30 states, Rural King is another worth exploring for railroad ties.

Their website reviews, although not as plentiful as some of the bigger stores, look great!

Let’s check out what they have

Railroad Tie Specifications & Details

Size

7x 9 in x 8 ft

Price

$19.99

Delivery

Contact Rural King directly

Pickup Options

Pickup is an option and can be selected at check out.

Opening Hours

8am – 4pm Monday – Friday

Availability

On selecting your closest store, their website will show the quantity available.

Further Important Details

  • Rural King is mainly located in the Eastern states.
  • Each store will have a different selection and potentially different grades
  • Their ties weigh 185 lbs

Contact

You can contact Rural King here.

Where To Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – 10 Best Places (6)

6. Bridgewell Resources

Ok, so these guys are serious. I have not ordered from them, nor have any of my mates. But I have been to two of their yards, and it’s impressive.

There is one “BUT.”

And it is big but they only sell in truckloads!

Furthermore, a truckload is typically 250 ties!

So, If you have a serious size job, it is worth calling them for a quote.

Contact

You can contact Bridgewell Resources here.

Where To Buy Railroad Ties – My Final Say

If you are buying online, you have no control over quality.

All major stores seem to have a mixture of good and bad ties.

Customer reviews show time and time again it is the luck of the draw what you get when you order online.

You are always better off hand-pick railroad ties in the shop.

Ok, so let’s compare your options so far.

Railroad Ties For Sale at Retail Store Summary Table

StoreDimensionsCreosote TreatedPriceQualityDeliveryPickup
1. Home Depot7 in x 9 in x 8ft (96 in)Yes$29.98Used/Mixed$79Yes
2. Lowe’s7 in x 9 in x 8.5ft (102 in)Yes$15.00 – $22.58Used/Mixed$79Yes
3. Menards7 in x 9 in x 8ft (96 in)Yes$25.73 – $29.26Used/Mixed**poaYes
4. Rural King7 in x 9 in x 8ft (96 in)Yes$19.99Used/Graded**poaYEs
5. A&K Railroad*MultipleYes$6.00 – $40+Graded**poaYes
6. Bridgewell* MultipleYespoaGraded**poaYes

Ok, so what about the other options of where to buy railroad ties?

Well, it is time to think a little bit out of the box.

Where To Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – 10 Best Places (7)

7) Facebook Marketplace

Jump online, and check out Facebook Marketplace.

Often you will find great deals, leftovers, and potentially free railroad ties that people just want to be taken away!

I’ve succeeded, and I am not even that competent with Facebook!

Check out Facebook Marketplace here.

Where To Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – 10 Best Places (8)

8) Craigslist

Yep, they can be found here too.

Again, sometimes you will find a couple on offer. Otherwise, you can find heaps and be lucky!

It comes down to luck and timing, so always keep an eye out to see what is around your local area.

Often people will want excess ties removed, and you might get them for free!

You can check out Craigslist here.

Where To Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – 10 Best Places (9)

9) Offer Up

Ok, so if Craigslist had a competitor, this would be it.

Offer up is another marketplace, but you must download the app.

Again, it is not a give, but especially coming into Spring time, you will see railroad ties pop up here.

So, worth monitoring.

You can check out OfferUp here.

Where To Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – 10 Best Places (10)

10) Local Lumber or Landscaping Stores

So you still haven’t found what you were looking for or you’d like to compare prices.

Go local.

We’ve compiled a list of the best local railroad tie suppliers for you, state by state!

Please scroll down to your state below to see your local options to buy railroad ties.

But, before you get into the list, please check out the below video for some great railroad tie garden inspo!

Where to Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – The Final Word

I get it, railroad ties can be tricky to buy, and sometimes the quality is not up to scratch in the big stores.

That’s why I have gone through every state in the U.S and found an incredible selection of smaller stores too.

From garden centers to landscape suppliers, I have listed out the top 3 companies in each state.

Check out this list HERE.

Where To Buy Railroad Ties For Sale – 10 Best Places (2024)

FAQs

Do railroads sell used ties? ›

Many railroad companies sell their used railroad ties to third party companies, which burn them in incinerators.

What is a #1 railroad tie? ›

#1 (Landscape Grade): This grade is solid, straight, with minimal wear in the plate area, and generally square with minimal splitting in the ends barely big enough to put your finger through. This grade yields the largest percentage of ties pulled from the track side at time of removal.

What is the difference between #1 and #2 railroad ties? ›

Grade 2 railroad ties are similar to grade 1. Grade 2 railroad ties are not the same quality. But they're good on 2-3 sides. Grade 2 railroad ties are used for retaining walls, borders, fences and bulkheads.

How much does an 8 ft railroad tie weigh? ›

Traditional wooden railroad ties are typically made from treated hardwoods like oak or treated softwoods like pine. The weight of an 8-foot wooden railroad tie can be roughly estimated to be in the range of 150 to 200 pounds (68 to 91 kilograms).

Why are railroad ties illegal? ›

Every EPA site said the same thing about the main preservative in old railroad ties: "Creosote is a possible human carcinogen and has no registered residential use." So it's actually illegal to use old railroad ties in a home landscape.

What do railroads do with old railroad ties? ›

These ties are often re-used on secondary lines or sidings, since the tie still has a lot of useful life left in it. (For example, a tie might be on a main line for 2–5 years, and then on a siding for another 15+ years.) Some railroad ties are sent to garden centers for use as landscape timbers.

What is the lifespan of a railroad tie? ›

How long do railroad ties last? Generally 20 years for creosote coated wood ties. Although there is variation depending on the amount of moisture and drainage and they can last much longer. Concrete ties, generally 40 years but they can fail early.

Are there different grades of railroad ties? ›

In terms of quality, crossties are cat- egorized either as gradeor industrial grade (IG) ties. IG ties—not good enough for a grade tie for a major railroad due to large splits or other defects, but not bad enough to cull entirely—are used in short line rail systems or freight yards.

Are railroad ties expensive? ›

Replacing a single rotted railroad tie can range from $150 up to $1,000, depending on its location in the wall.

Are old railroad ties safe? ›

Railroad ties have been used the past few decades as a cheap solution for retaining walls in residential homes and commercial properties. What homeowners don't realize, is that these cross ties are not only harmful to the environment, but they pose a huge health threat!

What is the most preferred species for railroad ties? ›

Many wood species are used for railroad crossties. The most common woods used are the oaks and what is known as the mixed hardwoods, which include the gums, maples, birches, and hickories. Several softwood species such as Douglas fir, hemlocks, true firs and several pine species are also utilized as crosstie material.

What is the proper name for a railroad tie? ›

A railroad tie, crosstie (American English), railway tie (Canadian English) or railway sleeper (Australian and British English) is a rectangular support for the rails in railroad tracks.

What can I use instead of railroad ties for landscaping? ›

Because the treatment in railroad ties migrates out of the wood, pressure-treated lumber is a much safer option. There's no worry about chemicals leaching out of the lumber. Especially if you're building a raised garden bed, pressure-treated lumber is a much better option.

Do railroad ties still have creosote? ›

The railroad industry has more than a century of experience using creosote- treated railroad ties. The vast majority of ties currently purchased are creosote and creosote/borate treated wood. Experience and testing continue to support the use of creosote preservation for wood ties.

Does CSX sell used railroad ties? ›

Please note that rail, rail ties and spikes are not available for donation or purchase.

Is it OK to take old railroad ties? ›

Disposing of railroad ties requires caution due to the hazardous chemicals they may contain, like creosote. Proper disposal methods include reusing, donating, selling, or recycling. If these aren't feasible, consider junk removal services or specific landfills for safe disposal.

Is there a market for railroad ties? ›

Railroad Tie Market size was valued at around USD 5.5 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 4.3% between 2024 to 2032, driven by increasing investment in rail infrastructure and government initiatives to expanding and modernizing railway networks to enhance transportation efficiency are the factor ...

What does BNSF do with old railroad ties? ›

BNSF recycles and/or reuses used railroad ties, oil, batteries and other recyclable materials.

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