Lumber and Hardwood Weight Calculator

Calculate the weight of lumber and hardwood given the size of the boards or the volume of wood in board feet.

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Results:

Approximate Lumber Weight
 
pounds
 
kilograms
Density
 
lb / ft3
 
103 kg / m3
Total Board feet
 
bd ft
Learn how we calculated this below

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Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.

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How to Estimate How Much Wood Weighs

While the weight of the type of wood or lumber you choose may not impact the outcome of a project, it can impact other factors. Lumber weight can influence the shipping cost for your project.

Very heavy lumber may also require additional workers to help load and move it, as well as additional help when building. In addition, very dense and heavy lumber may be more difficult to work with.

Therefore, understanding the weight of the lumber you are choosing and being able to apply that weight for the entire load can help you plan better for delivery costs and how many people you may need on the job.

The weight of wood varies by the species of wood and the moisture content of the lumber. Green lumber will weigh significantly more than kiln-dried boards due to its higher density and water content.

Find Wood Density

To find how much wood weighs, start by finding the density of the wood. Use the wood density chart below to find the approximate density for different species of wood.

Find Wood Volume

Once you have the density of the wood, find the volume of the wood in cubic feet or cubic meters. If you know the board footage of the lumber, divide it by 12 to find the volume in cubic feet. Our board footage calculator can help find the volume of your wood in board feet.

You can also calculate the volume of lumber by measuring the length, width, and thickness in inches and multiplying them together. This will get the volume in cubic inches. Divide the volume in cubic inches by 1,728 to find the volume in cubic feet. Our cubic inches to cubic feet conversion calculator can help with this.

Find the Weight of Wood

After you have the density and the volume, multiply them together to find the total weight of that specific piece. To find the weight of the total load, you will need to get the number of pieces of lumber, then multiply this against the weight of a single piece of lumber.

For plywood, learn how to estimate the weight of plywood panels.

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Density of Wood Species

The density or hardness of wood varies by species, and the value is necessary to approximate the weight of lumber by volume. In this table, the density of different species of wood is expressed as weight in pounds per cubic foot and kilograms per cubic meter.

The density will vary based on the moisture content of the wood.

Keep in mind that these numbers may vary depending on the age of the wood, moisture levels, and even the temperature. Things like general humidity and how the lumber was stored may impact total moisture content.

Densities for various wood species measured in kilograms per cubic meter and pounds per cubic foot.
Wood Species Density
10³ kg/m³ lb/ft³
Alder 0.4 – 0.7 26 – 42
Afrormosia 0.71 44
Agba 0.51 32
Apple 0.65 – 0.85 41 – 52
Ash, White 0.65 – 0.85 40 – 53
Ash, Black 0.54 33
Ash, European 0.71 44
Aspen 0.42 26
Balsa 0.11 – 0.16 7 – 9
Bamboo 0.3 – 0.4 19 – 25
Basswood 0.3 – 0.6 20 – 37
Beech 0.7 – 0.9 32 – 56
Birch, British 0.67 42
Birch, European 0.67 42
Box 0.95 – 1.2 59 – 72
Butternut 0.38 24
Cedar of Lebanon 0.58 36
Cedar, Western Red 0.38 23
Cherry, European 0.63 – 0.9 43 – 56
Chestnut, Sweet 0.56 30
Cottonwood 0.41 25
Cypress 0.51 32
Dogwood 0.75 47
Douglas Fir 0.53 33
Ebony 1.1 – 1.3 69 – 83
Elm, American 0.57 35
Elm, English 0.55 – 0.6 34 – 37
Elm, Dutch 0.56 35
Elm, Wych 0.69 43
Elm, Rock 0.82 50
Gaboon 0.43 27
Greenheart 1.04 64.9
Gum, Black 0.59 36
Gum, Blue 0.82 50
Gum, Red 0.54 35
Hackberry 0.62 38
Hemlock, Western 0.5 31
Hickory 0.83 37 – 58
Holly 0.75 47
Iroko 0.66 41
Juniper 0.55 35
Keruing 0.74 46
Larch 0.5 – 0.55 31 – 35
Lignum Vitae 1.17 – 1.33 73 – 83
Lime, European 0.56 35
Locust 0.65 – 0.7 42 – 44
Logwood 0.9 57
Madrone 0.74 45
Magnolia 0.57 35
Mahogany, African 0.5 – 0.85 31 – 53
Mahogany, Cuban 0.66 40
Mahogany, Honduras 0.65 40
Mahogany, Spanish 0.85 53
Maple 0.6 – 0.75 39 – 47
Meranti, Dark Red 0.71 44
Myrtle 0.66 40
Oak 0.6 – 0.9 37 – 56
Oak, American Red 0.74 45
Oak, American White 0.77 47
Oak, English Brown 0.74 45
Obeche 0.39 24
Oregon Pine 0.53 33
Parana Pine 0.56 35
Pear 0.6 – 0.7 38 – 45
Pecan 0.77 47
Persimmon 0.9 55
Philippine Red Luan 0.59 36
Pine, Corsican 0.51 32
Pine, Pitch 0.67 52
Pine, Radiata 0.48 30
Pine, Scots 0.51 32
Pine, White 0.35 – 0.5 22 – 31
Pine, Yellow 0.37 – 0.59 23 – 37
Plane, European 0.64 40
Plum 0.65 – 0.8 41 – 49
Poplar 0.35 – 0.5 22 – 31
Ramin 0.67 42
Redwood, American 0.45 28
Redwood, European 0.51 32
Rosewood, Bolivian 0.82 50
Rosewood, East Indian 0.9 55
Sapele 0.64 40
Satinwood 0.95 59
Spruce 0.4 – 0.7 25 – 44
Spruce, Canadian 0.45 28
Spruce, Norway 0.43 27
Spruce, Sitka 0.45 28
Spruce, Western White 0.45 28
Sycamore 0.4 – 0.6 24 – 37
Tanguile 0.64 39
Teak, Indian 0.65 – 0.9 41 – 55
Teak, African .98 61
Teak, Burma 0.74 45
Utile 0.66 41
Walnut 0.65 – 0.7 40 – 44
Walnut, Amer Black 0.63 39
Walnut, Claro 0.49 30
Walnut, European 0.57 35
Water Gum 1 62
Whitewood, European 0.47 29
Willow 0.4 – 0.6 24 – 37
Yew 0.67 42
Zebrawood 0.79 49

You can also learn more about the actual size of lumber.

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