Lumber Weight Calculator

How the weight is worked out

Timber weight is volume multiplied by density. This calculator works out the volume in board feet, then multiplies by the species density. One board foot is one twelfth of a cubic foot, so:

weight in pounds = board feet × density in lb/ft³ ÷ 12

Red oak at 44 lb per cubic foot works out at roughly 3.7 pounds per board foot. A stack of twenty board feet of it is about 73 pounds, which is more than most people expect and considerably more than a single trip to the car.

Why your board will not weigh exactly this

Density figures are quoted at around 12% moisture content, which is roughly where timber settles indoors. Freshly milled or kiln-wet stock can be substantially heavier, sometimes half again as much for softwoods. Density also varies between trees of the same species, so treat the answer as a planning figure rather than a scale reading. If the number matters for a load limit, weigh a sample board and scale up.

What this is actually useful for

• Getting it home. A sheet of MDF is close to 100 pounds. Cars have load limits and so do backs.
• Hanging it on a wall. Shelf brackets and wall fixings are rated by weight, and the shelf itself counts before you put anything on it.
• Moving furniture you built. A solid oak bench is a very different proposition to a pine one.
• Choosing a species. If the finished piece needs to be carried regularly, density matters as much as looks.

Picking a species for a project? Types of wood for beginners covers what each one is actually good for, and plywood vs MDF vs solid wood compares the sheet goods. To price timber rather than weigh it, use the board foot calculator.