Lumber Weight Calculator
Estimate board weight from wood volume and species density.
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What this tool does
Estimate board weight from wood volume and species density. Typical dry densities vary by tree, grade and moisture. This is not a certified shipping weight.
How to use the Lumber Weight Calculator
- Enter or select actual thickness in in.
- Enter or select actual width in in.
- Enter or select board length in ft.
- Enter or select board quantity.
- Enter or select wood species.
- Enter or select additional moisture weight (%).
- Read the calculated result; change any measurement to compare alternatives.
Formula
weight = board feet/12 × density × (1 + moisture/100)
- thickness
- Actual thickness (in, before metric conversion)
- width
- Actual width (in, before metric conversion)
- length
- Board length (ft, before metric conversion)
- count
- Board quantity
- species
- Wood species
- moisture
- Additional moisture weight (%)
Typical dry densities vary by tree, grade and moisture. This is not a certified shipping weight.
Worked example
For lumber weight calculator, the following measurements illustrate the exact method: Actual thickness: 1; Actual width: 6; Board length: 8; Board quantity: 10; Wood species: pine; Additional moisture weight (%): 0.
Inputs
- Actual thickness1 in
- Actual width6 in
- Board length8 ft
- Board quantity10
- Wood speciespine (30 lb/cu ft)
- Additional moisture weight (%)0
Result
- Estimated lumber weight100 lb
- Wood volume3.33 cu ft
Typical dry wood densities
| Species | lb/cu ft |
|---|---|
| pine | 30 |
| cedar | 23 |
| oak | 44 |
| maple | 44 |
| walnut | 38 |
| douglasFir | 33 |
Results explained
- Estimated lumber weight
- Estimated lumber weight from the formula above, expressed in lb before metric conversion. Typical dry densities vary by tree, grade and moisture. This is not a certified shipping weight.
- Wood volume
- Wood volume from the formula above, expressed in cuft before metric conversion. Typical dry densities vary by tree, grade and moisture. This is not a certified shipping weight.
Frequently asked questions
Multiply solid cubic feet by species density and your extra moisture allowance.
Use actual measured thickness and width unless your supplier explicitly prices on nominal rough dimensions. A nominal 2 × 4 is typically 1.5 × 3.5 inches after surfacing.
No unless a waste input is shown. Add stock for end trimming, defects and kerf rather than treating the computed total as a guaranteed cut plan.
Length inputs with a unit can be switched to metric; internal formulas keep a consistent inch/foot basis. Board foot outputs remain board feet.
Wet or pressure-treated wood can be substantially heavier than the dry estimate.