Lumber Weight Calculator
Calculate lumber weight from species, board dimensions, and length.
Covers pine, oak, fir, cedar, and hardwoods for load planning and structural calculations.
Lumber weight depends on the wood species, moisture content, and dimensions. You need the weight for structural calculations, shipping, and simply knowing whether two people can carry it.
Formula:
Weight = Volume × Density
Volume = Thickness × Width × Length
For dimensional lumber (e.g., 2×4), the actual dimensions are smaller than the nominal size:
| Nominal Size | Actual Size (in) | Actual Size (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 1×4 | 0.75 × 3.5 | 19 × 89 |
| 2×4 | 1.5 × 3.5 | 38 × 89 |
| 2×6 | 1.5 × 5.5 | 38 × 140 |
| 2×8 | 1.5 × 7.25 | 38 × 184 |
| 2×10 | 1.5 × 9.25 | 38 × 235 |
| 2×12 | 1.5 × 11.25 | 38 × 286 |
| 4×4 | 3.5 × 3.5 | 89 × 89 |
| 6×6 | 5.5 × 5.5 | 140 × 140 |
Common wood densities (air-dried, ~12% moisture):
| Species | Density (kg/m³) | Density (lb/ft³) |
|---|---|---|
| Pine (Southern Yellow) | 560 | 35 |
| Douglas Fir | 530 | 33 |
| Spruce | 430 | 27 |
| Cedar (Western Red) | 370 | 23 |
| Oak (Red) | 660 | 41 |
| Oak (White) | 770 | 48 |
| Maple (Hard) | 710 | 44 |
| Walnut | 640 | 40 |
| Poplar | 455 | 28 |
When to use this calculator:
- Estimating structural loads for framing
- Calculating shipping weights for lumber orders
- Determining if you can safely carry lumber in your vehicle
- Planning crane or forklift capacity for large deliveries
Practical example: A standard 2×4 Douglas Fir board that is 8 feet (2.44 m) long weighs about 4.38 kg (9.7 lb). A stack of 100 such boards comes to roughly 438 kg (965 lb), which is about half the payload of a modern half-ton pickup and far more than any car trunk should see.
Tips:
- Green (freshly cut) lumber weighs 50–100% more than air-dried lumber due to moisture.
- Pressure-treated lumber weighs 20–30% more than untreated due to chemical absorption.
- Always use actual dimensions, not nominal, for accurate weight calculations.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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