Plywood Weight Calculator
Calculate plywood weight by wood species, thickness, and sheet count.
Includes density tables for oak, walnut, birch, maple, and more.
Plywood Weight Calculation
Plywood weight depends on three factors: the wood species (density), the panel thickness, and the sheet dimensions. Different species have very different densities — a sheet of oak plywood weighs nearly twice as much as a sheet of cedar plywood.
The Formula
Weight = Volume × Density
For a standard 4×8 ft (1220 × 2440 mm) sheet: Weight (lbs) = (Thickness in inches / 12) × 32 ft² × Density (lbs/ft³)
Or in metric: Weight (kg) = Thickness (m) × 2.977 m² × Density (kg/m³)
Plywood Density Reference Table
| Species | Density (lbs/ft³) | Density (kg/m³) | Weight per 3/4" 4×8 sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balsa | 10 | 160 | 20 lbs (9 kg) |
| Cedar | 23 | 368 | 46 lbs (21 kg) |
| Pine (Southern Yellow) | 35 | 561 | 70 lbs (32 kg) |
| Poplar | 29 | 465 | 58 lbs (26 kg) |
| Birch (Baltic) | 42 | 673 | 84 lbs (38 kg) |
| Maple (Hard) | 44 | 705 | 88 lbs (40 kg) |
| Walnut (Black) | 38 | 609 | 76 lbs (34 kg) |
| Oak (Red) | 44 | 705 | 88 lbs (40 kg) |
| Oak (White) | 47 | 753 | 94 lbs (43 kg) |
| Ash | 42 | 673 | 84 lbs (38 kg) |
| Cherry | 35 | 561 | 70 lbs (32 kg) |
| MDF | 48 | 769 | 96 lbs (44 kg) |
| OSB (Oriented Strand Board) | 40 | 641 | 80 lbs (36 kg) |
| Marine Plywood | 42 | 673 | 84 lbs (38 kg) |
Important Notes About Plywood Density
Plywood is not solid wood — it consists of thin veneers glued together. The glue adds weight, and the core veneers are often a different (lighter) species than the face veneer. A “walnut plywood” panel typically has walnut face veneers over a poplar or birch core. This means real-world plywood is usually 10–15% lighter than solid wood of the same species.
The densities above reflect typical plywood panel densities (including glue and mixed cores), not solid wood values.
Worked Example
You need 6 sheets of 1/2" thick walnut plywood (4×8 ft sheets).
Per sheet: (0.5 / 12) × 32 × 38 = 50.7 lbs Total: 50.7 × 6 = 304 lbs (138 kg)
Common Plywood Thicknesses
| Nominal | Actual | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4" | 0.205" | 5.2 mm |
| 3/8" | 0.354" | 9.0 mm |
| 1/2" | 0.451" | 11.5 mm |
| 5/8" | 0.578" | 14.7 mm |
| 3/4" | 0.703" | 17.9 mm |
| 1" | 0.953" | 24.2 mm |
These actual thicknesses are slightly less than nominal due to sanding. This calculator uses nominal thickness for simplicity, but actual weight will be about 5–8% less.