Lumber Weight Calculator
Lumber weight from volume and species in lb or kg.
What it does
Lumber weight follows volume times species density. Dealers tally board feet, while density comes from wood science tables at a stated moisture, so multiplying the two gives a planning weight for hauling, racks, and shipping.
The default is 80 bf of red oak. At 3.67 lb per bf the stack weighs 293.6 lb. Metric defaults convert the same stack to 0.19 m3 at 705 kg/m3 and give 134 kg, a match within rounding of volume.
Moisture decides real weight. Fresh sawn stock holds free water far above the 12% base used here, and even air dry boards drift with shop humidity. Weigh one board when the load is near a truck or rack limit.
Species choice is approximate by design. Growth rate, heartwood share, and surfacing all shift density, so the 10% natural spread in wood means totals guide buying, not engineering.
How to use
- Pick imperial or metric first.
- Enter board feet or cubic meters.
- Pick the species closest to your stock.
- Read weight first, then density and volume.
- Add a margin for wet stock or mixed species.
Formula
- bf
- Lumber volume, 144 cubic inches per bf.
- lb per bf
- Species pounds per bf at 12% moisture.
- m3
- Cubic meters of solid wood.
- kg per m3
- Species kg per m3 at 12% moisture.
Densities are air dry averages near 12% moisture from the Wood Handbook data. Real boards vary about 10% by growth, cut, and exact moisture, so treat totals as planning weights. One board foot equals 0.00235974 m3.
Worked example
Example: 80 bf of red oak
80 board feet of red oak (metric 0.19 m3).
- Read density: red oak 3.67 lb per bf at 12% moisture.
- Multiply: 80 x 3.67 = 293.6 lb.
- To kg: 293.6 / 2.20462 = 133.2 kg.
- Metric check: 0.19 m3 x 705 kg/m3 = 134 kg.
- Tool shows 293.6 lb imperial and 134 kg metric.
Reference table
| Load | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| 10 bf red oak | 36.7 lb | 16.6 kg |
| 50 bf red oak | 183.5 lb | 83.2 kg |
| 80 bf red oak | 293.6 lb | 133.2 kg |
| 80 bf Douglas fir | 226.4 lb | 102.7 kg |
| 80 bf white pine | 166.4 lb | 75.5 kg |
Limits
- Air dry base only. Green wood weighs much more.
- Averages per species. Real boards vary about 10%.
- Solid wood only. No hardware or finish.
- One species per pass. Mixed loads need adding.
Common mistakes
- Using green weight for dry stock (or the reverse).
- Reading nominal sizes as actual volume.
- Forgetting 1 ft3 equals 12 bf.
- Picking the wrong oak or pine group.
- Treating the total as a rated load limit.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
50 bf of white pine?
104 lb (50 x 2.08). Metric: 0.12 m3 x 400 kg/m3 = 48 kg.
80 bf of Douglas fir?
226.4 lb (80 x 2.83).
Questions
How do you weigh lumber by board feet?
Board feet times species pounds per bf. Red oak at 80 bf is 293.6 lb.
What densities does the tool use?
3.67 lb/bf for red oak, 2.83 for Douglas fir, 2.08 for white pine at 12% moisture.
What is that in metric?
About 705 kg/m3 for red oak here (3.67 times 192.23).
Does it work in metric?
Yes. Switch to metric and enter m3 for kg, density, and volume.
What about wet lumber?
Green lumber can run 30 to 80% heavier. This page assumes 12% air dry.
Does it include hardware?
No. It weighs solid wood only. Fasteners, glue, and finish sit outside it.