Wood Weight Calculator
Estimate lumber weight by species — instant results
Densities are approximate for kiln-dried lumber at ~12% moisture content — actual weight varies with moisture and grain.
How to use this wood weight calculator
Pick your wood species from the dropdown, then enter the thickness, width, and length of each board — add more boards if you’re weighing out a whole order. The calculator handles the board foot math internally and converts straight to weight, so you don’t need to run two separate tools.
Wood weight formula
Weight is volume multiplied by density. Since a board foot is 1/12 of a cubic foot, the conversion looks like this:
So 20 board feet of white oak (47 lb/ft³) works out to (20 ÷ 12) × 47 ≈ 78 lb. Species density is the variable that matters most here — the same size board in cedar weighs less than half what it would in oak.
Common wood densities
| Species | Approx. density |
|---|---|
| Cedar, Western Red | 23 lb/ft³ |
| Poplar | 28 lb/ft³ |
| Douglas Fir | 34 lb/ft³ |
| Pine, Southern Yellow | 36 lb/ft³ |
| Maple, Soft | 38 lb/ft³ |
| Ash | 42 lb/ft³ |
| Oak, Red / Birch / Maple, Hard | 44 lb/ft³ |
| Oak, White | 47 lb/ft³ |
Why this matters before you buy
Weight decides how you move material, not just how you cut it. A dozen white oak boards can run heavier than you’d guess by looking at them — worth knowing before you plan a solo trip to the lumber yard, load a roof rack, or figure out shipping cost on an online order.