Lumber Weight Calculator — How Much Does Lumber Weigh?
Calculate the weight of any piece of lumber by species, size, and length. Useful for structural loading, shipping, and crane lift planning.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select the wood species — choose "green" for fresh lumber or "dry" for kiln-dried lumber
- Select the nominal lumber size from the dropdown
- Enter the length of each piece in feet
- Enter the number of pieces (quantity)
- Click "Calculate Lumber Weight" to see weight per piece and total weight
How the Calculation Works
volume_cf = (thickness_in × width_in × length_ft) / 144
weight_lbs = volume_cf × density_lbs_per_cf
total_weight_lbs = weight_lbs × quantity
total_weight_kg = total_weight_lbs × 0.453592
board_feet = (thickness_in × width_in × length_ft) / 12 Lumber weight is calculated by finding the volume in cubic feet (thickness × width in inches multiplied by length in feet, divided by 144), then multiplying by the species density in pounds per cubic foot. Green lumber densities are much higher than dry because the wood cells are still saturated with moisture. Multiply by quantity to get total weight for a full delivery or lift.
Variables:
- thickness_in: Actual thickness of the lumber in inches (not nominal — a 2x is actually 1.5")
- width_in: Actual width of the lumber in inches (not nominal — a 2×4 is actually 3.5" wide)
- length_ft: Length of the board in feet
- density_lbs_per_cf: Weight per cubic foot for the selected species — varies widely by species and moisture content
- quantity: Number of identical pieces in the load
Pro Tips
- Green (fresh-cut) lumber is significantly heavier than kiln-dried — weight can drop 30–40% when dry
- Pressure-treated lumber is the heaviest standard lumber due to chemical treatment
- For structural loading calculations, use dry weights — building codes assume seasoned lumber
- A standard unit of framing lumber (294 pcs of 2×4×8) weighs approximately 2,800 lbs
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 2×4×8 weigh?
A dry Southern Pine 2×4×8 weighs about 9 lbs. Green (freshly cut) lumber of the same size weighs closer to 13 lbs due to moisture content. Use this calculator to get exact figures by species.
How much does a 4×4×8 pressure-treated post weigh?
Approximately 32 lbs. Pressure-treated lumber absorbs preservative chemicals during treatment, making it noticeably heavier than untreated lumber of the same species.
Why is my lumber heavier than expected?
Freshly cut (green) lumber contains significant moisture — sometimes more than 100% moisture content by dry weight. Green lumber can weigh 30–50% more than kiln-dried lumber of the same size. If your lumber feels heavy, it is likely green or only partially dried.
How do I estimate the weight of a lumber delivery?
Multiply the number of pieces by the weight per piece using this calculator, then add 10% for moisture variation and packaging. For crane lifts, always use a certified scale or rigging engineer to verify actual load weight.
Does the wood species affect weight significantly?
Yes, dramatically. Dense hardwood species like oak can weigh nearly twice as much as lightweight softwood species like cedar at the same moisture content and dimensions. Always select the correct species for accurate weight estimates.