Before you load the truck, lift a beam or size a bracket, you need to know how much your lumber actually weighs — and it varies a lot by species and moisture. Enter your board dimensions below to get weight per board, total weight in pounds and kilograms, and board feet instantly.
Your lumber
How the math works
Weight is volume × density, adjusted for moisture:
Volume per board (cu ft) = thickness ″ × width ″ × (length ft × 12) ÷ 1,728
Weight per board = volume × species density × moisture factor
Total weight = weight per board × quantity
Worked example: a 2×6×10 Southern Yellow Pine board is entered at its actual dressed size — 1.5″ × 5.5″ × 10 ft — kiln-dried, quantity 10. Volume per board is 1.5 × 5.5 × 120 ÷ 1,728 = 0.573 cu ft; weight per board is 0.573 × 36 = 20.6 lb; total weight is 206.3 lb (93.6 kg). Board feet from the actual dimensions are 1.5 × 5.5 × 10 ÷ 12 = 6.88 per board, 68.8 total.
Moisture factors used here: kiln-dried (~12%) ×1.0, pressure-treated wet ×1.3, green ×1.4. Green lumber can hold a surprising amount of water — a fresh board can weigh 40% more than the same board once dried.
Tips before you lift or load
- Enter actual dimensions, not nominal. A “2×6” actually measures 1.5″ × 5.5″. Entering 2 × 6 would overstate the weight by about 45%. Measure the board if you are unsure.
- Wet lumber is heavy lumber. Pressure-treated boards straight from the yard and green lumber are far heavier than kiln-dried — allow for it when carrying, stacking and fastening.
- Check your load limit first. Add up the total weight here, then compare it with your truck, trailer or roof-rack rating — and with what you can safely lift. See the FAQs below.
- Pick the right species for the job. Our beginner’s wood guide explains which species suit first projects, and the board foot calculator works out volume and cost for the same order.
Frequently asked questions
Why does green lumber weigh so much more than kiln-dried lumber?
Freshly sawn (“green”) wood is full of water in its cell walls and cavities. As it dries to around 12% moisture content it can lose 30–40% of its weight. That is why this calculator applies a ×1.4 factor for green lumber and ×1.0 for kiln-dried — and why a green board shrinks and can warp as it dries.
What is the difference between nominal and actual dimensions?
Nominal size is the name the board is sold by (“2×6”); actual (dressed) size is what you measure after surfacing — 1.5″ × 5.5″ for a 2×6. Lumber is usually priced on nominal size but weighs what its actual size weighs, so always enter actual dimensions here.
How much lumber can my truck carry?
Check your truck’s payload rating (on the door sticker or in the manual) — a typical half-ton pickup is rated around 1,500–2,000 lb of payload including passengers. Add up your total weight with this calculator, keep a margin, and spread the load evenly. When in doubt, make two trips.
Does plywood weigh the same as solid lumber?
No — plywood has its own density (roughly 30–40 lb/cu ft depending on species and glue), and it is sold by the sheet, not the board. A standard 4×8 sheet of ¾″ plywood weighs about 60–75 lb. For sheet goods, use our wood fence calculator for outdoor builds or measure the sheet and apply the same volume × density idea.