Instantly estimate the weight of your wood pieces — from MDF to solid oak, including plywood and OSB — before ordering or loading your vehicle. Enter the dimensions and density of your material: the calculator gives you the result in seconds, piece by piece or in batch.
How to calculate wood weight?
The weight of a piece of wood depends on its volume and the density of the species. The formula is straightforward:
m = ρ × L × W × T
- m = mass in kilograms (kg)
- ρ = wood density in kg/m³
- L = length in metres
- W = width in metres
- T = thickness in metres
Practical example
An oak board 2 m × 0.3 m × 0.02 m with a density of 720 kg/m³:
m = 0.720 × 2 × 0.3 × 0.02 = 0.864 kg
⚠️ Note on moisture content: densities listed correspond to dry wood at 12% moisture content (EN 13183 standard). Green or wet wood may weigh 20 to 50% more.
Common wood and board densities (kg/m³)
| Material | Density (kg/m³) |
|---|---|
| MDF | 720 |
| Plywood | 530 |
| OSB | 600 |
| Melamine board | 720 |
| Oak | 720 |
| Pine | 530 |
| Beech | 720 |
| Poplar | 450 |
| Fir / Spruce | 650 |
| Birch plywood | 680 |
Common use cases
- Transport & logistics quotes — Calculate payload before renting a trailer or arranging delivery.
- Furniture design — Check that your shelves or panels don’t exceed the load rating of your fixings.
- Cut optimisation — Combined with Offcut’s cut optimisation software, anticipate total batch weight before cutting.
- Timber construction projects — Size lightweight frames, decks, or glulam structures.
- Sawmill purchases — Estimate the weight of a solid wood slab for handling purposes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the density of MDF?
MDF has a standard density of 720 kg/m³. Some moisture-resistant or ultra-light MDF grades range between 600 and 800 kg/m³.
Is plywood lighter than MDF?
Generally yes. Standard plywood weighs around 530 kg/m³ versus 720 kg/m³ for MDF. For an 18 mm shelf, this is a notable difference over large surfaces.
How do I convert kg/m³ to g/cm³?
Simply divide by 1,000. A density of 720 kg/m³ equals 0.72 g/cm³. This conversion is useful when reading manufacturer data sheets.
Why is green wood so much heavier?
Freshly felled wood contains free water in its cells. Its moisture content can exceed 80%, sometimes doubling its mass compared to dry wood at 12%.
Can I use this calculator for glulam (GLT)?
Yes. Softwood glulam has a density of approximately 470–500 kg/m³. Enter this value manually in the density field of the calculator.
Also optimise your cuts with Offcut’s cut optimisation software.