How much does a piece of lumber weigh? It depends on three things: its actual (dressed) size, the species, and how much water is in it. This chart gives the weight per linear foot of common board, dimension and timber sizes in twelve woods, from framing softwoods to furniture hardwoods, at 12% moisture content, the condition of seasoned, kiln-dried lumber indoors. Multiply by the length for the weight of a piece; for any other size, species or moisture content use the wood weight calculator.
Lumber weight per linear foot (lb/ft at 12% moisture content)
| Size (actual in) | Southern pine | Douglas-fir | Hem-fir (western hemlock) | SPF (Engelmann spruce) | Western redcedar | Redwood (young-growth) | Yellow-poplar | Red oak | White oak | Hard maple | Black walnut | Black cherry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1×4 (3/4 x 3-1/2) | 0.65 | 0.61 | 0.57 | 0.45 | 0.41 | 0.45 | 0.54 | 0.80 | 0.87 | 0.80 | 0.70 | 0.64 |
| 1×6 (3/4 x 5-1/2) | 1.02 | 0.96 | 0.90 | 0.70 | 0.64 | 0.70 | 0.84 | 1.26 | 1.36 | 1.26 | 1.10 | 1.00 |
| 1×8 (3/4 x 7-1/4) | 1.35 | 1.27 | 1.19 | 0.93 | 0.85 | 0.93 | 1.11 | 1.67 | 1.79 | 1.67 | 1.45 | 1.32 |
| 1×12 (3/4 x 11-1/4) | 2.09 | 1.97 | 1.85 | 1.44 | 1.31 | 1.44 | 1.72 | 2.58 | 2.78 | 2.58 | 2.26 | 2.05 |
| 5/4×6 decking (1 x 5-1/2) | 1.36 | 1.28 | 1.20 | 0.94 | 0.86 | 0.94 | 1.12 | 1.68 | 1.81 | 1.68 | 1.47 | 1.34 |
| 2×4 (1-1/2 x 3-1/2) | 1.30 | 1.23 | 1.15 | 0.89 | 0.82 | 0.89 | 1.07 | 1.61 | 1.73 | 1.61 | 1.40 | 1.28 |
| 2×6 (1-1/2 x 5-1/2) | 2.05 | 1.93 | 1.80 | 1.40 | 1.28 | 1.40 | 1.68 | 2.53 | 2.72 | 2.53 | 2.21 | 2.01 |
| 2×8 (1-1/2 x 7-1/4) | 2.70 | 2.54 | 2.38 | 1.85 | 1.69 | 1.85 | 2.22 | 3.33 | 3.59 | 3.33 | 2.91 | 2.64 |
| 2×10 (1-1/2 x 9-1/4) | 3.44 | 3.24 | 3.04 | 2.36 | 2.16 | 2.36 | 2.83 | 4.25 | 4.58 | 4.25 | 3.71 | 3.37 |
| 2×12 (1-1/2 x 11-1/4) | 4.18 | 3.94 | 3.69 | 2.87 | 2.62 | 2.87 | 3.45 | 5.17 | 5.57 | 5.17 | 4.51 | 4.10 |
| 4×4 (3-1/2 x 3-1/2) | 3.04 | 2.86 | 2.68 | 2.08 | 1.91 | 2.08 | 2.50 | 3.75 | 4.04 | 3.75 | 3.28 | 2.98 |
| 4×6 (3-1/2 x 5-1/2) | 4.77 | 4.49 | 4.21 | 3.28 | 2.99 | 3.28 | 3.93 | 5.90 | 6.35 | 5.90 | 5.15 | 4.68 |
| 6×6 (dry) (5-1/2 x 5-1/2) | 7.50 | 7.06 | 6.62 | 5.15 | 4.71 | 5.15 | 6.18 | 9.26 | 9.98 | 9.26 | 8.09 | 7.35 |
Weight per board foot and per piece
| Wood | Density (lb/ft³) | Lb per board foot | 2×4, 8 ft (lb) | 2×6, 16 ft (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loblolly pine | 35.7 | 2.97 | 10.4 | 32.7 |
| Douglas-fir (Coast) | 33.6 | 2.80 | 9.8 | 30.8 |
| Western hemlock | 31.5 | 2.62 | 9.2 | 28.9 |
| Engelmann spruce | 24.5 | 2.04 | 7.1 | 22.5 |
| Western redcedar | 22.4 | 1.86 | 6.5 | 20.5 |
| Redwood (young-growth) | 24.5 | 2.04 | 7.1 | 22.5 |
| Yellow-poplar | 29.4 | 2.45 | 8.6 | 26.9 |
| Northern red oak | 44.1 | 3.67 | 12.9 | 40.4 |
| White oak | 47.5 | 3.96 | 13.9 | 43.5 |
| Sugar maple | 44.1 | 3.67 | 12.9 | 40.4 |
| Black walnut | 38.5 | 3.20 | 11.2 | 35.3 |
| Black cherry | 35.0 | 2.91 | 10.2 | 32.1 |
Wet and pressure-treated lumber weighs more
The figures above are for dry wood. Freshly sawn (green) lumber and pressure-treated lumber straight from the yard hold far more water: green softwood sapwood commonly holds more than its own dry weight in water, according to the moisture contents in Wood Handbook Table 4-1. That is why a wet treated board is so much heavier than a kiln-dried one of the same size, and why treated lumber shrinks as it dries (see the deck board spacing guide). For loads in a truck or on a floor, weigh a sample piece or use the supplier’s figure for treated stock.
Worked examples
A deck’s joists. Twenty 2×10 joists 16 ft long in kiln-dried southern pine weigh about 55 lb each, 1,101 lb in all, before any water from treatment.
Species makes a difference. An 8 ft 4×4 weighs about 23 lb in Douglas-fir and 32 lb in white oak at the same moisture content, because white oak is 41% denser.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 2×4 weigh?
An 8 ft kiln-dried 2×4 weighs about 7 lb in SPF, 10 lb in Douglas-fir and 10 lb in southern pine at 12% moisture content. Wet or treated pieces weigh more.
How much does a 2×6 weigh per foot?
About 1.40 lb/ft in SPF to 2.05 lb/ft in southern pine, dry.
How much does a 4×4 weigh?
About 23 lb for an 8 ft dry Douglas-fir 4×4; treated 4×4 posts from the yard are often much heavier because of the water they hold.
How much does lumber weigh per board foot?
From about 1.9 lb for western redcedar to 4.0 lb for white oak at 12% moisture content; southern pine is about 3.0 lb.
Sources
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-190 (2010): Table 6-6 (dressed lumber sizes), Tables 5-3b and 5-5b (specific gravity), Eq. 4-12 (density), Table 4-1 (green moisture content).
Last reviewed: 24 October 2026. Related: lumber dimensions chart, plywood and sheet goods weights, wood weight calculator, wood species database. Spotted an error? Please let us know.