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What is Dimensional Lumber?

Dimensional lumber is simply lumber that is produced with standardized dimensions. Standard dimensions, such as “2 x 4” or “2 x 6”, allow for a multitude of efficiencies in construction. Dimensional lumber is used for framing walls, rafters, and many other building components.

How Much Does Lumber Weigh?

The weight of lumber depends on the size of the board, the moisture content of the wood, and which tree species the lumber was made from.

Green lumber has a higher moisture content than air-dried lumber, and air-dried lumber has a higher moisture content than oven-dried lumber.

Common construction lumber boards with the exact same dimensions but produced from different tree species may vary as much as 50% in weight, even with the same moisture content percentage.

An air-dried 2x4 x 8-foot-long lumber board made out of Douglas Fir weighs about 10 pounds. A board with the same dimensions made out of Sitka Spruce only weighs around 8 pounds.

Almost all lumber used for construction in the U.S. is made from spruce, pine, and fir, so our chart has weights for lumber made from all three.

Read on to learn more about lumber weights, or scroll to the end for the full weight chart.

A stack of dimensional lumber.

A stack of dimensional lumber.

About the Lumber Weight Chart

The following table provides the approximate weight (dead load, self-weight) per linear foot of the various sizes of dimensional lumber (also called “structural lumber” or “finished lumber”) used in building construction in the US.

The table provides the air-dried weight of lumber produced from three commonly used tree species: Sitka Spruce, Douglas Fir, and Southern Yellow Pine.

Green or Oven-Dry Lumber Weights

For help figuring out the weight of green or oven-dry lumber, to read more about how these weights are calculated, or to see an extensive list of the weights of other types of wood, see "Weights of Various Woods Grown in the United States" from the Forest Products Laboratory, United States Forest Service.

Nominal vs. Actual Lumber Dimensions

For an explanation of the difference between nominal lumber dimensions and actual dimensions, see our Lumber Dimensions Table.

About These Weights

The values given in the table are meant to provide a general idea of typical lumber weights, and should not be used if precise values are needed for critical engineering calculations.

When precision is necessary, always refer to the specification sheet for the actual, specific product you intend to use, or contact the technical department of the producer.

You can see dimensional lumber at the Home Depot.* The approximate weights of the actual pieces of lumber for sale are often given in the product descriptions, so this can be a pretty good resource for calculating lumber weights. Home Depot will also deliver lumber to your home, by the way.

Lumber Weight Chart

Note: Longleaf Pine is a very heavy pine. See here for other pines.


Weight of Dimensional Lumber
Nominal
Dimensions
of Lumber
in Inches		 Actual
Dimensions
of Lumber
in Inches		 Air Dried
Lumber Weight
(12% Moisture Content)

Sitka Spruce		 Air Dried
Lumber Weight
(12% Moisture Content)

Douglas Fir
(Coast Variety)		 Air Dried
Lumber Weight
(12% Moisture Content)

Southern Yellow Pine
(Longleaf Variety)
12 x 12 x 12 28 pounds
per Cubic Foot		 34 pounds
per Cubic Foot		 41 pounds
per Cubic Foot
12 x 12 x 1 2.33 pounds
per Board Foot		 2.83 pounds
per Board Foot		 3.41 pounds
per Board Foot
Per Linear Foot: Per Linear Foot: Per Linear Foot:
1 x 2 0.75 x 1.5 0.22 lbs 0.27 lbs 0.32 lbs
1 x 3 0.75 x 2.5 0.36 0.44 0.53
1 x 4 0.75 x 3.5 0.51 0.62 0.75
1 x 6 0.75 x 5.5 0.80 0.97 1.17
1 x 8 0.75 x 7.25 1.10 1.34 1.61
1 x 10 0.75 x 9.25 1.35 1.64 1.98
1 x 12 0.75 x 11.25 1.64 1.99 2.40
2 x 3 1.5 x 2.5 0.73 0.89 1.07
2 x 4 1.5 x 3.5 1.02 1.24 1.49
2 x 6 1.5 x 5.5 1.60 1.94 2.34
2 x 8 1.5 x 7.25 2.11 2.56 3.09
2 x 10 1.5 x 9.25 2.70 3.28 3.95
2 x 12 1.5 x 11.25 3.28 3.98 4.80
2 x 14 1.5 x 13.25 3.86 4.69 5.65
2 x 16 1.5 x 15.25 4.45 5.40 6.52
3 x 4 2.5 x 3.5 1.70 2.06 2.49
3 x 6 2.5 x 5.5 2.67 3.24 3.91
3 x 8 2.5 x 7.25 3.52 4.27 5.15
3 x 10 2.5 x 9.25 4.50 5.46 6.59
3 x 12 2.5 x 11.25 5.47 6.64 8.01
3 x 14 2.5 x 13.25 6.44 7.82 9.43
3 x 16 2.5 x 15.25 7.41 9.00 10.85
4 x 4 3.5 x 3.5 2.38 2.89 3.49
4 x 6 3.5 x 5.5 3.74 4.54 5.48
4 x 8 3.5 x 7.25 4.93 5.99 7.22
4 x 10 3.5 x 9.25 6.30 7.65 9.23
4 x 12 3.5 x 11.25 7.66 9.30 11.22
4 x 14 3.5 x 13.25 9.02 10.95 13.21
4 x 16 3.5 x 15.25 10.38 12.60 15.20
6 x 6 5.5 x 5.5 5.88 7.14 8.61
6 x 8 5.5 x 7.25 7.75 9.41 11.35
6 x 10 5.5 x 9.25 9.89 12.01 14.48
6 x 12 5.5 x 11.25 12.03 14.61 17.62
6 x 14 5.5 x 13.25 14.17 17.21 20.75
6 x 16 5.5 x 15 16.04 19.48 23.49
8 x 8 7.25 x 7.25 10.22 12.41 14.97
8 x 10 7.25 x 9.25 13.04 15.83 19.09
8 x 12 7.25 x 11.25 15.86 19.26 23.22
8 x 14 7.25 x 13.25 18.68 22.68 27.35
8 x 16 7.25 x 15 21.15 25.68 30.97
8 x 18 7.25 x 17 23.97 29.11 35.10
10 x 10 9.25 x 9.25 16.64 20.21 24.37
10 x 12 9.25 x 11.25 20.23 24.57 29.62
10 x 14 9.25 x 13.25 23.83 28.94 34.89
10 x 16 9.25 x 15 26.98 32.76 39.51
10 x 18 9.25 x 17 30.58 37.13 44.78
12 x 12 11.25 x 11.25 24.61 29.88 36.04
12 x 14 11.25 x 13.25 28.98 35.19 42.44
12 x 16 11.25 x 15 32.81 39.84 48.04