Professional Log Weight Calculator - Calculate Log Weight, Volume & Board Feet
Calculate log weight, volume, and board feet for hardwood and softwood logs. Get accurate weight estimates for lumber, firewood, and timber with professional recommendations for over 25 wood species including oak, pine, maple, and more.
Log Dimensions
Most logs are cylindrical or slightly tapered
Standard: 8-16 ft (96-192 inches) or 2.4-4.8 m
Measure at the middle of the log
Green wood weighs 40-50% more than dried
Total Weight:
400.97 lbs
400.97 lbs per log
Log Specifications
Selected Wood Species
Popular hardwood - Excellent for furniture, flooring, cabinets
Prices vary by species and quality
Additional Costs
Total Volume:
6.2832 ft³
Board Feet: 45 bf
Cost & Volume Analysis
Log Summary
Board Feet Calculations
Cost Breakdown
Unit Costs
Professional Recommendations
- • Green logs are 40-50% heavier - factor extra transportation cost for moisture weight
Wood Information
Open-grain hardwood with reddish tint, excellent strength and durability
Last updated: November 5 2025
Curated by the QuickTooly Team
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What Is a Log Weight Calculator? Complete Guide to Timber & Lumber Weight
A log weight calculator is a professional tool for accurately estimating the weight, volume, and board feet of logs for lumber production, firewood, timber framing, and woodworking projects. This comprehensive calculator supports over 25 wood species including hardwoods like oak, maple, and walnut, and softwoods like pine, fir, and cedar, accounting for different densities, moisture content, and log dimensions to provide precise weight calculations essential for logging operations, sawmill planning, and transportation logistics.
Our advanced log weight calculator handles cylindrical and tapered logs, adjusts for moisture content from green to kiln-dried, calculates board feet and volume measurements, and provides cost analysis including harvesting, transportation, and milling expenses. Perfect for loggers, sawmill operators, woodworkers, and landowners planning timber harvests.
Why Use Our Professional Log Weight Calculator?
- Accurate Weight Estimates: Precise weight calculations for 25+ wood species using correct densities and moisture content adjustments. Critical for truck loading, transportation planning, and equipment selection.
- Board Feet Calculations: Automatic conversion to board feet (bf) and volume measurements in cubic feet and cubic meters. Essential for lumber pricing and sawmill yield estimates.
- Moisture Content Adjustments: Accurate weight calculations for green, air-dried, and kiln-dried wood. Green logs weigh 40-50% more than dried lumber, critical for accurate estimates.
- Tapered Log Support: Calculate weights for both uniform cylindrical logs and tapered truncated cone shapes with different end diameters for realistic field measurements.
- Complete Cost Analysis: Detailed cost breakdowns including log prices, harvesting fees, transportation costs, and milling charges with multi-currency support.
Wood Species Guide: Hardwoods vs Softwoods
Hardwoods - Dense & Durable
Red Oak (705 kg/m³): Most common hardwood in North America. Excellent for furniture, flooring, and cabinets. Open grain requires filling for smooth finish. Good strength and moderate cost.
White Oak (770 kg/m³): Denser than red oak with closed grain. Superior for outdoor applications, boat building, and barrels due to water resistance. Premium pricing reflects durability.
Maple (705 kg/m³): Hard, fine-grained wood prized for flooring, butcher blocks, and musical instruments. Takes finish beautifully. Available in soft and hard maple varieties.
Hickory (830 kg/m³): Hardest common North American hardwood. Exceptional for tool handles, ladder rungs, and high-impact applications. Premium firewood with high BTU output.
Walnut (610 kg/m³): Premium dark hardwood for fine furniture, gunstocks, and decorative work. Easy to work with excellent stability. Commands highest prices.
Softwoods - Light & Workable
Yellow Pine (640 kg/m³): Dense softwood for structural framing, decking, and treated lumber. Good strength-to-weight ratio. Most common construction lumber.
White Pine (420 kg/m³): Lightweight, easy to work, minimal shrinkage. Ideal for trim, cabinets, and general woodworking. Lower cost and wide availability.
Douglas Fir (530 kg/m³): Strong structural lumber for framing, beams, and heavy timber. Excellent strength properties. Pacific Northwest staple.
Cedar (380 kg/m³): Naturally rot-resistant for outdoor furniture, fencing, and siding. Pleasant aroma. Lightweight and easy to work.
Understanding Wood Moisture Content & Weight
- Green Wood (50-100% MC): Freshly cut logs contain 50-100% moisture content by weight - the wood can weigh more than its dry weight in water. Oak, maple, and most hardwoods on the higher end. Green logs are 40-50% heavier than dried wood, critical for transportation planning.
- Air Dried (12-20% MC): Wood dried naturally outdoors for 6-12 months reaches 12-20% MC depending on climate. Suitable for outdoor construction and rough carpentry. Most lumber yards stock air-dried material. Weighs 15-25% more than kiln-dried.
- Kiln Dried (6-8% MC): Lumber dried in heated kilns to 6-8% MC for interior use. Standard for furniture, flooring, and fine woodworking. Minimal additional shrinkage after installation. Most stable option but most expensive.
- Weight Differences: A green oak log weighing 1000 lbs will weigh approximately 650 lbs when air-dried and 550 lbs when kiln-dried. Always factor moisture content into transportation and handling calculations. Wet wood requires larger equipment capacity.
- Drying Time: Air drying requires 1 year per inch of thickness in moderate climates. Kiln drying reduces time to days or weeks. Hardwoods take longer than softwoods. Proper stacking and air circulation essential for quality.
Understanding Board Feet Calculations
Board feet (bf) is the standard unit for measuring lumber volume in North America. One board foot equals 144 cubic inches - equivalent to a board 1 inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long.
Board Feet Formula: Board Feet = (Thickness × Width × Length) ÷ 144 (all dimensions in inches). For example: 2" × 6" × 96" board = (2 × 6 × 96) ÷ 144 = 8 board feet.
Log to Board Feet: Converting logs to board feet requires accounting for sawing losses. A cylindrical log yields approximately 50-65% of its volume as usable lumber depending on diameter, quality, and sawing methods. Larger diameter logs have better yield percentages.
Doyle Scale vs. Scribner Scale: Professional log scaling uses Doyle or Scribner scales which account for sawing losses and log taper. Our calculator uses a simplified geometric method suitable for rough estimates. For commercial operations, use certified log scalers.
Log Transportation & Handling Guidelines
- Truck Weight Limits: Standard logging trucks carry 40,000-45,000 lbs of logs legally. Green hardwood logs are extremely heavy - a 12" diameter × 16' oak log weighs approximately 700-900 lbs. Calculate total weight carefully to avoid overloading and fines.
- Equipment Requirements: Logs over 500 lbs require mechanical handling equipment. Skid steers handle logs up to 2000 lbs. Larger logs need excavators or specialized log loaders. Never attempt manual handling of large logs - crushing hazard.
- Loading Safety: Always use proper log chains, binders, and straps rated for load weight. Secure logs with multiple tie-downs. Center weight over axles. Check local regulations for log hauling permits and requirements.
- Distance Costs: Log transportation costs $2-5 per loaded mile depending on haul distance and terrain. Short hauls under 50 miles most economical. Consider portable sawmills for remote sites with sufficient volume.
Best Applications by Wood Species
- Furniture Making: Oak, maple, cherry, walnut, and mahogany excellent for furniture. Hard, attractive grain, takes finish well. Avoid soft pines unless for rustic/painted furniture. Quarter-sawn oak and curly maple command premiums.
- Structural Framing: Douglas fir, yellow pine, and spruce best for framing lumber. Good strength-to-weight ratios and dimensional stability. Avoid cedar and white pine for structural applications - insufficient strength.
- Outdoor Applications: Cedar, redwood, white oak, and cypress naturally rot-resistant. Ideal for decking, fencing, outdoor furniture. Treated pine acceptable but chemical concerns for some applications.
- Flooring: Oak, maple, hickory, and ash hardwoods for durable flooring. Hickory hardest, oak most popular, maple best for sports floors. Avoid softwoods in high-traffic areas - dent easily.
- Firewood: Hickory, oak, ash, and beech best firewood - high BTU output and long burn times. Avoid green wood - poor burning and excessive creosote. Hardwoods significantly better than softwoods for heating.
- Fine Woodworking: Walnut, cherry, maple, and exotic hardwoods for fine crafts. Easy to work, attractive, stable. Choose clear, straight-grained material free from defects. Quarter-sawn for maximum stability.
Common Log Weight Calculation Mistakes
- Ignoring Moisture Content: Biggest mistake is not accounting for moisture content. Green logs weigh 40-50% more than dried wood. Using dry wood weights for green logs leads to significant underestimates and potential truck overloading.
- Incorrect Diameter Measurement: Measure log diameter inside bark at the small end for conservative estimates, or at mid-length for average. Never measure over bark - adds 5-15% error. Use diameter tape or calculate from circumference.
- Assuming Uniform Cylinders: Most logs taper from butt to top. Tapered logs have less volume than uniform cylinders. Use truncated cone formula with both end diameters for accurate calculations on tapered logs.
- Wrong Wood Species Density: Oak and hickory over twice as dense as cedar or white pine. Never use generic "wood" density. Look up specific species density. Even within species, densities vary (red oak vs. white oak).
- Forgetting Bark Weight: Bark adds 5-15% to log weight depending on species. Thick-barked species like pine and oak on higher end. Most calculators assume debarked, so add 10% for logs with bark.
- Overestimating Board Feet Yield: Logs don't convert 1:1 to lumber volume. Sawing waste, crook, defects reduce yield to 50-65% of log volume. Small diameter logs (<12") have worse yield than large logs. Factor realistic yields into planning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Log Weight
How much does a typical log weigh?
A 12" diameter × 8' long green oak log weighs approximately 400-450 lbs. A 16" diameter × 16' log weighs approximately 1400-1600 lbs. Weight varies significantly by species, moisture content, and taper. Always calculate specific dimensions rather than estimating.
How do you calculate log weight without a scale?
Measure log length and diameter (inside bark). Multiply π × radius² × length for volume. Multiply volume by species density adjusted for moisture content. Add 10% if bark present. Our calculator automates this process with correct densities for 25+ species.
How much does green vs. dried wood weigh?
Green hardwood logs weigh 40-50% more than kiln-dried lumber. For example, green oak weighs approximately 60 lbs/ft³ while kiln-dried oak weighs 44 lbs/ft³. This difference is critical for transportation planning and equipment capacity.
What is the heaviest common wood?
Hickory (830 kg/m³ or 52 lbs/ft³ dry) is the heaviest common North American hardwood. Live oak and black locust slightly heavier but less common. Among softwoods, longleaf pine (640 kg/m³) is heaviest.
How many board feet in a log?
A 12" diameter × 8' log yields approximately 30-40 board feet of lumber. A 16" diameter × 16' log yields approximately 200-230 board feet. Actual yield depends on sawing method, log quality, and diameter. Larger logs have better yield percentages.
Can I harvest logs from my property?
Property owners can harvest timber from their land, but check local regulations regarding permits, protected species, and environmental restrictions. Consider hiring consulting forester for valuable timber stands. Selective cutting maintains forest health and property value.
What's the minimum sawmill log diameter?
Most sawmills accept logs 8" diameter and larger. Optimal diameter 12-24" for best yield and value. Logs under 8" more valuable as firewood or pulp. Very large logs (30"+) may require specialized equipment and command premium prices for quality.
How do I price logs for sale?
Log prices vary by species, diameter, length, quality, and market. Veneer-grade hardwoods bring highest prices ($500-2000+ per thousand board feet). Utility grade and softwoods much less ($150-400). Get quotes from multiple buyers. Consider stumpage value vs. roadside delivered prices.
Start Your Project with Accurate Log Weight Calculations
Use our professional log weight calculator to accurately estimate weights, volumes, and board feet for your logging, sawmill, or woodworking project. Accurate weight calculations are essential for safe transportation planning, equipment selection, and cost estimation. Whether you're harvesting timber, purchasing logs for milling, or planning firewood production, knowing exact weights prevents costly mistakes and safety hazards. Consider wood species characteristics, moisture content, and intended use when planning your project. Proper handling and realistic yield expectations ensure successful, profitable timber operations.