Planning density table
These values are representative planning inputs around normal dry-service moisture, not product certifications. Natural wood varies by species, provenance, growth conditions, earlywood/latewood ratio and moisture content.
| Wood | Planning density (kg/m³) | Approx. lb/ft³ | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western red cedar | 370 | 23.1 | Light; outdoor and trim applications |
| Eastern white pine | 400 | 25.0 | Light softwood |
| Spruce–pine–fir | 450 | 28.1 | Planning value for a variable commercial grouping |
| Douglas-fir | 530 | 33.1 | Moderate density softwood |
| Southern pine | 590 | 36.8 | Often denser than northern softwoods |
| Red oak | 705 | 44.0 | Dense hardwood |
| Hard maple | 705 | 44.0 | Dense hardwood |
| White oak | 755 | 47.1 | Heavy hardwood |
Do not use a table value for structural engineering or regulated payload limits. For a specific product, prefer its manufacturer data or an actual scale weight.
How WUDIM uses density
The lumber weight calculator multiplies actual board volume by the selected planning density and makes a simple moisture-mass adjustment. This is useful for comparing materials or estimating a stack, but it cannot capture board-to-board variation.
Source basis
Species-property context is based on the USDA Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material and related FPL technical sheets. WUDIM deliberately rounds to practical planning values rather than implying false precision.