FreePlywood & MDF Weight Calculator
Pick the board, the sheet size and the thickness: the calculator gives the weight of one sheet and of a whole stack, in pounds and kilograms, and the weight per square foot or square metre.
Your sheet
Plywood sold as 3/4 in is usually 23/32 in (18.3 mm) thick; type the real thickness for the exact weight.
- One sheet
- 67.0 lb
- Per square foot
- 2.09 lb
A 23/32 in sheet of softwood plywood, 4 × 8 ft, weighs about 67.0 lb (30.4 kg).
Based on a typical density of 560 kg/m³ (35 lb/ft³). Real sheets vary by about 10% with the maker, the wood and the moisture.
- Choose the material and the sheet size.
- Type or pick the thickness.
- Read the weight of one sheet, of your stack and per area.
Plywood and MDF weight chart
Weight of one 4 × 8 ft sheet, in pounds, at the nominal thickness. Plywood is often 1/32 in thinner than its name, and about 4% lighter.
| Thickness | Softwood plywood | Birch plywood | MDF | Particle board | OSB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 in | 23 lb | 28 lb | 31 lb | 27 lb | 27 lb |
| 3/8 in | 35 lb | 42 lb | 47 lb | 41 lb | 40 lb |
| 1/2 in | 47 lb | 57 lb | 62 lb | 54 lb | 53 lb |
| 5/8 in | 58 lb | 71 lb | 78 lb | 68 lb | 67 lb |
| 3/4 in | 70 lb | 85 lb | 94 lb | 81 lb | 80 lb |
| 1 in | 93 lb | 113 lb | 125 lb | 108 lb | 107 lb |
Weight of one 2440 × 1220 mm sheet, in kilograms:
| Thickness | Softwood plywood | Birch plywood | MDF | Particle board | OSB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 mm | 10.0 kg | 12.1 kg | 13.4 kg | 11.6 kg | 11.4 kg |
| 9 mm | 15.0 kg | 18.2 kg | 20.1 kg | 17.4 kg | 17.1 kg |
| 12 mm | 20.0 kg | 24.3 kg | 26.8 kg | 23.2 kg | 22.9 kg |
| 15 mm | 25.0 kg | 30.4 kg | 33.5 kg | 29.0 kg | 28.6 kg |
| 18 mm | 30.0 kg | 36.4 kg | 40.2 kg | 34.8 kg | 34.3 kg |
| 25 mm | 41.7 kg | 50.6 kg | 55.8 kg | 48.4 kg | 47.6 kg |
How the weight is calculated
Weight is the volume of the sheet times the density of the board. A 4 × 8 ft sheet is 2.97 m² (32 sq ft), so every millimetre of thickness adds about 1.7 kg (3.7 lb) of softwood plywood or 2.2 kg (4.9 lb) of MDF. The densities used are typical values: softwood plywood 560 kg/m³, birch plywood 680, MDF 750, particle board 650, melamine 680, OSB 640 and HDF 900.
Why MDF is heavier than plywood
MDF is pressed from fine fibres to an even density of about 750 kg/m³, while plywood keeps the lighter structure of its wood veneers. A 3/4 in sheet of MDF weighs around 90–95 lb, a sheet of softwood plywood 60–70 lb. When weight matters, for a van, a wall cabinet or a sheet you carry alone, choose plywood or lightweight MDF.
Carrying and storing sheets
A full sheet is awkward as well as heavy. Carry it on edge with a panel carrier, or have the yard cut it into smaller parts. Store sheets flat on evenly spaced bearers, or upright with only a slight lean, so they stay straight.
Start from a furniture plan instead
All plans →Do not want to work out every part? Pick a design, type its size and get the cut list.
Frequently asked questions
How much does MDF weigh per square foot?
3/4 in MDF weighs about 2.9 lb per square foot (14 kg/m²) and 1/2 in about 2 lb. That makes MDF 30–40% heavier than softwood plywood: about 94 lb for a 3/4 in 4x8 sheet against 60–70 lb.
How much does a 4x8 sheet of 3/4 plywood weigh?
About 60–70 lb (27–32 kg) for softwood plywood such as CDX, and about 80–85 lb (36–38 kg) for birch plywood.
How much does a sheet of 1/2 in plywood weigh?
About 40–45 lb (18–20 kg) for a 4 × 8 sheet of softwood plywood, which is really 15/32 in thick.
How much does a sheet of MDF weigh?
About 94 lb (42.5 kg) for a 3/4 in 4 × 8 sheet, and about 40 kg (89 lb) for an 18 mm 2440 × 1220 mm sheet.
How much does plywood weigh per square foot?
About 2.1 lb for 3/4 in softwood plywood and 1.4 lb for 1/2 in. MDF of the same thickness weighs about 2.9 lb per square foot.
Learn more
How Many Sheets of Plywood Do I Need?Work out how many sheets of plywood or MDF a project needs: square feet in a 4x8 sheet, the area method, why real layouts need more, and sheets per bundle.MDF vs PlywoodMDF vs plywood for cabinets, shelves and doors: strength, sag, screw holding, paint finish, moisture, weight and cost compared, with the right use for each.