Lumber Weight

How much does a Hem-Fir 2×4 weigh?

A Hem-Fir 2×4, 8 ft weighs 9.2 lb (4.2 kg) at 12% moisture content, kiln-dried.

31.5 lb/ft³ · 5.33 bd ft ·

The answer above uses the actual dressed size — a nominal 2×4 of Hem-Fir (Western Hemlock) measures 1-1/2″ × 3-1/2″ once surfaced dry (PS 20-25) — and the species' basic specific gravity of 0.42 from the USDA Wood Handbook. At 12% moisture content that works out to 31.5 lb/ft³, or 1.1 lb per linear foot.

2×4 nominal vs 1-1/2″ × 3-1/2″ actual
Dashed: nominal 2×4. Solid: actual dressed size, surfaced dry (PS 20-25).

Hem-Fir 2×4 weight by length

Weight of one Hem-Fir 2×4, by length and moisture condition
Length12% MC15% MC19% MC (KD max)GreenBoard feet
6 ft 6.9 lb 7.0 lb 7.1 lb 11.3–16.4 lb 4.00 bd ft
8 ft 9.2 lb 9.3 lb 9.5 lb 15.0–21.9 lb 5.33 bd ft
10 ft 11.5 lb 11.6 lb 11.9 lb 18.8–27.4 lb 6.67 bd ft
12 ft 13.8 lb 14.0 lb 14.2 lb 22.5–32.8 lb 8.00 bd ft
14 ft 16.1 lb 16.3 lb 16.6 lb 26.3–38.3 lb 9.33 bd ft
16 ft 18.4 lb 18.6 lb 19.0 lb 30.0–43.8 lb 10.7 bd ft
20 ft 22.9 lb 23.3 lb 23.7 lb 37.5–54.7 lb 13.3 bd ft

Green weights show the heartwood-to-sapwood moisture range (85%–170% MC for this species) — a fresh-cut board lands somewhere inside it. Board feet use nominal dimensions, as lumber is priced; weight uses actual dimensions. Expect ±10-15% piece-to-piece variation in any stack. How these are computed.

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