Pallet board feet and weight calculator
Board feet = thickness × width × length in inches ÷ 144, summed over every board, stringer and block at actual size. A GMA-style 48 × 40 stringer pallet (5/8 in decks, three 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 in stringers) is about 13.5 board feet, roughly 59 lb green or 39 lb kiln dried in mixed hardwood.
Cut list (actual sizes, inches)
| Part | Qty | Thick | Wide | Long | Bd ft | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.91 | ||||||
| 3.04 | ||||||
| 4.81 | ||||||
| 1.91 | ||||||
| 1.82 |
Lumber
Result
Weight per board foot used
Pounds per board foot, including a small allowance for fasteners. Mixed hardwood and SPF factors are calibrated from published pallet spec sheets; others come from species density tables. Treat results as estimates.
| Species | Green | KD 19% | KD 12% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed hardwood | 4.37 lb | 2.91 lb | 2.74 lb |
| Oak | 5.25 lb | 3.9 lb | 3.67 lb |
| Southern yellow pine | 4.45 lb | 3.4 lb | 3.2 lb |
| Spruce-pine-fir | 3.24 lb | 2.3 lb | 2.16 lb |
| Douglas fir | 3.9 lb | 3 lb | 2.8 lb |
The same factors drive the weight shown in the designer and on every template. More on board feet, pallet weight, wood species and lumber moisture.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate board feet for a pallet?
For each part, multiply thickness × width × length in inches and divide by 144. Multiply by the quantity, then add all parts together. Use actual (as-cut) sizes, not nominal lumber sizes.
How many board feet are in a 48 × 40 pallet?
A GMA-style 48 × 40 with 5/8 in deckboards and three 1-3/8 × 3-1/2 in stringers is about 13.5 board feet at actual sizes. Heavier builds with 3/4 in decks, more boards or a fourth stringer run about 16 to 21. Some mills quote nominal board feet, which reads higher for the same pallet.
Why does moisture change the weight so much?
Freshly sawn (green) hardwood can hold more water than wood by weight. Kiln drying to 19% moisture removes most of it, so a green pallet can weigh 40 to 50% more than the same pallet kiln dried.
Do board feet include the nails?
No. Board feet measure lumber volume only. The weight factors used here include a small allowance for fasteners, calibrated against published pallet spec sheets.