Plywood Weight by Sheet and Thickness: The Complete Contractor Reference

Plywood weight matters the moment you are moving it. A stack of twenty 3/4-inch sheets in the back of a pickup is over 1,200 pounds — close to the rated payload on many half-ton trucks. Get the weight wrong and you are overloading the vehicle, the floor system, or the lift gate at a job site.

Our plywood weight calculator handles any thickness, sheet size, and quantity. This guide covers the standard reference weights, how species and grade affect the numbers, and how to use weight for load planning.

Plywood weight by thickness: 4x8 sheets

Thickness	Weight per 4x8 sheet	Weight per sq ft
1/4" (6mm)	22 lbs	0.69 lbs/sf
3/8" (9mm)	28.5 lbs	0.89 lbs/sf
1/2" (12mm)	40.6 lbs	1.27 lbs/sf
5/8" (15mm)	48 lbs	1.50 lbs/sf
3/4" (18-19mm)	60.8 lbs	1.90 lbs/sf
1" (25mm)	84.5 lbs	2.64 lbs/sf

Source: APA - The Engineered Wood Association density standards for structural plywood panels.

Nominal vs actual thickness

Like dimensional lumber, plywood nominal thickness is not actual thickness. A "3/4-inch" panel typically measures 23/32 inches. A "1/2-inch" panel is typically 15/32 inches. Always measure if precision matters for dado cuts or router work.

Plywood weight by species

Species / type	Density (lbs/ft3)	3/4" 4x8 sheet approx.
Douglas Fir (most common)	32-35	58-62 lbs
Southern Yellow Pine	34-37	60-66 lbs
Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF)	26-30	46-53 lbs
Western Red Cedar	23-25	41-45 lbs
Baltic Birch	40-45	70-80 lbs
Hardwood face panels	38-44	68-78 lbs
Marine plywood	33-36	59-64 lbs

Baltic birch, popular for cabinet boxes and shop fixtures, is about 25-30% heavier than structural plywood of the same thickness. This matters when sizing cabinet fasteners and calculating shelf loads.

OSB vs plywood: which is heavier?

OSB (oriented strand board) is consistently denser than softwood plywood of the same nominal thickness. A 3/4-inch OSB panel typically weighs 78-80 lbs — about 25-30% more than equivalent plywood.

Panel type	Thickness	Weight per 4x8 sheet
Softwood plywood	3/4"	~61 lbs
OSB	3/4"	~78 lbs
Softwood plywood	1/2"	~41 lbs
OSB	1/2"	~54 lbs

For a 2,000 square foot floor sheathed with 3/4-inch panels, that is roughly 500 sheets — a weight difference of 8,500 lbs between plywood and OSB. Not a structural concern, but very relevant for delivery loads and installation labor.

Compare panel types directly with the OSB weight calculator and MDF weight calculator.

How moisture affects plywood weight

Published weights assume 12% moisture content — equilibrium for most conditioned interior spaces in North America. Freshly manufactured panels or panels stored outdoors can weigh 15-25% more than the specification sheet suggests. For load planning involving floors or trailers, add a 10-15% buffer if the panels have been exposed to weather.

Load planning: plywood on floors and vehicles

Floor load capacity

Residential floors are typically designed for 40 lbs per square foot live load. A stack of 3/4-inch plywood 4 feet high occupies about 4 square feet and weighs roughly 390 lbs — about 97 lbs/sf, well over the design load. Store large plywood stacks in garages or basements, not on elevated wood floors.

Pickup truck payload

A full-size half-ton pickup typically has a payload rating of 1,500-2,000 lbs including passengers and cargo. Twenty sheets of 3/4-inch plywood weighs about 1,220 lbs. Combined with passengers and gear, you are often at or near the limit. For large orders, arrange lumberyard delivery or use a flatbed trailer.

Weight per square foot for engineering calculations

Application	Typical thickness	Dead load contribution
Wall sheathing	1/2"	1.27 lbs/sf
Roof sheathing	1/2"-5/8"	1.27-1.50 lbs/sf
Floor subfloor	3/4"	1.90 lbs/sf
Cabinet backs	1/4"	0.69 lbs/sf
Cabinet sides and shelves	3/4" Baltic Birch	2.50 lbs/sf

Quick lookup: total weight for common quantities

Quantity	1/2" plywood	3/4" plywood	3/4" OSB
5 sheets	203 lbs	304 lbs	390 lbs
10 sheets	406 lbs	608 lbs	780 lbs
20 sheets	812 lbs	1,216 lbs	1,560 lbs
50 sheets	2,030 lbs	3,040 lbs	3,900 lbs

For any quantity or sheet size not in this table, the plywood weight calculator handles custom dimensions and multiple thicknesses in a single project estimate.