| Species | Range seen at manufacturers | Average used | 18 mm sheet (2500 × 1250) | 18 mm, per m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birch | 640–760 kg/m³ | 700 kg/m³ | ≈ 39.4 kg | ≈ 12.6 kg |
| Beech | 700–800 kg/m³ | 740 kg/m³ | ≈ 41.6 kg | ≈ 13.3 kg |
| Pine | 550–660 kg/m³ | 600 kg/m³ | ≈ 33.8 kg | ≈ 10.8 kg |
| Poplar | 420–520 kg/m³ | 475 kg/m³ | ≈ 26.7 kg | ≈ 8.5 kg |
Values refer to unfilmed plywood at 8–12% moisture content. Sources: manufacturer datasheets (e.g. WISA birch plywood 680 ± 50 kg/m³) and PEFC’s reference density table for wood species and wood-based panels.
What is plywood density?
Density is the mass of a material per unit volume; for plywood it is expressed in kg/m³. Plywood density is determined mainly by the species used in the core plies; face veneers are thin, so their effect is limited. A panel with birch faces and a poplar core is therefore considerably lighter than all-birch plywood.
Plywood is slightly denser than the wood it is made from: glue and compression in the hot press add roughly 30–50 kg/m³. For example, birch wood has a reference density of about 660 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content, while birch plywood is typically around 680–700 kg/m³.
How to calculate plywood weight
The weight of a plywood sheet is its volume multiplied by its density: Weight (kg) = Length (m) × Width (m) × Thickness (m) × Density (kg/m³).
Example: 2500 × 1250 mm, 18 mm birch plywood → 2.5 × 1.25 × 0.018 = 0.05625 m³ → 0.05625 × 700 ≈ 39.4 kg. The same sheet in poplar weighs 0.05625 × 475 ≈ 26.7 kg. For weight per m², simply multiply thickness (m) by density: 18 mm birch = 0.018 × 700 ≈ 12.6 kg/m².
What changes the weight?
Two panels of the same size and species can weigh differently because of:
- Moisture content: plywood absorbs moisture from the air; going from 8% to 12% moisture makes a panel about 3–4% heavier.
- Film overlay: 125 g/m² film on both faces adds about 0.25 kg per m² (~0.8 kg on a 2500 × 1250 sheet). With a 220 g/m² patterned face on wiremesh and hexa panels the difference is ~1.1 kg.
- Glue type: phenolic (WBP) bonded panels are slightly heavier than panels with interior glue.
- Combi core: panels combining different species have a density between the two, depending on the proportion of each.
- Veneer thickness and press pressure cause small differences between producers and products.
Shipping and tonnage
Density also determines how many cubic metres fit on a truck. For example, with a 24-tonne payload, the weight limit alone allows about 34 m³ of birch, 40 m³ of pine or 50 m³ of poplar plywood (24,000 kg ÷ density). Actual load depends on vehicle volume, stacking, packaging and the destination country’s load regulations.
To convert between m³ and number of sheets when planning an order, use the “sheets / m³” column in our thickness guide.
Frequently asked questions
01What is the density of birch plywood?
Birch plywood density is typically 640–760 kg/m³ depending on the producer and core construction; we use 700 kg/m³ in our calculations. Combi panels with a poplar core are lighter.
02How much does 1 m³ of plywood weigh?
It depends on the species: 1 m³ of birch plywood weighs about 700 kg, beech 740 kg, pine 600 kg and poplar 475 kg. Film faced panels add the weight of the film.
03Why is poplar plywood lighter?
Poplar is a low-density species, so poplar plywood is about 30% lighter than birch plywood of the same thickness. It is easier to handle, but its load capacity and screw holding are lower.
04Why is film faced plywood heavier?
Phenolic film adds 125 g per m² of face (220 g on wiremesh and hexa patterned faces), and phenolic glue is used. On a 2500 × 1250 mm sheet the film adds about 0.8–1.1 kg.
