When you head out to get plywood, you might consider everything from the size of panels to their cost and how many sheets you’ll get in a bundle. What matters more, especially when lugging plywood across a long area, is its weight.
Plywood can weigh between 40 lbs and 63 lbs (18-28kg) depending on whether it has a solid or particle core, the type of adhesive used, and how tightly the fibers have been compressed to form the panel. For construction and exterior, the weight reflects the quality of the plywood.
In this article, I will cover everything you need to know about plywood and its weight before you buy a plywood bundle for your project. Among the things you’ll discover is the weight of plywood per standard depth category, the specific best practices of getting plywood sheets of different thicknesses, and what a bundle will weigh on average.
Have you wondered how plywood layers are stuck together? Read about phenol formaldehyde resin here.
You will also learn the mistakes to avoid when getting plywood, so you can have a regret-free plywood purchasing experience. Finally, there’s a comprehensive table I have put together which is worth bookmarking this page for.
Weight Of Plywood
Plywood weight varies depending on the size of the sheet thickness and length and width. I have put together some of the most common sheet sizes below and indicated their general weight.
How Much Does a 4×8 3/4 inch Thick Plywood Weigh?
In terms of length and width, most plywood pieces are the same. That leaves room for variation in depth. ¾ inch thick plywood is commonly used for building resilient kitchen furniture. Planks of this thickness are considered the higher end of cabinet-grade plywood.
A 4×8 ¾ inch Thick plywood weighs 60 lbs and is stronger than average plywood sheets found in home depot. Due to its higher depth per inch relative to its surface area, this type of plywood is durable. However, this plywood’s weight can vary depending on the adhesive-to-wood ratio.
Best practices for buying a 4×8 3/4 thick plywood:
- Make sure it is the right type of plywood – If you want plywood for lamination, flooring, or paper overlay, this sheet is too thick for the project. However, if flexibility isn’t a desired quality in the project, then you can make use of ¾ plywood.
- Know the contents – not all plywood is made alike. And while the thickness can be used as a measure of durability, the true strength comes from the contents that make up the depth of the plywood. Avoid cedar plywood and opt for high-adhesion, dense, hardwood plywood.
- Measure the evenness – unless you’re getting plywood from a hardware retailer, you might end up with uneven sheets. Unevenness is worse for construction-grade plywood projects than lack of thickness. I suggest taking regular measurements around the sheet to ensure even thickness.
Common uses:
You can use this plywood for cabinets, shelves, and room partitioning. It is great for whenever you need structural strength alongside aesthetic finish (provided you get the right grade face) and is cheaper per inch compared to 1/4-inch plywood.
Any panel that carries weight horizontally and is over 24 inches requires a minimum thickness of 3/4 inches.
3/4 inch plywood is even a good size for boat floors.
Did you know you can cut plywood without power tools? I wrote a full article explaining how.
How Much Does 1/4 inch 4×8 Plywood Weigh?
Plywood grades are usually apparent from their thickness. The kind that goes into flooring and lamination is obviously slimmer than the variety used for cabinets. ¼ inch plywood is one of the rare types that qualify as high-durability and low-durability simultaneously, depending on its contents. Consequently, its weight can vary as well.
¼ inch 4×8 plywood weighs 25 pounds on average and 20 pounds when made with high filler content. Despite being one-third the thickness of ¾ plywood, the ¼ inch variety is denser, making it ideal for projects that require non-brittle yet durable building blocks.
Best practices for buying a ¼ inch 4×8 plywood:
- Buy from a reputable supplier – because this type of plywood is pretty common, the chances of it being available at any hardware store are much higher. This calls for a higher degree of caution lest you get sold plywood that is prone to rotting.
- Price shop and get at least three quotes – Again, because ¼-inch plywood is commonly available, you have the opportunity to get a better rate thanks to competition. However, you won’t benefit from the said competition if you don’t investigate past the first quote you get.
- Get the right type of plywood – ¼ inch is depth slim enough that dishonest retailers or misinformed salespeople can hand the wrong product to a novice. It isn’t uncommon for people to come home with MDF or particleboard when they go out to get thin plywood.
- Learn about material durability – ¼ inch plywood can be made of Sapele, melamine, and red walnut, all of which have their respective strengths and weaknesses. It is crucial not to lump all ¼ inch plywood together when thinking about durability.
Common uses
This type of plywood is best for drawer backs because they are vertical and do not carry weight. Moreover, their load-carrying capacity isn’t compromised because the thinner surface comes with smaller width and length, making the panel sturdy despite being slim. Do not buy this plywood to stack it up for depth, as that will cost more. It is best for cosmetic purposes in a project or to create dividers that will never be truly tested.
Do you cut plywood with a jigsaw or circular saw? Find out which is better.
What Is The Weight Of A 4×8 Sheet of 5/8 inch Plywood?
If you want to lay a plywood subfloor or want wood composite sheathing, then ⅝ plywood is ideal for your project. It doesn’t come in too vast a material range and is easily available from Lowe’s in 4×8 size.
A 4×8 ⅝ plywood weighs 53 lbs as sheathing plywood and 48 lbs as surface plywood. Surface plywood is a slimmer version of construction grade plywood and is made of hardwood, whereas sheathing plywood is usually made with softwood though it can be thicker per sheet compared to surface plywood.
Best practices for buying a 4×8 ⅝ plywood:
- Buy from a mainstream retailer – because this wood has a decent degree of thickness to it, it is available at most hardware stores. It is then unnecessary to risk getting material from unnamed suppliers.
- Know its limits – while ⅝ plywood is thicker than a ¼ inch sheet, it is not sufficiently thick to be used as exterior sheathing material. One of the most productive tips for buying ⅝ plywood is to make sure you actually want to buy it. In many instances, softcore fiberboard can do better what one wants a ⅝ plywood sheet to do.
Common Uses:
The most common use of 5/8 plywood is floor underlayment. Since the plywood is supported by the subfloor beneath and shielded by the surface above, it doesn’t need to be too durable. You can use the sheets to give a project a workshop feel, especially if the 5/8 plywood has visible pores and a few knots. Slapping a thin sheet of plywood on a non-plywood project isn’t very common but is still a way in which these sheets are used.
Find out what happens when your plywood gets wet and see if it can be saved!
What Does a 1/2 inch Sheet of Plywood Weigh?
When it comes to household use, the most versatile range belongs to a ½ inch thick plywood board. Having multiple 4×8 pieces of plywood can come in handy whenever you need to replace a broken wood frame, patch up wood flooring or even make a cabinet.
1/2 Plywood Weight
A ½ inch sheet of plywood weighs 45 lbs with a hardwood core and 40.5 lbs if it features soft fibers. The plywood weight can vary if the board size is larger or smaller than the 4×8 standard or if it is made with denser material.
Be sure to check out my handy chart on how far can plywood span.
Best Practices for Buying ½ inch Plywood
Get plywood in bulk
Since ½ inch plywood has very broad usability, there is a lower chance of extra planks going to waste. Buying in bulk is usually cheaper, and you save on shipping mark-up explained in our plywood weight post. Getting ½ inch plywood in bulk is pocket-friendly and practical.
Be particular about flatness
The thickness of ½ inch plywood makes it easy to camouflage the plank’s flatness. While it isn’t crucial to get perfectly level boards, you have to at least make sure the boards are flat enough to function.
Taking a step back to inspect the flatness of wood is therefore critical to buying a bundle you’re satisfied with.
Inspect for overlapping veneers
You can find out if a plywood sheet might have undulations well before you cut the piece if you inspect for overlapping veneers. By looking carefully at the edges and filtering out planks with overlapping veneers, you lower the risk of unpleasant surprises later on.
Common uses
This type of plywood is commonly used in smaller cabinets in positions a 3/4-inch panel would be used in a closet. With smaller length and width, one can afford to have a plywood panel that is no thicker than half an inch, but if your project goes beyond 25 inches, you should use the half-inch plywood only vertically without any load-bearing responsibility.
Plywood of this depth can also be used as a divider though it might be too thick to be one for smaller projects, in which case a 1/4-inch sheet would be perfect.
Is Plywood Foor Safe? See my article that explains more.
Plywood Size Guide
Refer to the table below for standard-sized plywood panels’ weight for five different thickness tiers. There are also type-specific tables that follow to further help you narrow down your search. That said, the following are average weights and might vary from the actual sheet weight by a little.
| Plywood Type | Sheet Size | Thickness | Weight (Kgs) | Weight (lbs) |
| Hardwood Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 10.8 kgs | 24 lbs |
| Hardwood Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ⅜’ (9.5mm) | 14 kgs | 31 lbs |
| Hardwood Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 20 kgs | 44.5 lbs |
| Hardwood Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ⅝’ (15.8mm) | 23.8 kgs | 52.5 lbs |
| Hardwood Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 30.3 kgs | 67 lbs |
| Softwood Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 9.9 kgs | 22 lbs |
| Softwood Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ⅜’ (9.5mm) | 12.7 kgs | 28 lbs |
| Softwood Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 18.1 kgs | 40 lbs |
| Softwood Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ⅝’ (15.8mm) | 21.3 kgs | 47 lbs |
| Softwood Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 27.6 kgs | 61 lbs |
| Marine Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 11.7 kgs | 26 lbs |
| Marine Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ⅜’ (9.5mm) | 16.3 kgs | 35 lbs |
| Marine Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 22.2 kgs | 49 lbs |
| Marine Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ⅝’ (15.8mm) | 26.3 kgs | 58 lbs |
| Marine Plywood | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 34 kgs | 75 lbs |
| Baltic Birch | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 11.7 kgs | 26 lbs |
| Baltic Birch | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ⅜’ (9.5mm) | 14.9 kgs | 33 lbs |
| Baltic Birch | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 21.7 kgs | 48 lbs |
| Baltic Birch | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ⅝’ (15.8mm) | 25.4 kgs | 56 lbs |
| Baltic Birch | 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 32.2 kgs | 71 lbs |
Hardwood Plywood Weight Table
| Hardwood Plywood Sheet Size | Thickness | Weight (lbs) | Weight (Kgs) |
| 5×5 (1500x1500mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 19.1 lbs | 8.7 kgs |
| 5×5 (1500x1500mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 35.1 lbs | 15.9 kgs |
| 5×5 (1500x1500mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 53 lbs | 24 kgs |
| 4×4 (1200x1200mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 12.3 lbs | 5.6 kgs |
| 4×4 (1200x1200mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 22.5 lbs | 10.2 kgs |
| 4×4 (1200x1200mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 33.8 lbs | 15.3 kgs |
| 4×10 (1200x3000mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 30.6 lbs | 13.9 kgs |
| 4×10 (1200x3000mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 56.3 lbs | 25.5 kgs |
| 4×10 (1200x3000mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 84.4 lbs | 38.3 kgs |
Softwood Plywood Weight Table
| Softwood Plywood Sheet Size | Thickness | Weight (lbs) | Weight (Kgs) |
| 5×5 (1500x1500mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 17.2 lbs | 7.8 kgs |
| 5×5 (1500x1500mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 31.6 lbs | 14.3 kgs |
| 5×5 (1500x1500mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 47.6 lbs | 21.6 kgs |
| 4×4 (1200x1200mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 11 lbs | 4.9 kgs |
| 4×4 (1200x1200mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 20.3 lbs | 9.2 kgs |
| 4×4 (1200x1200mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 30.5 lbs | 13.8 kgs |
| 4×10 (1200x3000mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 27.5 lbs | 12.5 kgs |
| 4×10 (1200x3000mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 50.6 lbs | 22.9 kgs |
| 4×10 (1200x3000mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 76.3 lbs | 34.6 kgs |
Marine Plywood Weight Table
| Marine Plywood Sheet Size | Thickness | Weight (lbs) | Weight (Kgs) |
| 5×5 (1500x1500mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 21 lbs | 9.5 kgs |
| 5×5 (1500x1500mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 39 lbs | 17.6 kgs |
| 5×5 (1500x1500mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 58.6 lbs | 26.5 kgs |
| 4×4 (1200x1200mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 13.5 lbs | 6.12 kgs |
| 4×4 (1200x1200mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 25 lbs | 11.3 kgs |
| 4×4 (1200x1200mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 37.5 lbs | 17 kgs |
| 4×10 (1200x3000mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 33.6 lbs | 15.2 kgs |
| 4×10 (1200x3000mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 62.5 lbs | 28.3 kgs |
| 4×10 (1200x3000mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 93.6 lbs | 42.5 kgs |
Birch Plywood Weight Table
| Birch Plywood Sheet Size | Thickness | Weight (lbs) | Weight (Kgs) |
| 5×5 (1500x1500mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 20.3 lbs | 9.2 kgs |
| 5×5 (1500x1500mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 37.5 lbs | 17 kgs |
| 5×5 (1500x1500mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 55.8 lbs | 25 kgs |
| 4×4 (1200x1200mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 13 lbs | 5.9 kgs |
| 4×4 (1200x1200mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 24 lbs | 10.9 kgs |
| 4×4 (1200x1200mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 35.8 lbs | 16.2 kgs |
| 4×10 (1200x3000mm) | ¼’ (6.35mm) | 32.5 lbs | 14.7 kgs |
| 4×10 (1200x3000mm) | ½’ (12.7mm) | 60 lbs | 27 kgs |
| 4×10 (1200x3000mm) | ¾’ (19mm) | 89 lbs | 40 kgs |
How Heavy Is A Bundle Of Plywood?
A plywood bundle weighs around 2,300 lbs on average, though the weight can vary depending on whether the panels have a particle core or a solid core and the type of wood and glue used in creating the composite. The bundle’s weight is an indicator of durability but not quality.
A major part of acquiring the right plywood for your project is transporting the panels you have selected. Given that you’re moving standard panels and not project panels, you need to consider weight, which is a factor contingent more on the depth of plywood than the 4×8 width and length of the plywood.
Find out how many sheets of Plywood are in a bundle?
However, given that the number of sheets in a plywood bundle reduces with an increase in depth, most plywood bundles have the same weight, which can vary only with plywood content variation.
Durability vs. Quality: How Weight Impacts Plywood Value
The weight and depth of the plywood will always play a role in the selection project, but for any DIY enthusiasts, it is crucial to know that weight doesn’t equal quality. That said, weight can contribute to quality.
There are two types of plywood on the broadest level: construction-quality plywood and finish-quality plywood. If you’re building a cabinet at home or creating any kind of interior project, you have to focus solely on project quality.
Construction-quality plywood sounds better than project quality because it is more durable. Durability and strength matter more in determining the quality of construction-grade plywood.
In contrast, project-quality plywood has a more polished, surface-ready look with fewer knots and faults. Weight is an indicator of quality in construction-grade plywood because it signals denser material and a sturdier core.
When you purchase a plywood bundle for a project that has any use beyond sheathing, you must prioritize appearance a lot more. Still, the plywood’s ability to carry significant load matters, but it doesn’t need to be thicker than required.
Let’s take the example of drawers. A quarter-inch sheet is perfect for most drawer bottoms because the length and width of the drawer aren’t a lot. The greater the area of the sheet, the thicker it must be to carry weight.
Think about having a playing card in your hand; you might be able to hold it between two fingers without the card buckling. But if you increase its size to 4×8 and place it between two points, it will bend at the center and buckle to form a “U.”
In the latter case, the card weighs more yet is weaker in its context. The same thing can happen with plywood. If a panel is too slim, it cannot function unless its width and length are decreased to where the sheet’s thinness doesn’t form a curve
How Many Sheets Of Plywood Can An F150 Hold?
Knowing the weight of plywood sheets is important especially when it’s time for you to head to the local hardware and load up your truck.
An F150 Truck can safely carry 23 sheets of 3/4″ thick 4×8 hardwood plywood in the tray while staying within its load limit of 1500 pounds. The number sheets will vary on the type of plywood and the load limit of the model of the F150 truck.
A 4×8 (1200x2400mm) sheet of plywood will fit inside the tray of an F150. Let’s assume that the safe load limit on your F150 is 1500 pounds. The following number of sheets can be carried at one time:
| Plywood Sheet Size | Plywood Type | Thickness | No. Sheets That Can Be Carried |
| 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | Hardwood | 3/4″ (19mm) | 23 |
| 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | Softwood | 3/4″ (19mm) | 25 |
| 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | Marine | 3/4″ (19mm) | 20 |
| 4×8 (1200x2400mm) | Baltic Birch | 3/4″ (19mm) | 21 |
Final Thoughts – How Heavy Is Plywood?
Plywood sheets weigh up to 63 lbs, with most standard-sized panels weighing around 42 lbs. The actual weight of a sheet depends on the type of plywood, the amount of fiber in the panel, and the thickness of the board. You can refer to the tables in this post for a closer estimate.
