Wood Hardness & Weight Calculator
Look up Janka hardness ratings (kN) and estimate the weight of your woodworking project
| Wood Species | Category | Janka (kN) | Hardness |
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What is the Janka Hardness Test?
The Janka hardness test measures the force required to embed a 0.444-inch steel ball halfway into a piece of wood. Results are given in kilonewtons (kN). Higher numbers indicate harder wood.
Why Does Hardness Matter?
Hardness affects durability, workability, and suitability for different projects. Harder woods resist dents better for flooring, while softer woods are easier to carve and work by hand.
About Density
Wood density (kg/m³) indicates how heavy the wood is. Denser woods are generally stronger but heavier. This directly affects the weight of your finished project.
1. Select Wood Type
2. Enter Dimensions
Estimated Weight
Approximate Weight
Note
Weight estimates are based on average wood densities and assume solid pieces. Actual weight may vary based on moisture content, grain variations, and natural differences between samples.
The Luthiers Weight Problem
So I am building guitars and parts from Australian Hardwood at the moment, and the weight is one thing that I never really considered. Is that Spotted Gum Telecaster going to provide many years of backache due to it’s weight. Will you be subject to the dreaded neck dive if you build a gum neck with maple body?
But if you are doing other woodworking projects, you can also drop in your details for the expected weights of your next build. I most recently was building a coffee table from Spotted Gum and Blackbutt and most definitely needed the wood weight calculator. Dropping 10mm depth here and there made sure that I was able to make a coffee table, rather than a blunt force object.
Drop your digits into the calculator tab for an indication of what you might expect your next woodworking piece to weigh!
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