Green log weights by species

Name: Green log weights by species
Creator: Antero Trail

Green wood density in pounds per cubic foot by species, plus palm trunk weights per foot, used to size tree-removal picks over structures.

This is the exact table the Crane Cost Estimator runs on. Cite it as: Antero Trail, "Green log weights by species", anterotrail.com/tools/reference/tree-green-weights. Primary sources are listed with each value and at the bottom of the page.

Green-wood weights for the tree_removal_over_structure crane scenario (PRP-CALC-2). Two mechanisms: (1) 'species_rows' + 'class_defaults' give GREEN density in lb/ft3 for solid-wood trees (hardwood/softwood) - the heaviest pick is a trunk cylinder = pi*(dia/2)^2*len*density; (2) 'palm_rows' give lb per TRUNK-FOOT for palms (density-by-cylinder does not apply - palm trunk mass is dominated by water-heavy fibrous tissue, so the trade weighs palms per trunk-foot). All figures are GREEN/freshly-felled (storm trees are green); seasoned wood is much lighter but must never be assumed. Single-source values carry single_source_flag and surface on output.

green density source

SHERRILL TREE / NPS. Sherrill Tree 'Log Weight Chart' - Weight of a one-foot section based on average diameter; data from U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, 'Rope, Knots and Climbing'. Chart referenced by ANSI Z133.1 5.7.7 ('A green log weight chart shall be available to the crew.') (sherrilltree.com) Accessed 2026-07-12.

species rows

species	class	green LB per CF	note	Source
oak_live	hardwood	76	not published
hickory	hardwood	64	Shagbark hickory / pecan 61
oak_red	hardwood	63	not published
oak_white	hardwood	62	not published
magnolia	hardwood	59	not published
maple_sugar	hardwood	56	not published
elm	hardwood	54	American elm
sweetgum	hardwood	50	Red gum 50 / black gum 45
maple_soft	hardwood	50	Red maple 50 / silver 45
pine_southern	softwood	50	Loblolly/southern yellow pine - green; corroborated by Penn State Extension 'Calculating the Green Weight of Wood Species' (loblolly pine 50 lb/ft3). Sherrill/NPS chart lists only white pine (36) and red spruce (34).	PENN STATE EXTENSION
pine_white	softwood	36	not published
spruce_fir	softwood	34	Red spruce

PENN STATE EXTENSION. Calculating the Green Weight of Wood Species (loblolly pine ~50 lb/ft3 green; Eastern white pine 55; Douglas-fir 49) (extension.psu.edu) Accessed 2026-07-12.

class defaults

hardwood

green LB per CF: 63
represents: Red oak (conservative, common storm hardwood)

softwood

green LB per CF: 50
represents: Southern yellow / loblolly pine (conservative for storm-belt conifers)

palm rows

single source flag: Palm trunk-foot weights come from a single industry (palm-nursery) source, not a peer-reviewed table - no second corroborating source located as of 2026-07-12. Flagged on output; confirm the heaviest-section weight on site before locking the crane class.

palm	LB per trunk FT
canary_island_date	1,000
queen_pindo	400
sabal_palmetto	125

GREGORY PALM FARMS. Industry palm-nursery weight guidance: Canary Island date palm ~1,000 lb per trunk-foot, pindo ~400 lb/ft, palmetto ~125 lb/ft (crane mandatory above ~16 ft Canary specimens). (gregorypalms.blogspot.com) Accessed 2026-07-12.

All sources on this page

SHERRILL TREE / NPS. Sherrill Tree 'Log Weight Chart' - Weight of a one-foot section based on average diameter; data from U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, 'Rope, Knots and Climbing'. Chart referenced by ANSI Z133.1 5.7.7 ('A green log weight chart shall be available to the crew.') (https://sherrilltree.com/content/legacypdf/Log_WeightChart.pdf) Accessed 2026-07-12.
PENN STATE EXTENSION. Calculating the Green Weight of Wood Species (loblolly pine ~50 lb/ft3 green; Eastern white pine 55; Douglas-fir 49) (https://extension.psu.edu/calculating-the-green-weight-of-wood-species) Accessed 2026-07-12.
GREGORY PALM FARMS. Industry palm-nursery weight guidance: Canary Island date palm ~1,000 lb per trunk-foot, pindo ~400 lb/ft, palmetto ~125 lb/ft (crane mandatory above ~16 ft Canary specimens). (https://gregorypalms.blogspot.com/2016/07/can-you-guess-weight-of-this-canary.html) Accessed 2026-07-12.

These calculators produce planning estimates from published public rate schedules. They are not a formal quote. Confirm equipment, access, and pricing with a licensed operator or rental yard before you rely on any number for an estimate.