Species data
MDF
a panel product . Also sold as medium density fiberboard.
Properties at a glance
| Stiffness (MOE) | 350,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.75 (estimated) |
| Density | 46.8 lb/ft3 (750 kg/m3) |
| Weight per board foot | 3.90 lb |
| Indicative price | $42.00 per sheet (estimated) |
Values are at about 12% moisture content. Density is specific gravity times 62.4; a board foot is one twelfth of a cubic foot, so weight per board foot is that density divided by twelve. Anything marked estimated is our own figure, not a measured one.
How MDF compares
Measured against the 113 solid woods in this database: heavier than 70%, and stiffer than 0%.
What that means in the shop
A 4/4 board 8 inches wide and 8 feet long is 5.33 board feet, so in MDF it weighs about 20.8 lb. A stack of ten is 208 lb - worth knowing before you load a rack or a car.
Related calculators
Sources
- The Sagulator - shelf material stiffness values (woodbin)
- Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF): A Life-Cycle Inventory (panel density)
Bending MOE 350,000 psi is the Sagulator material-list value for medium-density MDF (MDF-MD = 0.35 x 10^6 psi; the list also gives low-density 0.20 and high-density 0.50). Specific gravity 0.75 is approximate, based on typical MDF panel density near 700 to 745 kg/m3 (CORRIM LCI reports about 741 kg/m3 ovendry), so it is flagged estimated. Bending MOE for sheet goods is grade and direction dependent. Movement model N/A (see movementNote). Price indicative.
These calculators are for planning and estimation. Engineering results (shelf sag, wood movement) use published average material properties; real boards vary by grade, grain, moisture and defects. Verify load-bearing designs with a professional.