Removing or preserving a tree stump can be quite intimidating especially if you have to remove it from the ground. There are a few variables that you will be needed to figure out before you start estimating the weight. Let’s take a look at how you can determine the weight of your stump.
The method for calculating the weight of your stump is simple, you will need to measure the diameter of the stump, calculate its volume and multiply that with the wood density. Once you have the stump weight, you can also add the root ball weight to get a better estimate.
You can also estimate the average weight of a stump of a specific species and diameter using the chart below.
How to Calculate the Weight of a Tree Stump?
One of the factors which determine the weight of a tree stump will be of course the species of the tree you are dealing with. Each species has a different wood density which will, in turn, determine the weight per volume for that wood. The other factors would of course be the dimension of the stump.
If you get to know the species of your tree stump, and its dimensions, namely its length and average diameter you can easily estimate its weight.
The formula which you will be using is called Huber’s formula and although it sounds complicated is quite easy.
All you need is the density of your tree stump and its volume. I will include a density chart for different tree species below, so you don’t need to worry about that. keep in mind that the densities stated below are known as the ‘green density’ and it represents the density of a freshly cut wood.
As the wood stays out in the open for a longer period of time, its moisture content reduces and therefore its density reduces. So, if your tree stump has been left out for some time, your final weight estimate will be lower.
To find out the volume (V) of the tree stump, you will need to measure its length (L) and its diameter (d).
V = 3.14*L*d2/4
And once you have the V, the stump’s weight (W) will be
W=V*D (where D equals its density)
Once you know this formula, you can calculate the weight of any log of wood.
One more thing to keep in mind is that you should use the dimensions in one measurement only. So, if you are using cm, use only cm for the rest of the calculations. The same applies to m, ft, etc.
Densities of Different Tree Species
Below is a list of wood densities per cubic feet for some of the most common tree species.
Species | Weight per Cubic Ft. |
Apple | 55 |
Ash, White | 48 |
Basswood | 42 |
Beech | 54 |
Birch, Paper | 50 |
Birch, Yellow | 57 |
Butternut | 46 |
Cherry, Black | 45 |
Chestnut | 55 |
Cottonwood | 49 |
Elm, American | 54 |
Gum, Black | 45 |
Gum, Red | 50 |
Hackberry | 50 |
Hickory | 64 |
Honey Locust | 61 |
Magnolia, Ev | 59 |
Maple, Red | 50 |
Maple, Silver | 45 |
Maple, Sugar | 56 |
Oak, California | 66 |
Oak, Live | 76 |
Oak, Red | 63 |
Oak, White | 62 |
Pecan | 61 |
Persimmon | 63 |
Poplar, Yellow | 38 |
Sassafras | 44 |
Sycamore | 52 |
Walnut, Black | 58 |
Pine, white | 36 |
Spruce, Red | 34 |
How Much Do Different Sized Tree Stumps Weigh?
If you don’t want to calculate the weight of your tree stump, here is a list of the average weight of 1-foot-long tree stumps depending on their average diameter. The estimated weight here is in pounds.
Species | 10” | 12” | 14” | 16” | 18” | 20” | 22” | 24” | 26” | 28” |
Apple | 30 | 43 | 59 | 77 | 97 | 120 | 145 | 173 | 203 | 235 |
Ash, White | 26 | 38 | 51 | 67 | 85 | 104 | 126 | 150 | 177 | 205 |
Basswood | 23 | 33 | 45 | 59 | 74 | 92 | 111 | 132 | 155 | 180 |
Beech | 29 | 42 | 58 | 75 | 95 | 118 | 142 | 169 | 199 | 231 |
Birch, Paper | 27 | 39 | 53 | 70 | 88 | 109 | 132 | 157 | 164 | 214 |
Birch, Yellow | 31 | 45 | 61 | 80 | 101 | 124 | 151 | 179 | 210 | 244 |
Butternut | 25 | 36 | 49 | 64 | 81 | 100 | 121 | 144 | 170 | 197 |
Cherry, Black | 25 | 35 | 48 | 63 | 79 | 98 | 119 | 141 | 166 | 192 |
Chestnut | 30 | 43 | 59 | 77 | 97 | 120 | 145 | 173 | 203 | 235 |
Cottonwood | 27 | 38 | 52 | 68 | 86 | 107 | 129 | 154 | 180 | 209 |
Elm, American | 29 | 42 | 58 | 75 | 95 | 118 | 142 | 169 | 199 | 231 |
Gum, Black | 25 | 35 | 48 | 63 | 79 | 98 | 119 | 141 | 166 | 192 |
Gum, Red | 27 | 39 | 53 | 70 | 88 | 109 | 132 | 157 | 164 | 214 |
Hackberry | 27 | 39 | 53 | 70 | 88 | 109 | 132 | 157 | 164 | 273 |
Hickory | 35 | 50 | 68 | 89 | 113 | 140 | 169 | 201 | 236 | 261 |
Honey Locust | 33 | 48 | 65 | 85 | 108 | 133 | 161 | 192 | 225 | 252 |
Magnolia, Ev | 32 | 46 | 63 | 82 | 104 | 129 | 156 | 185 | 217 | 214 |
Maple, Red | 27 | 39 | 53 | 70 | 88 | 109 | 132 | 157 | 164 | 192 |
Maple, Silver | 25 | 35 | 48 | 63 | 79 | 98 | 119 | 141 | 166 | 239 |
Maple, Sugar | 31 | 44 | 60 | 78 | 99 | 122 | 148 | 176 | 206 | 282 |
Oak, California | 36 | 51 | 70 | 92 | 116 | 144 | 174 | 207 | 243 | 324 |
Oak, Live | 41 | 60 | 81 | 106 | 134 | 166 | 200 | 238 | 280 | 269 |
Oak, Red | 34 | 49 | 67 | 88 | 111 | 137 | 166 | 198 | 232 | 265 |
Oak, White | 34 | 48 | 66 | 86 | 109 | 135 | 163 | 194 | 228 | 261 |
Pecan | 33 | 48 | 65 | 85 | 108 | 133 | 161 | 192 | 224 | 269 |
Persimmon | 34 | 49 | 67 | 88 | 111 | 137 | 166 | 198 | 232 | 162 |
Poplar, Yellow | 21 | 30 | 40 | 53 | 67 | 83 | 99 | 119 | 150 | 188 |
Sassafras | 24 | 34 | 47 | 61 | 78 | 96 | 116 | 138 | 162 | 222 |
Sycamore | 28 | 41 | 55 | 72 | 92 | 113 | 137 | 163 | 191 | 248 |
Walnut, Black | 32 | 45 | 62 | 81 | 102 | 126 | 153 | 182 | 213 | 250 |
Pine, white | 20 | 28 | 38 | 50 | 64 | 78 | 95 | 113 | 128 | 145 |
Spruce, Red | 19 | 27 | 36 | 47 | 60 | 74 | 90 | 106 | 125 | 154 |
What Is the Weight of The Root ball?
Sometimes you might have to calculate the weight of the tree trunk, stump along with its root ball. This can be important if you have to uproot the entire stump along with its root ball and knowing the approximate weight is very important while hiring the machinery and the transportation.
The following table gives an estimate of the root ball weight of trees depending on their trunk diameter at breast height and the average diameter of the root ball itself. Keep in mind that these are only estimates and the real weight can vary depending on the tree.
Average diameter at breast height | Rootball size | Weight lbs |
2-2.5” | 24-28” | 400 |
2.5-3” | 28-32” | 650 |
3-3.5” | 32-36” | 850 |
3.5-4” | 36-40” | 1200 |
4-4.5” | 40-45” | 1500 |
4.5-5” | 50-55” | 2500 |
5-5-5” | 55-62” | 3000 |
5-5-6” | 62-66” | 4000 |
6-7” | 66-72” | 5000-6000 |
7-8” | 72-76” | 6000 |
8-10” | 84-90” | 7000-8000 |
Conclusion
The weight of a tree stump depends on factors such as the height of the stump, its diameter, the species of the stump, and the size of its root ball. Multiply the volume of the stump with the wood density to get a weight estimate (V = 3.14*L*d2/4)
If you don’t want to calculate the weight yourself, you can also refer to the estimated stump weights above.
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I am the guy behind Theyardable.com. I grew up on a homestead and I am here to share the knowledge I have and things I learn while living in the countryside.