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Wood moisture content

Check the dry-basis moisture content of the same specimen before and after oven drying.

Try the calculation

Example inputs · U.S. customary units

12 lb current mass, 10 lb oven-dry mass. Use measurements from the same sample and mass unit. These sample masses do not represent a moisture target.

Example: 12 lb.

Example: 10 lb.

Results

Ready to calculate

Enter your values, then choose Calculate. Your results will appear here.

How to use wood moisture content

What this calculation does

Dry-basis moisture content compares the water-related mass difference with the oven-dry mass of the same specimen.

Weigh the same specimen at its current condition and after the specified oven-dry procedure, using the same mass unit.

Enter the measurements

  1. Current specimen mass: Enter current specimen mass.
  2. Oven-dry specimen mass: Enter its oven-dry mass in the same unit.

Formula and variables

MC = (current mass − oven-dry mass) / oven-dry mass × 100.

MC percent = (current mass−oven-dry mass)÷oven-dry mass×100. This is dry-basis content, not wet-basis fraction.

Read the result

A specimen that weighs 12 lb now and 10 lb oven-dry has 20% dry-basis moisture content.

Worked example

Inputs: 12 lb current, 10 lb oven-dry

  1. Mass difference = 12−10 = 2 lb.
  2. MC = 2÷10×100 = 20%.

Expected result: 20% dry-basis MC

Frequently asked questions

Can I use two different units for the masses?

No. Both entries must use the same unit and describe the same specimen.

Is this a moisture-meter correction?

No. It is a gravimetric dry-basis calculation.

Conditions, presets and technical notes

Use the same specimen and mass unit; current mass must be at least oven-dry mass. This is not a meter correction or wet-basis fraction.