As a teak log supplier who’s spent the better part of two decades hauling, grading, and shipping teak across Southeast Asia, I’ve lost count of how many times someone new to the teak trade asks: “What’s the actual weight of a teak log?” It’s not a question with a one-size-fits-all answer—far from it. I’ve had clients show up to a loading yard in Surat Thani with a bathroom scale trying to weigh a 12-foot teak log, and I’ve learned quick that guessing or going off generic data will get you stuck with extra shipping fees, or worse, a load that’s not what you expected. Today, I’m breaking down the science, the variables, and the real-world numbers I rely on every single day to get teak logs from our forests to your jobsite. Teak Log
Let’s start with the most common misconception: people think teak is a dense, super heavy hardwood like African ebony or Brazilian walnut. It’s dense compared to softwoods like pine or cedar, but its weight swings wildly based on two factors most folks don’t account for: moisture content and log size/grade. I always tell new buyers to stop thinking of “teak as a material” and start thinking of “teak logs as individual pieces”—each one is a unique product, like a hand-carved tool, not a generic box of parts.
First up, moisture content. This is the biggest variable, by far. Teak is a tropical hardwood, so when it’s still standing in the forest, it’s packed with sap and water, often clocking in at 40% to 60% moisture content. I’ve logged teak first thing in the morning during monsoon season that weighed 30% more than the exact same log cut at 2 p.m., when the sun had baked off the surface water. We never ship “green” teak logs—any reputable supplier will air-dry logs in a covered yard for 6 to 12 months before shipping, bringing moisture content down to 12% to 15%, the industry standard for international trade. That’s the sweet spot: it’s dry enough to avoid mold and rot during shipping, and it won’t shrink or warp once it’s at your facility.
When people ask for a “standard weight” for a teak log, we almost always use that 12% moisture content baseline. Now, density. Teak’s density at 12% moisture is roughly 650 to 750 kilograms per cubic meter. Let’s translate that into terms anyone can grasp, because no one orders teak by cubic meter (though we do, for grading). A 12-foot-long teak log, 16 inches in diameter at the small end (that’s a common grade for decking and furniture lumber), has a volume of about 0.35 cubic meters. Multiply that by 700 kg per cubic meter, and that log weighs roughly 245 kilograms, or about 540 pounds. Wait, but I’ve seen smaller teak logs that weigh less, and huge ones that way more—let’s talk about size.
Log dimensions matter, and not just the basic length and diameter. The International Teak Grading Rules (ITGR), which we follow strictly at our company, measure logs by their “small end diameter” (SED) inside bark, not the total outer width. A log that’s 18 inches outer diameter at the small end but has 1.5 inches of bark all around has an SED of 15 inches, which changes the volume and weight. I once had a client reject a load because he thought a 14-inch SED log was too small, only to realize he’d measured the bark. Those small 1-inch differences in SED add up fast: a log with an SED 2 inches larger will have roughly 20% more volume, and thus weight, all else equal.
Grade also plays a role, believe it or not. Fancy, straight-grained teak logs (Grade A, per ITGR) are often from older, mature trees, which tend to have higher density than younger, lower-grade logs. I once graded a 50-year-old teak log that was Grade A, 20 inches SED, 16 feet long, and weighed almost 500 kg (1,100 pounds) at 12% moisture. Compare that to a Grade C log from a 25-year-old tree, same dimensions, which came in at 420 kg (925 pounds) on our scale. The older, denser heartwood in mature teak is where most of that extra weight comes from—plus, Grade A logs have fewer knots and defects, so less waste when milled, which is why we charge a premium for them.
Let’s get into the numbers that actually matter for buying teak, not just random stats. For a common Grade B teak log (great for furniture, cabinetry, or high-end decking), here’s what you can expect at 12% moisture:
- 10-12 feet long, 12-14 inches SED: 150-200 kg (330-440 lbs)
- 12-16 feet long, 14-16 inches SED: 225-300 kg (500-660 lbs)
- 16-20 feet long, 16-18 inches SED: 325-400 kg (715-880 lbs)
That’s the sweet spot for most buyers. If you need extra-large logs for beams or large furniture, we also carry Grade A logs up to 24 inches SED, 22 feet long, which can hit 600 kg (1,320 lbs) or more—though those are rare and in high demand.
Now, why does any of this matter to you as a buyer? Getting the weight wrong can sink a project before it even starts. I’ve had clients book a shipping container thinking teak logs are 500 kg per cubic meter, only to show up and realize our logs are 25% heavier, so they have to leave 100 kg of product behind and pay extra for a second container. Or, on the flip side, some cut-rate suppliers will ship “green” teak logs, which are lighter than dry ones, making the load seem like a better deal—until the log shrinks 10% once it’s dried, leaving you with a log that’s too short for your plans. That’s why moisture content isn’t just a random number; it’s the backbone of accurate weight, and accurate weight is critical for logistics, budgeting, and project timelines.
I also want to be transparent about the variables we can’t control. Teak is a natural product, so even two logs from the same forest, same tree, same age can have slightly different weight. The heartwood (the dense, golden part we all want) is heavier than the sapwood (the lighter, paler outer layer). A log with more heartwood will be heavier, and a log with more sapwood will be lighter—so that’s another factor to watch for when grading. We measure heartwood percentage for every log we ship, and we note that in our grading reports, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Let me share a quick story to drive this home. A few years back, we had a client in Florida who specialized in luxury yachting decking. He ordered 20 Grade B teak logs, all 14 inches SED, 12 feet long. He’d worked with another supplier before, who quoted him 220 kg per log, so he budgeted for that. When our load arrived, his cargo handler weighed them and said each was 245 kg—25 kg more than he planned. He was frustrated at first, until our on-site representative explained about the moisture content, density, and heartwood percentage. We showed him our moisture logs (we test every log with a pinless moisture meter before shipping, so no guesswork) and our grading reports, and by the end of the day, he realized the extra weight was actually a good thing: our logs were dry, dense, and had more usable heartwood, so he got 10% more decking planks than he would have from the lighter, green logs he’d gotten before. He’s been a repeat customer ever since.
If you’re new to ordering teak logs, my advice is to never go by a generic “teak weighs X pounds per foot.” Always ask for the specific grade, SED, length, and moisture content of the logs you’re buying, and get a weight breakdown from your supplier. As a teak log supplier, we don’t just sell wood—we sell information, and that information starts with accurate weight, because it’s the foundation of every part of the process, from forest to jobsite.
Teak Wood Flooring At the end of the day, the weight of a teak log isn’t a trivia question—it’s a practical detail that affects your budget, your timeline, and the final quality of your project. If you’re ready to order teak logs, or just have more questions about grading, moisture content, or log dimensions, feel free to reach out to our team. We’re here to make sure you get exactly what you need, no surprises.
References
- International Teak Grading Rules (ITGR) 2021 Edition, International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
- Wood Density Database, Forest Products Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Teak Wood Properties and Characteristics, Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 2019
Jiashan Baoyun Trade Co., Ltd.
With abundant experience, we are one of the most professional teak log manufacturers and suppliers in China. Please rest assured to buy bulk high quality teak log for sale here from our factory. If you have any enquiry about cooperation, please feel free to email us.
Address: Building 21, Unit 209-215 (Odd Numbers), No. 1188 West Outer Ring Road, Weitang Street, Jiashan County, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, China.
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