Wood Drying Time Estimator

Estimate air-drying time for green or wet lumber by species category, thickness, and climate.

Thickest dimension of the board
Hardwoods dry ~2× slower than softwoods
Your outdoor / covered storage environment
Total air-drying time2.2 yrGreen to ~8% MC (indoor equilibrium)
Phase 1 (green → ~20%)1.3 yrSurface moisture leaves first
Phase 2 (20% → 8%)10 moBound moisture — slower and harder to rush
Kiln drying (comparison)7 daysCommercial schedule, approx.

Stack on level stickers spaced 12–16″ apart, same species, same thickness. Protect the top from rain with a roof but leave sides open for airflow. Cover the end grain with paint or wax to slow end-checking.

Air-drying time at current settings by thickness

ThicknessEst. time to 8% MCKiln (commercial)
1″13 mo4 days
1-1/2″20 mo5 days
2″2.2 yr7 days
2-1/2″2.8 yr9 days
3″3.3 yr11 days
4″4.3 yr14 days
6″6.5 yr21 days
8″8.7 yr28 days

Air-drying guidelines

The traditional rule of thumb is 1 year per inch of thickness for hardwoods in a temperate climate — but this only gets lumber to around 15–20% MC. Reaching the 6–8% needed for indoor furniture takes longer and requires moving the wood indoors for the final stage.

  • Stack with stickers — 3/4″ × 3/4″ dry sticks spaced 12–16″, aligned vertically through the pile.
  • Elevate off the ground — minimum 12″ to prevent moisture wicking.
  • Cover the top — protect from rain but leave sides open for airflow.
  • Seal the end grain — paint, wax, or commercial end-grain sealer prevents end-checking.
  • Sort by thickness — drying rates differ; mixing slows thin boards and can check thick ones.

Estimates are approximate and based on USDA Forest Service air-drying data. Actual times vary significantly with species density, initial MC, airflow, and site conditions.