SHEET MATERIAL
Particleboard (chipboard, MDP): weight per sheet, thicknesses and sizes
Particleboard is usually made in three layers: fine particles on the faces for a smooth surface and coarser material in the core (Wood Handbook, chapter 11). Its specific gravity is 0.6–0.8.
Key figures
- Density
- 600–800 kg/m³Wood Handbook Table 12-1, specific gravity range
- Thicknesses in the table
- 9 · 12 · 15 · 18 · 25 mmAs published by Duratex (Dexco)
Weight per sheet
Volume × density, the same calculation as the weight calculator. Each cell uses the low and high ends of the source range as reference examples. For the panel you buy, use your supplier’s density instead of treating this range as a product specification.
| Thickness | 2,440 × 1,220 mm | 2,750 × 1,850 mm | 2,440 × 1,850 mm | 2,440 × 2,150 mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 mm | 16.1–21.4 kg | 27.5–36.6 kg | 24.4–32.5 kg | 28.3–37.8 kg |
| 12 mm | 21.4–28.6 kg | 36.6–48.8 kg | 32.5–43.3 kg | 37.8–50.4 kg |
| 15 mm | 26.8–35.7 kg | 45.8–61.1 kg | 40.6–54.2 kg | 47.2–63.0 kg |
| 18 mm | 32.1–42.9 kg | 54.9–73.3 kg | 48.8–65.0 kg | 56.7–75.5 kg |
| 25 mm | 44.7–59.5 kg | 76.3–101.8 kg | 67.7–90.3 kg | 78.7–104.9 kg |
The sizes in the table are formats published by Duratex (Dexco). Sheet sizes and thicknesses vary by market and manufacturer: confirm what your supplier stocks.
Cutting, edges and fixing
Screws strip easily: Wood Handbook chapter 8 gives the stripping torque of an 8-gauge screw as 3.16 + 0.0096 × density N·m, about 9.9 N·m at 700 kg/m³, and finds similar withdrawal for pilot holes of 50% to 90% of the root diameter. Particleboard is the weakest panel in bending in Table 12-1 (15–24 MPa).
Calculate with this material
Plywood or MDF? Choosing a sheet material · Screws and pilot holes