Free tool
Wood Moisture Content Calculator
Calculate the moisture content of pallet wood from weight measurements or meter readings. Check whether your pallets meet the recommended MC level for safe export shipping.
MC = (Wet Weight − Dry Weight) ÷ Wet Weight × 100
Enter wet and dry weights to calculate moisture content.
Why Moisture Content Matters for Export Pallets
Wood moisture content (MC) is one of the most critical factors in export pallet quality. Pallets with high moisture content can cause mould growth during ocean transit, leading to cargo contamination, shipment rejections at destination ports, and costly claims from buyers.
Recommended Moisture Levels
Below 12% — Optimal for all export destinations and transit durations.
12–15% — Acceptable for most exports. This is the standard CeyPall delivers.
15–19% — Caution. Risk of mould on voyages exceeding 14 days.
Above 20% — High risk. Wood requires kiln drying before use.
How to Measure Moisture Content
There are two main methods for measuring wood moisture content:
Oven-dry method (gravimetric): Weigh a wood sample before and after drying in an oven at 103°C until the weight stabilises (typically 24 hours). This is the most accurate method and the industry reference standard.
Moisture meter: Pin-type meters measure electrical resistance between two probes driven into the wood. Pinless (capacitive) meters scan a wider area without damaging the surface. Both provide instant readings suitable for quality checks on incoming pallet deliveries.
Wet Basis vs Dry Basis
The timber industry standard is the dry basis (oven-dry) method, where the moisture content is expressed as a percentage of the oven-dry weight. The wet basis method divides by the initial wet weight instead, giving a lower percentage for the same sample. When comparing MC values, always confirm which method was used.
For more on wood treatment methods, see our guides: Heat Treatment vs Methyl Bromide and VPI vs Heat Treated Pallets.
Need kiln-dried, low-MC pallets?
All CeyPall pallets are kiln-dried below 15% MC — ISPM 15 certified and IPPC stamped.