Free moving calculator
Cubic Feet to Pounds Calculator
Movers price interstate moves by weight, but surveys measure volume. Use the standard 7 lbs / cu ft conversion to translate.
Industry standard is 7 lbs/cu ft. Lighter loads (mostly boxes) trend to 6; heavier loads (lots of books, appliances) trend to 8.
Estimated shipping weight
7,000 lbs
How the conversion works
Household goods carriers use a tariff-standard density of 7 pounds per cubic foot. A 1,000 cu ft load — roughly a small two-bedroom apartment — works out to about 7,000 lbs. The same formula is used by FMCSA-licensed van lines for binding interstate estimates.
Need an accurate number for your actual home? Our 10-minute online survey builds a room-by-room inventory and returns both volume and weight automatically.
Cubic feet to pounds conversion table
| Cubic feet | @ 6 lbs/cu ft (light) | @ 7 lbs/cu ft (standard) | @ 8 lbs/cu ft (dense) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 cu ft | 1,200 lbs | 1,400 lbs | 1,600 lbs |
| 400 cu ft | 2,400 lbs | 2,800 lbs | 3,200 lbs |
| 600 cu ft | 3,600 lbs | 4,200 lbs | 4,800 lbs |
| 800 cu ft | 4,800 lbs | 5,600 lbs | 6,400 lbs |
| 1,000 cu ft | 6,000 lbs | 7,000 lbs | 8,000 lbs |
| 1,200 cu ft | 7,200 lbs | 8,400 lbs | 9,600 lbs |
| 1,500 cu ft | 9,000 lbs | 10,500 lbs | 12,000 lbs |
| 2,000 cu ft | 12,000 lbs | 14,000 lbs | 16,000 lbs |
| 2,500 cu ft | 15,000 lbs | 17,500 lbs | 20,000 lbs |
| 3,000 cu ft | 18,000 lbs | 21,000 lbs | 24,000 lbs |
Typical cubic feet by home size
- Studio: 200–400 cu ft · 1,400–2,800 lbs
- 1-bedroom: 350–550 cu ft · 2,450–3,850 lbs
- 2-bedroom: 500–800 cu ft · 3,500–5,600 lbs
- 3-bedroom: 800–1,400 cu ft · 5,600–9,800 lbs
- 4-bedroom: 1,400–2,000 cu ft · 9,800–14,000 lbs
When to use 6, 7, or 8 lbs per cubic foot
- 6 lbs/cu ft (light load): mostly clothing and packed boxes, college dorms, sparsely furnished apartments.
- 7 lbs/cu ft (standard): typical furnished home — the FMCSA tariff default and what most surveyors use.
- 8 lbs/cu ft (dense load): heavy book collections, woodworking tools, gym equipment, appliances, file cabinets.