Guide
How much a wooden cable reel weighs
An empty wooden cable reel weighs roughly 25 to 70 pounds at 24 inches, a few hundred pounds at 48 to 60 inches, and around half a ton or more at 96 inches, depending on the build and how wet the wood is.
Weights vary widely because makers use different woods and thicknesses, and because wood soaks up water. The table below works weights out from typical dimensions rather than quoting one number per size.
Estimated empty weights
| Flange | Drum | Traverse | Empty weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in | 10–14 in | 12–16 in | 25–70 lb |
| 30 in | 12–16 in | 14–18 in | 50–110 lb |
| 36 in | 14–20 in | 18–24 in | 70–190 lb |
| 42 in | 18–24 in | 20–28 in | 110–260 lb |
| 48 in | 20–28 in | 24–32 in | 150–380 lb |
| 60 in | 28–36 in | 28–36 in | 300–600 lb |
| 72 in | 32–42 in | 32–42 in | 450–900 lb |
| 84 in | 40–48 in | 36–48 in | 700–1,350 lb |
| 96 in | 48–60 in | 42–54 in | 950–2,000 lb |
Estimates for nailed wooden reels of common builds: two solid flange discs plus the stave shell of the drum, at 28 to 40 pounds per cubic foot of wood. Bolted reels, steel parts and wet wood push weights higher.
How the estimate works
Each flange is treated as a solid disc: area times thickness. The drum is a shell of staves: its circumference times the traverse times the stave thickness. Add the volumes, convert to cubic feet, and multiply by a wood density. Dry pine and spruce run about 28 pounds per cubic foot; wetter or denser lumber nearer 40.
The flanges dominate. Doubling flange diameter roughly quadruples flange volume, which is why weight climbs so steeply with size.
What the weights mean for handling
- Under 60 lb
- One person can tip and roll it carefully.
- 60 to 150 lb
- Two people or a hand truck; don't lift it by hand.
- 150 to 500 lb
- A forklift or pallet jack, and a chock on each side.
- Over 500 lb
- Forklift with long tines or a crane, a planned lift and a clear area.
Wet wood
A reel that has stood in the rain can weigh noticeably more than the same reel dry, and the extra weight sits low, in the bottom flange. That shifts the centre of gravity and makes the reel more likely to roll when tipped. Treat wet reels as heavier than the table suggests.
Truck loads
A flatbed fills by space before weight with small and mid-size reels. With 72-inch and larger reels, weight and securing points become the limit. Give us counts by size and we plan the truck around both.
Weighing a reel you have
Platform scales at a yard or plant will weigh small reels directly. Larger ones can be weighed on a forklift with a scale, or estimated from measurements with the method above. For shipping, the carrier needs a weight per reel and an overall total; round up to be safe.
Write the estimated weight on the request so the truck and loading equipment are planned right.
Weight and tipping
Weight alone is not the hazard; tipping is. A reel standing on edge has a narrow base, and a heavy one tipping over can crush a foot or worse. Never stand in the direction a reel would fall when chocks are being moved, and keep chocks in until the forks are under it.
Questions
How much does a large wooden spool weigh?
By our estimate a 60-inch empty nailed reel weighs roughly 300 to 600 pounds; the table gives the range at each size.
Why do two reels of the same size weigh different amounts?
Different woods, thicknesses, hardware and moisture.
Is a steel reel heavier?
Usually, for the same size, though spoked steel flanges can be lighter than solid wood at small sizes.
Do you need exact weights to quote?
No. Flange sizes and counts are enough; weights help plan the truck.
Reel words on this page
- Flange
- The round side discs that hold the cable in. Flange diameter, edge to edge, is the size a reel is known by.
- Drum (barrel)
- The cylinder between the flanges that the cable winds around.
- Traverse
- The inside width between the flanges: how wide a layer of cable can be.
- Lagging / staves
- The boards nailed around the drum, and the protective boards sometimes nailed across the flanges over finished cable.
- Arbor hole
- The centre hole a spindle, shaft or payoff bar passes through.
More reel guides
- What empty reels are worth
Size, build and condition decide it. What gets paid for, and what does not.
- Do supply houses take reels back?
When the counter or the maker behind it takes reels, and what happens to the rest.
- Returnable vs one-way reels
Reading the tag, the stencils and the build to know whose reel it is.
- Which makers take reels back
Published maker return programs, their minimums and their condition rules.
- Reel sizes explained
Flange, drum and traverse, with a size chart from 24 to 96 inches.
- Measuring a reel
Four measurements, one tape and a minute per reel.
- Nailed vs bolted reels
How each is built, why bolted reels make more trips, and how each is handled.
- When a reel can't be reused
The defects that end a reel's working life, drawn and explained.
- Disposing of wooden reels
Four ways out for a wooden reel, with the dumpster last.
- Staging reels for pickup
Stand, chock, sort and leave room for the forks.
- The reel capacity formula
How much cable fits on a reel, worked through step by step.
Reels to clear or a size to find?
Tell us what you have or what you need. One work order covers pickup, buyback, recycling and supply.
Or write to info@chicagowoodenspools.com with the count, flange sizes and a photo of the stack.