# Moisture Content Calculator

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/physics/moisture-content/
Last updated: 2026-10-30

> The moisture content calculator finds the water content of a sample of soil, wood, grain or food from its wet and oven-dry weights, on both a dry and wet basis.

## Inputs

- Wet weight (g, kg, mg, lb, oz, gr)
- Dry weight (g, kg, mg, lb, oz, gr)

## Results

- Water weight
- Moisture content (dry basis)
- Moisture content (wet basis)

## Formula

```
MC (dry basis) = (W_wet − W_dry)/W_dry × 100% · MC (wet basis) = (W_wet − W_dry)/W_wet × 100%
```

## Explanation

Moisture content matters everywhere from soil compaction and timber drying to grain storage and food processing. Soil and timber are usually reported on a dry basis; food and grain on a wet basis.

### How to use the Moisture Content Calculator

- **Wet weight**
- **Dry weight**

Results update as you type, every field has its own unit menu, and everything is calculated in your browser.

### How it works

Enter the wet and oven-dry weights of the sample.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterWet weightUnits: g, kg, mg, lb, oz, grDry weightUnits: g, kg, mg, lb, oz, gr

### What each result means

- **Water weight** = [Wet weight] - [Dry weight]
- **Moisture content (dry basis)** = ([Wet weight] - [Dry weight])÷[Dry weight]×100
- **Moisture content (wet basis)** = ([Wet weight] - [Dry weight])÷[Wet weight]×100

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Wet weight** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Wet weight (g)Moisture content (dry basis) (%)75-37.5112.5-6.2515025187.556.2522587.5300150

## Worked example

Inputs — Wet weight: 150 g; Dry weight: 120 g.

Results — Water weight = 30 g; **Moisture content (dry basis) = 25 %**; Moisture content (wet basis) = 20 %.

## Key terms

- **Oven-dry weight**: Weight after all free water is driven off.

## FAQ

**Can dry-basis moisture exceed 100%?**
Yes – when the water weighs more than the dry solids.

**Which basis do foresters use?**
Dry basis for timber.

**How is dry weight found?**
By drying in an oven at about 105 °C until the weight stops changing.

**What moisture is good for firewood?**
Below about 20% (dry basis).


## Sources

- [OpenStax – University Physics Volume 1](https://openstax.org/details/books/university-physics-volume-1)
- [The Engineering ToolBox](https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/)