Wood & Paper Manufacturing worked example

Moisture Loss Calculator at 21% moisture shrink rate: a worked example

This scenario runs the moisture loss calculator calculation on the strong side: 21% moisture shrink rate, with every other input held at its documented default. A kiln supervisor uses it to quantify what shrink and fuel cost on a batch sold by finished weight.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Wet tonnage sent to dryer: 40 tons (unchanged)
  • Finished material value per ton: 185 $/ton (unchanged)
  • Moisture shrink rate (wet basis): 21 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 18)
  • Dryer energy charge for the batch: 320 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Moisture loss value = wet tonnage x value per ton x moisture shrink% + dryer energy charge) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,874 $ for total moisture loss cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 46.85 $ / piece for moisture loss cost per unit.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,554 $ for variable moisture loss cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 320 $ for fixed moisture loss adder.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where moisture shrink rate sits at 18% and the headline result is 1,652 $, this scenario comes in 13.44% above the baseline at 1,874 $.
  • Use it when quoting kiln-dried lumber, evaluating a green-moisture surcharge from a supplier, or comparing dryer schedules where shrinkage and fuel burn trade off. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Total moisture loss cost: 1,874 $ (headline result)
  • Moisture loss cost per unit: 46.85 $ / piece
  • Variable moisture loss cost: 1,554 $
  • Fixed moisture loss adder: 320 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Moisture Loss Calculator calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.