How many books your shelves hold, and whether the shelves can take the weight.
How this works
A metre of shelf holds about 33 paperbacks, 25 hardbacks or 60 thin picture books. Paperbacks weigh about 0.35 kg and hardbacks about 0.9 kg. Safe load before visible sag falls with the square of the span: an 80 cm, 18 mm chipboard shelf takes about 15 kg, plywood about 30 kg.
Questions people ask
How do I use the Bookshelf Capacity tool?
Fill in the fields, starting with “Shelf width (span)”, “Shelves per unit” and “Number of units”, and change any other options that match your home. The answer, a drawing and practical tips update as you type, and the Copy link button saves your numbers in a link you can share.
Is the Bookshelf Capacity tool free?
Yes. The Bookshelf Capacity tool is free, with no sign-up, and works on phones, tablets and computers. The results are estimates to help you plan, so check with a qualified professional before structural, electrical, gas or plumbing work.