Buzz
How many sheets of paper does a single tree yield? kyoshino / Getty ImagesImportant Points
- An average pine tree, about 1 foot (0.3 meters) in diameter and standing 60 feet (18.3 meters) tall, can produce around 80,500 sheets of paper.
- When processed, the wood from a pine tree turns into pulp, with a yield of roughly 50 percent due to the removal of knots, lignin, and other unusable materials.
- These figures are based on rough estimates, including the weight of lumber and a standard ream of photocopy paper.
It may be challenging to determine an exact number, but here's a good starting point for answering the question: First, we must clarify what a "tree" actually means. Are we talking about a towering redwood or a small weeping willow? Most paper is sourced from pine trees, so I ventured into the forest and observed some pines.
The typical size is about 1 foot in diameter and reaches a height of 60 feet. If we disregard tapering, this amounts to approximately 81,430 cubic inches of wood.
pi * radius * length = volume
3.14 * 62 * (60 * 12) = 81,430
3.14 * 6 * (60 * 12) = 81,430
In my backyard, I have a 2x4-foot plank of lumber. It weighs approximately 10 pounds and holds 504 cubic inches of wood. Based on this, a pine tree would weigh around 1,610 pounds (81430/504 * 10).
In paper production, wood is processed into pulp, and the yield is roughly 50 percent—about half of the tree consists of knots, lignin, and other materials unsuitable for paper. This means a pine tree would produce about 805 pounds of paper. I have a ream of paper for a photocopier here, weighing about 5 pounds and containing 500 sheets (paper is often labeled as '20-pound stock' or '24-pound stock,' which refers to the weight of 500 sheets of 17" x 22" paper). With these measurements, a tree could generate (805/5 * 500) 80,500 sheets of paper.
These estimates are fairly rough, and I used a bathroom scale to weigh things, but the general concept is clear. Check the next page for more details.
