Dry Basis Calculator

The Dry Basis Calculator determines moisture content on a dry basis, where the dry weight of the material is used as the reference. This method is preferred in many scientific and industrial applications.

Modify the values and click the calculate button to use
Calculation Method
Wet Weight g
Dry Weight g
Sample Type
Precision

Related Moisture Content Calculator | Wet Basis Calculator | Wood Moisture Calculator

Understanding Dry Basis Moisture Content

Dry basis moisture content expresses the amount of water in a material as a percentage of the dry weight of the material. This method is widely used in scientific research, quality control, and industrial processes.

Dry Basis Formula

Basic Formula

MCdb = (Ww - Wd) / Wd × 100%

Where:

  • MCdb = Moisture content on dry basis (%)
  • Ww = Wet weight of sample
  • Wd = Dry weight of sample

Advantages of Dry Basis

Scientific Applications

Industrial Benefits

Conversion Between Bases

Dry Basis to Wet Basis

MCwb = MCdb / (1 + MCdb/100) × 100%

Wet Basis to Dry Basis

MCdb = MCwb / (1 - MCwb/100) × 100%

Comparison Table

Wet Basis (%) Dry Basis (%) Example Application
10 11.1 Kiln-dried lumber
20 25.0 Air-dried grain
30 42.9 Fresh wood chips
50 100.0 Green lumber

Applications by Industry

Agriculture and Food Processing

Wood and Paper Industry

Construction Materials

Measurement Procedures

Standard Oven Method

  1. Sample Preparation: Obtain representative sample
  2. Initial Weighing: Record wet weight accurately
  3. Oven Drying: Dry at specified temperature (usually 105°C)
  4. Cooling: Cool in desiccator to prevent moisture reabsorption
  5. Final Weighing: Record dry weight
  6. Calculation: Apply dry basis formula

Alternative Methods

Accuracy and Precision

Sources of Error

Best Practices

Typical Dry Basis Values

Material Typical Range (% db) Target for Storage
Wheat 12-16 ≤14
Corn 14-18 ≤15
Lumber (kiln-dried) 8-12 6-12
Paper 6-8 7-8

Quality Control Applications

Specification Writing

Process Monitoring

Note: Dry basis moisture content can exceed 100% since the dry weight is used as the reference. This is normal and expected for materials with high moisture content. Always specify the basis (dry or wet) when reporting moisture content to avoid confusion.