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Vriksai Timber Intelligence

VPD CalculatorVapor Pressure Deficit Calculator

Calculate Vapor Pressure Deficit - the true drying power of air. VPD combines temperature and humidity into a single number that predicts how fast moisture leaves wood, making it the key control variable for kiln and storage climate.

Magnus/Tetens SVPActual Vapor PressureDrying Power IndexKiln + Storage ZonesPDF Report
VPD

VPD Calculator

Vapor Pressure Deficit Calculator

Air Conditions
deg C

Air temperature in the kiln or store.

% RH

Relative humidity of the air (1-100%).

Optional: Wet-Bulb / Material
OK
Vapor Pressure Deficit Results
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kPa
VPD
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kPa
Saturation VP (SVP)
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kPa
Actual VP (AVP)
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power
Drying Power
PropertyValueMeaning
VPD Calculation (Magnus Formula)

About VPD Calculator

Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) is the difference between how much moisture the air could hold when saturated and how much it actually holds. It is the real driving force that pulls moisture out of wood. Two rooms at the same humidity but different temperatures have very different drying power - VPD captures this in one number, which is why professional kiln and climate control increasingly targets VPD rather than RH alone.

Where Is This Used?

Kiln Climate ControlAir-Drying ManagementTimber StorageGreenhouse + HorticultureHVAC DesignDrying Research

Formulas Used

Saturation Vapor Pressure (Magnus/Tetens):SVP = 0.6108 x exp( (17.27 x T) / (T + 237.3) ) T in deg C, result kPaActual Vapor Pressure: AVP = SVP x (RH / 100)VPD = SVP - AVP = SVP x (1 - RH/100)Wet-bulb to RH (psychrometric, simplified Bogel approximation)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use VPD instead of relative humidity?
RH alone is misleading because the same RH means very different drying power at different temperatures. 60% RH at 60C pulls moisture out far faster than 60% RH at 20C. VPD accounts for temperature and humidity together, giving the true drying force in a single comparable number (kPa).
What VPD is safe for kiln drying?
Early drying of wet, dense wood needs low VPD (gentle, ~0.5-1.5 kPa) to avoid surface checking. As wood dries below FSP you can raise VPD (2-4 kPa) to speed things up. Too high a VPD on wet hardwood causes the surface to shrink while the core is still wet - the classic cause of checking and honeycomb.
Is VPD useful for timber storage?
Yes. For storing dried timber you want VPD near the equilibrium that matches your target MC - very low VPD (under ~0.4 kPa, high RH) so the wood neither dries further nor re-absorbs moisture. This tool flags whether your conditions are drying, holding, or wetting the wood.
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