Map Librarian's Toolbox
Map Cabinet Weight
Catherine I. Bahn published an article giving the weight of loaded map cabinets in the SLA Geography & Map Division Bulletin, Volume 46, pages 3-17. This article was reprinted on pages 364-384 of Drazniowsky’s Map Librarianship: Readings (Scarecrow Press, 1975). The Geography and Map Division has given WAML permission to post the following table, showing the weight of map cases.
| Number of Maps | Number of 2″ Drawers | Weight in Pounds per 5-Drawer Section-Case | Weight of Maps (Lbs) | Top & Base Weight | Total Weight (Lbs) | Area in Square Feet | Height (Feet) | Weight per Square Foot |
| 200 | 1 | 68 | 83 | |||||
| 1,000 | 5 (1 Section) | 245 | 340 | 83 | 668 | 12 | 2′ | 55 lbs. |
| 2,000 | 10 (2 Sections) | 490 | 680 | 83 | 1,253 | 12 | 3 1/3′ | 107 lbs. |
| 3,000 | 15 (3 Sections) | 735 | 1020 | 83 | 1,838 | 12 | 4 2/3′ | 158 lbs. |
| 4,000 | 20 (4 Sections) | 980 | 1,360 | 83 | 2,483 | 12 | 6′ | 207 lbs. |
| 5,000 | 25 (5 Sections) | 1,225 | 1,700 | 83 | 3,008 | 12 | 7 1/3′ | 264 lbs. |
| 6,000 | 30 (6 Sections) | 1,470 | 2,040 | 83 | 3,593 | 12 | 8 2/3′ | 310 lbs. |