Abstract: A method for measuring the solid volume of a load of timber comprises the steps of introducing the load (9) into a compartment (2) which is hermetically sealable against the ambient atmosphere and located in a housing (1) into which is gradually introduced a fill-out means (4,5) intended to reduce the volume, and thus increase the pressure, of the gas in said compartment; determining, after at least a certain excess pressure has been established in said compartment, the product of gas volume and gas pressure as a first reference value; and measuring the solid volume of the load as the difference between said first reference value and a second reference value of the product of gas volume and gas pressure, determined under identical conditions, but with no load in said compartment.