Wood Species Database: Properties of 192 Woods

Hardness, weight, strength, shrinkage and durability for 192 woods in one sortable table: 113 grown in the United States and 79 imported. Every value comes from the property tables of the USDA Forest Products Laboratory’s Wood Handbook, the standard public reference on wood as a material, so species are compared on the same basis. Click a heading to sort, type in the box to filter, and follow a species link for a full profile with movement and weight worked out.

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Species	Group	Janka (lbf)	Density (lb/ft³)	SG 12%	Bending (psi)	Stiffness (Mpsi)	Crushing (psi)	Shrink T/R (%)	Decay
African mahogany (khaya) Khaya spp.	imported hardwood	830	31.0*	0.44*	10,700	1.4	6,460	4.5 / 2.5	moderately resistant
Afrormosia Pericopsis elata	imported hardwood	1,560	45.6*	0.65*	18,400	1.94	9,940	6.4 / 3.0	resistant
Albarco Cariniana spp.	imported hardwood	1,020	35.0†	0.5†	14,500	1.5	6,820	5.4 / 2.8	not rated
American basswood Tilia americana	domestic hardwood	410	25.9	0.37	8,700	1.46	4,730	9.3 / 6.6	slightly or nonresistant
American beech Fagus grandifolia	domestic hardwood	1,300	44.7	0.64	14,900	1.72	7,300	11.9 / 5.5	slightly or nonresistant
American chestnut Castanea dentata	domestic hardwood	540	30.1	0.43	8,600	1.23	5,320	6.7 / 3.4	resistant
American elm Ulmus americana	domestic hardwood	830	35.0	0.5	11,800	1.34	5,520	9.5 / 4.2	slightly or nonresistant
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	domestic hardwood	770	34.3	0.49	10,000	1.42	5,380	8.4 / 5.0	slightly or nonresistant
Andiroba Carapa guianensis	imported hardwood	1,130	40.3*	0.58*	15,500	2	8,120	7.6 / 3.1	moderately resistant
Angelin Andira inermis	imported hardwood	1,750	49.2*	0.7*	18,000	2.49	9,200	9.8 / 4.6	not rated
Angelique Dicorynia guianensis	imported hardwood	1,290	45.8*	0.66*	17,400	2.19	8,770	8.8 / 5.2	very resistant
Atlantic white cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides	domestic softwood	350	22.4	0.32	6,800	0.93	4,700	5.4 / 2.9	resistant
Avodire Turraeanthus africanus	imported hardwood	1,080	36.1*	0.52*	12,700	1.49	7,150	6.7 / 4.6	moderately resistant
Azobe Lophira alata	imported hardwood	3,350	67.8*	0.97*	24,500	2.47	12,600	11.0 / 8.4	very resistant
Baldcypress Taxodium distichum	domestic softwood	510	32.2	0.46	10,600	1.44	6,360	—	resistant (old growth); moderately resistant (young growth)
Balsa Ochroma pyramidale	imported hardwood	—	12.0*	0.17*	3,140	0.49	2,160	7.6 / 3.0	slightly or nonresistant
Balsam fir Abies balsamea	domestic softwood	380	24.5	0.35	9,200	1.45	5,280	6.9 / 2.9	slightly or nonresistant
Balsam poplar Populus balsamifera	domestic hardwood	—	23.8	0.34	6,800	1.1	4,020	7.1 / 3.0	slightly or nonresistant
Banak Virola spp.	imported hardwood	510	32.0*	0.46*	10,900	2.04	5,140	8.8 / 4.6	slightly or nonresistant
Benge Guibourtia arnoldiana	imported hardwood	1,750	49.6*	0.71*	21,400	2.04	11,400	8.6 / 5.2	moderately resistant
Bigleaf maple Acer macrophyllum	domestic hardwood	850	33.6	0.48	10,700	1.45	5,950	7.1 / 3.7	slightly or nonresistant
Bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata	domestic hardwood	—	27.3	0.39	9,100	1.43	5,300	7.9 / 3.3	slightly or nonresistant
Bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	domestic hardwood	—	46.1	0.66	17,100	1.79	9,040	8.9 / 4.9	slightly or nonresistant
Black ash Fraxinus nigra	domestic hardwood	850	34.3	0.49	12,600	1.6	5,970	7.8 / 5.0	slightly or nonresistant
Black cherry Prunus serotina	domestic hardwood	950	35.0	0.5	12,300	1.49	7,110	7.1 / 3.7	moderately resistant
Black cottonwood Populus trichocarpa	domestic hardwood	350	24.5	0.35	8,500	1.27	4,500	8.6 / 3.6	slightly or nonresistant
Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia	domestic hardwood	1,700	48.2	0.69	19,400	2.05	10,180	7.2 / 4.6	very resistant
Black maple Acer nigrum	domestic hardwood	1,180	39.9	0.57	13,300	1.62	6,680	9.3 / 4.8	slightly or nonresistant
Black oak Quercus velutina	domestic hardwood	1,210	42.7	0.61	13,900	1.64	6,520	11.1 / 4.4	slightly or nonresistant
Black spruce Picea mariana	domestic softwood	530	29.4	0.42	10,800	1.61	5,960	6.8 / 4.1	slightly or nonresistant
Black tupelo Nyssa sylvatica	domestic hardwood	810	35.0	0.5	9,600	1.2	5,520	8.7 / 5.1	slightly or nonresistant
Black walnut Juglans nigra	domestic hardwood	1,010	38.5	0.55	14,600	1.68	7,580	7.8 / 5.5	resistant
Black willow Salix nigra	domestic hardwood	—	27.3	0.39	7,800	1.01	4,100	8.7 / 3.3	slightly or nonresistant
Blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata	domestic hardwood	—	40.6	0.58	13,800	1.4	6,980	6.5 / 3.9	slightly or nonresistant
Brazilian rosewood Dalbergia nigra	imported hardwood	2,720	58.9*	0.84*	19,000	1.88	9,600	4.6 / 2.9	not rated
Bubinga Guibourtia spp.	imported hardwood	2,690	54.3*	0.78*	22,600	2.48	10,500	8.4 / 5.8	moderately resistant
Bulletwood Manilkara bidentata	imported hardwood	3,190	66.0†	0.94†	27,300	3.45	11,640	9.4 / 6.3	not rated
Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa	domestic hardwood	1,370	44.7	0.64	10,300	1.03	6,060	8.8 / 4.4	resistant
Butternut Juglans cinerea	domestic hardwood	490	26.6	0.38	8,100	1.18	5,110	6.4 / 3.4	slightly or nonresistant
California red fir Abies magnifica	domestic softwood	500	26.6	0.38	10,500	1.5	5,460	7.9 / 4.5	slightly or nonresistant
Caribbean pine Pinus caribaea	imported softwood	1,240	51.5*	0.74*	16,700	2.24	8,540	7.8 / 6.3	not rated
Cativo Prioria copaifera	imported hardwood	630	29.6*	0.42*	8,600	1.11	4,290	5.3 / 2.4	slightly or nonresistant
Ceiba Ceiba pentandra	imported hardwood	240	18.7*	0.27*	4,300	0.54	2,380	4.1 / 2.1	slightly or nonresistant
Cherrybark oak Quercus falcata var. pagodaefolia	domestic hardwood	1,480	47.5	0.68	18,100	2.28	8,740	—	slightly or nonresistant
Chestnut oak Quercus prinus	domestic hardwood	1,130	46.1	0.66	13,300	1.59	6,830	10.8 / 5.3	resistant
Courbaril (jatoba) Hymenaea courbaril	imported hardwood	2,350	53.8*	0.77*	19,400	2.16	9,510	8.5 / 4.5	resistant
Cuangare Dialyanthera spp.	imported hardwood	380	23.4*	0.33*	7,300	1.52	4,760	9.4 / 4.2	not rated
Cucumbertree Magnolia acuminata	domestic hardwood	700	33.6	0.48	12,300	1.82	6,310	8.8 / 5.2	slightly or nonresistant
Dark red meranti	imported hardwood	780	34.9*	0.5*	12,700	1.77	7,360	7.9 / 3.8	moderately resistant
Degame Calycophyllum candidissimum	imported hardwood	1,940	50.9*	0.73*	22,300	2.27	9,670	8.6 / 4.8	not rated
Determa Ocotea rubra	imported hardwood	660	38.8*	0.56*	10,500	1.82	5,800	7.6 / 3.7	resistant
Douglas-fir (Coast) Pseudotsuga menziesii	domestic softwood	710	33.6	0.48	12,400	1.95	7,230	7.6 / 4.8	moderately resistant
Douglas-fir (Interior north) Pseudotsuga menziesii	domestic softwood	600	33.6	0.48	13,100	1.79	6,900	6.9 / 3.8	moderately resistant
Douglas-fir (Interior south) Pseudotsuga menziesii	domestic softwood	510	32.2	0.46	11,900	1.49	6,230	—	moderately resistant
Douglas-fir (Interior west) Pseudotsuga menziesii	domestic softwood	660	35.0	0.5	12,600	1.83	7,430	7.5 / 4.8	moderately resistant
Eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	domestic hardwood	430	28.0	0.4	8,500	1.37	4,910	9.2 / 3.9	slightly or nonresistant
Eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis	domestic softwood	500	28.0	0.4	8,900	1.2	5,410	6.8 / 3.0	slightly or nonresistant
Eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	domestic softwood	—	32.9	0.47	8,800	0.88	6,020	4.7 / 3.1	resistant
Eastern white pine Pinus strobus	domestic softwood	380	24.5	0.35	8,600	1.24	4,800	6.1 / 2.1	moderately resistant (old growth only); otherwise slightly or nonresistant
Ekop Tetraberlinia tubmaniana	imported hardwood	—	46.4*	0.66*	16,700	2.21	9,010	10.2 / 5.6	moderately resistant
Engelmann spruce Picea engelmannii	domestic softwood	390	24.5	0.35	9,300	1.3	4,480	7.1 / 3.8	slightly or nonresistant
Genuine mahogany (Honduran / big-leaf) Swietenia macrophylla	imported hardwood	800	33.0*	0.47*	11,500	1.5	6,780	4.1 / 3.0	resistant
Goncalo alves Astronium graveolens	imported hardwood	2,160	62.5*	0.89*	16,600	2.23	10,320	7.6 / 4.0	very resistant
Grand fir Abies grandis	domestic softwood	490	25.9	0.37	8,900	1.57	5,290	7.5 / 3.4	slightly or nonresistant
Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	domestic hardwood	1,200	39.2	0.56	14,100	1.66	7,080	7.1 / 4.6	slightly or nonresistant
Greenheart Chlorocardium rodiei	imported hardwood	2,350	62.3*	0.89*	24,900	3.25	12,510	9.6 / 8.8	very resistant
Hackberry Celtis occidentalis	domestic hardwood	880	37.1	0.53	11,000	1.19	5,440	8.9 / 4.8	slightly or nonresistant
Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	domestic hardwood	1,580	44.9*	0.64*	14,700	1.63	7,500	6.6 / 4.2	moderately resistant
Hura Hura crepitans	imported hardwood	550	27.8*	0.4*	8,700	1.17	4,800	4.5 / 2.7	slightly or nonresistant
Ilomba Pycnanthus angolensis	imported hardwood	610	30.3*	0.43*	9,900	1.59	5,550	8.4 / 4.6	not rated
Incense cedar Calocedrus decurrens	domestic softwood	470	25.9	0.37	8,000	1.04	5,200	5.2 / 3.3	resistant
Indian rosewood Dalbergia latifolia	imported hardwood	3,170	55.2*	0.79*	16,900	1.78	9,220	5.8 / 2.7	not rated
Ipe Tabebuia spp., lapacho group	imported hardwood	3,680	64.0†	0.92†	25,400	3.14	13,010	8.0 / 6.6	very resistant
Iroko Chlorophora spp.	imported hardwood	1,260	39.9*	0.57*	12,400	1.46	7,590	3.8 / 2.8	resistant
Jack pine Pinus banksiana	domestic softwood	570	30.1	0.43	9,900	1.35	5,660	6.6 / 3.7	slightly or nonresistant
Jarrah Eucalyptus marginata	imported hardwood	1,910	54.0†	0.77†	16,200	1.88	8,870	11.0 / 7.7	very resistant
Jelutong Dyera costulata	imported hardwood	—	28.0†	0.4†	—	—	—	5.5 / 2.3	slightly or nonresistant
Kaneelhart Licaria spp.	imported hardwood	2,900	72.6*	1.04*	29,900	4.06	17,400	7.9 / 5.4	not rated
Kapur Dryobalanops spp.	imported hardwood	1,230	49.1*	0.7*	18,300	1.88	10,090	10.2 / 4.6	resistant
Karri Eucalyptus diversicolor	imported hardwood	2,040	65.2*	0.93*	20,160	2.6	10,800	12.4 / 7.8	resistant
Kempas Koompassia malaccensis	imported hardwood	1,710	55.0†	0.79†	17,700	2.69	9,520	7.4 / 6.0	resistant
Keruing Dipterocarpus spp.	imported hardwood	1,270	53.4*	0.76*	19,900	2.07	10,500	10.9 / 5.2	moderately resistant
Laurel oak Quercus laurifolia	domestic hardwood	1,210	44.1	0.63	12,600	1.69	6,980	9.9 / 4.0	slightly or nonresistant
Light red meranti	imported hardwood	460	26.0*	0.37*	9,500	1.23	5,920	8.5 / 4.6	slightly or nonresistant
Lignumvitae Guaiacum spp.	imported hardwood	4,500	88.1*	1.26*	—	—	11,400	—	very resistant
Limba Terminalia superba	imported hardwood	490	28.4*	0.41*	8,800	1.01	4,730	6.2 / 4.5	slightly or nonresistant
Live oak Quercus virginiana	domestic hardwood	—	61.5	0.88	18,400	1.98	8,900	9.5 / 6.6	resistant
Loblolly pine Pinus taeda	domestic softwood	690	35.7	0.51	12,800	1.79	7,130	7.4 / 4.8	slightly or nonresistant
Lodgepole pine Pinus contorta	domestic softwood	480	28.7	0.41	9,400	1.34	5,370	6.7 / 4.3	slightly or nonresistant
Longleaf pine Pinus palustris	domestic softwood	870	41.3	0.59	14,500	1.98	8,470	7.5 / 5.1	moderately resistant (old growth only); otherwise slightly or nonresistant
Macawood Platymiscium spp.	imported hardwood	3,150	68.4*	0.98*	27,600	3.2	16,100	3.5 / 2.7	not rated
Manbarklak Eschweilera spp.	imported hardwood	3,480	67.3*	0.96*	26,500	3.14	11,210	10.3 / 5.8	not rated
Manni Symphonia globulifera	imported hardwood	1,120	44.0†	0.63†	16,900	2.46	8,820	9.7 / 5.7	resistant
Marishballi Licania spp.	imported hardwood	3,570	68.6*	0.98*	27,700	3.34	13,390	11.7 / 7.5	not rated
Merbau Intsia spp.	imported hardwood	—	50.0†	0.71†	—	—	—	4.6 / 2.7	not rated
Mersawa Anisoptera spp.	imported hardwood	1,290	39.9*	0.57*	13,800	2.28	7,370	9.0 / 4.0	moderately resistant
Mexican cypress Cupressus lusitanica	imported softwood	460	29.1*	0.42*	10,300	1.02	5,380	—	not rated
Mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	domestic hardwood	1,970	50.3	0.72	19,200	2.22	8,940	11.0 / 7.7	slightly or nonresistant
Mora Mora spp.	imported hardwood	2,300	61.5*	0.88*	22,100	2.96	11,840	9.8 / 6.9	not rated
Mountain hemlock Tsuga mertensiana	domestic softwood	680	31.5	0.45	11,500	1.33	6,440	7.1 / 4.4	slightly or nonresistant
Noble fir Abies procera	domestic softwood	410	27.3	0.39	10,700	1.72	6,100	8.3 / 4.3	slightly or nonresistant
Northern red oak Quercus rubra	domestic hardwood	1,290	44.1	0.63	14,300	1.82	6,760	8.6 / 4.0	slightly or nonresistant
Northern white-cedar Thuja occidentalis	domestic softwood	320	21.7	0.31	6,500	0.8	3,960	4.9 / 2.2	resistant
Nutmeg hickory Carya myristiciformis	domestic hardwood	—	42.0	0.6	16,600	1.7	6,910	8.9 / 4.9	slightly or nonresistant
Obeche Triplochiton scleroxylon	imported hardwood	430	24.0†	0.34†	7,400	0.86	3,930	5.4 / 3.0	slightly or nonresistant
Ocote pine Pinus oocarpa	imported softwood	910	41.0†	0.59†	14,900	2.25	7,680	7.5 / 4.6	not rated
Okoume Aucoumea klaineana	imported hardwood	380	24.8*	0.35*	7,400	1.14	3,970	6.1 / 4.1	slightly or nonresistant
Opepe Nauclea diderrichii	imported hardwood	1,630	47.7*	0.68*	17,400	1.94	10,400	8.4 / 4.5	not rated
Oregon ash Fraxinus latifolia	domestic hardwood	1,160	38.5	0.55	12,700	1.36	6,040	8.1 / 4.1	slightly or nonresistant
Ovangkol Guibourtia ehie	imported hardwood	—	50.5*	0.72*	16,900	2.56	8,300	8.2 / 4.5	not rated
Overcup oak Quercus lyrata	domestic hardwood	1,190	44.1	0.63	12,600	1.42	6,200	12.7 / 5.3	resistant
Pacific silver fir Abies amabilis	domestic softwood	430	30.1	0.43	11,000	1.76	6,410	9.2 / 4.4	slightly or nonresistant
Paper birch Betula papyrifera	domestic hardwood	910	38.5	0.55	12,300	1.59	5,690	8.6 / 6.3	slightly or nonresistant
Para-angelim Hymenolobium excelsum	imported hardwood	1,720	46.9*	0.67*	17,600	2.05	8,990	7.1 / 4.4	not rated
Parana-pine Araucaria angustifolia	imported softwood	780	34.0†	0.49†	13,500	1.61	7,660	7.9 / 4.0	slightly or nonresistant
Pau marfim Balfourodendron riedelianum	imported hardwood	—	55.5*	0.79*	—	—	—	8.8 / 4.6	not rated
Pecan Carya illinoensis	domestic hardwood	1,820	46.1	0.66	13,700	1.73	7,850	8.9 / 4.9	slightly or nonresistant
Peroba de campos Paratecoma peroba	imported hardwood	1,600	46.3*	0.66*	15,400	1.77	8,880	6.6 / 3.8	not rated
Peroba rosa Aspidosperma spp., peroba group	imported hardwood	1,730	49.6*	0.71*	12,100	1.53	7,920	6.4 / 3.8	not rated
Pignut hickory Carya glabra	domestic hardwood	2,140	52.4	0.75	20,100	2.26	9,190	11.5 / 7.2	slightly or nonresistant
Pilon Hyeronima spp.	imported hardwood	1,700	50.6*	0.72*	18,200	2.27	9,620	11.7 / 5.4	not rated
Pin oak Quercus palustris	domestic hardwood	1,510	44.1	0.63	14,000	1.73	6,820	9.5 / 4.3	slightly or nonresistant
Piquia Caryocar spp.	imported hardwood	1,720	54.6*	0.78*	17,000	2.16	8,410	8.0 / 5.0	not rated
Pitch pine Pinus rigida	domestic softwood	—	36.4	0.52	10,800	1.43	5,940	7.1 / 4.0	slightly or nonresistant
Pond pine Pinus serotina	domestic softwood	—	39.2	0.56	11,600	1.75	7,540	7.1 / 5.1	slightly or nonresistant
Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa	domestic softwood	460	28.0	0.4	9,400	1.29	5,320	6.2 / 3.9	slightly or nonresistant
Port-Orford cedar Chamaecyparis lawsoniana	domestic softwood	630	30.1	0.43	12,700	1.7	6,250	6.9 / 4.6	resistant
Post oak Quercus stellata	domestic hardwood	1,360	46.8	0.67	13,200	1.51	6,600	9.8 / 5.4	resistant
Primavera Tabebuia donnell-smithii	imported hardwood	660	29.0†	0.41†	9,500	1.04	5,600	5.1 / 3.1	not rated
Purpleheart Peltogyne spp.	imported hardwood	1,860	49.8*	0.71*	19,200	2.27	10,320	6.1 / 3.2	very resistant
Quaking aspen Populus tremuloides	domestic hardwood	350	26.6	0.38	8,400	1.18	4,250	6.7 / 3.5	slightly or nonresistant
Radiata pine Pinus radiata	imported softwood	750	30.0†	0.43†	11,700	1.48	6,080	—	not rated
Ramin Gonystylus bancanus	imported hardwood	1,300	42.0†	0.6†	18,500	2.17	10,080	8.7 / 4.3	slightly or nonresistant
Red alder Alnus rubra	domestic hardwood	590	28.7	0.41	9,800	1.38	5,820	7.3 / 4.4	slightly or nonresistant
Red maple Acer rubrum	domestic hardwood	950	37.8	0.54	13,400	1.64	6,540	8.2 / 4.0	slightly or nonresistant
Red pine Pinus resinosa	domestic softwood	560	32.2	0.46	11,000	1.63	6,070	7.2 / 3.8	slightly or nonresistant
Red spruce Picea rubens	domestic softwood	530	28.0	0.4	10,800	1.66	5,540	7.8 / 3.8	slightly or nonresistant
Redwood (old-growth) Sequoia sempervirens	domestic softwood	480	28.0	0.4	10,000	1.34	6,150	4.4 / 2.6	resistant
Redwood (young-growth) Sequoia sempervirens	domestic softwood	420	24.5	0.35	7,900	1.1	5,220	4.9 / 2.2	moderately resistant
Roble Tabebuia spp., roble group	imported hardwood	960	38.5*	0.55*	13,800	1.6	7,340	6.1 / 3.6	resistant
Rock elm Ulmus thomasii	domestic hardwood	1,320	44.1	0.63	14,800	1.54	7,050	8.1 / 4.8	slightly or nonresistant
Sand pine Pinus clausa	domestic softwood	—	33.6	0.48	11,600	1.41	6,920	—	slightly or nonresistant
Sande Brosimum spp., utile group	imported hardwood	900	37.3*	0.53*	14,300	2.39	8,220	8.0 / 4.6	slightly or nonresistant
Santa Maria Calophyllum brasiliense	imported hardwood	1,150	38.0†	0.54†	14,600	1.83	6,910	—	not rated
Sapele Entandrophragma cylindricum	imported hardwood	1,510	42.0*	0.6*	15,300	1.82	8,160	7.4 / 4.6	moderately resistant
Sassafras Sassafras albidum	domestic hardwood	—	32.2	0.46	9,000	1.12	4,760	6.2 / 4.0	resistant
Scarlet oak Quercus coccinea	domestic hardwood	1,400	46.8	0.67	17,400	1.91	8,330	10.8 / 4.4	slightly or nonresistant
Sepetir Pseudosindora palustris	imported hardwood	1,410	41.8*	0.6*	17,200	1.97	8,880	7.0 / 3.7	slightly or nonresistant
Shagbark hickory Carya ovata	domestic hardwood	1,880	50.3	0.72	20,200	2.16	9,210	10.5 / 7.0	slightly or nonresistant
Shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa	domestic hardwood	1,810	48.2	0.69	18,100	1.89	8,000	12.6 / 7.6	slightly or nonresistant
Shortleaf pine Pinus echinata	domestic softwood	690	35.7	0.51	13,100	1.75	7,270	7.7 / 4.6	slightly or nonresistant
Silver maple Acer saccharinum	domestic hardwood	700	32.9	0.47	8,900	1.14	5,220	7.2 / 3.0	slightly or nonresistant
Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis	domestic softwood	510	28.0	0.4	10,200	1.57	5,610	7.5 / 4.3	slightly or nonresistant
Slash pine Pinus elliottii	domestic softwood	—	41.3	0.59	16,300	1.98	8,140	7.6 / 5.4	moderately resistant (old growth only); otherwise slightly or nonresistant
Slippery elm Ulmus rubra	domestic hardwood	860	37.1	0.53	13,000	1.49	6,360	8.9 / 4.9	slightly or nonresistant
Southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora	domestic hardwood	1,020	35.0	0.5	11,200	1.4	5,460	6.6 / 5.4	slightly or nonresistant
Southern red oak Quercus falcata	domestic hardwood	1,060	41.3	0.59	10,900	1.49	6,090	11.3 / 4.7	slightly or nonresistant
Spanish-cedar Cedrela spp.	imported hardwood	600	30.6*	0.44*	11,500	1.44	6,210	6.3 / 4.2	resistant
Spruce pine Pinus glabra	domestic softwood	660	30.8	0.44	10,400	1.23	5,650	—	slightly or nonresistant
Subalpine fir Abies lasiocarpa	domestic softwood	350	22.4	0.32	8,600	1.29	4,860	7.4 / 2.6	slightly or nonresistant
Sucupira (Bowdichia) Bowdichia spp.	imported hardwood	—	55.7*	0.8*	—	—	—	7.0 / 4.6	resistant
Sucupira (Diplotropis) Diplotropis purpurea	imported hardwood	2,140	58.7*	0.84*	20,600	2.87	12,140	7.0 / 4.6	resistant
Sugar maple Acer saccharum	domestic hardwood	1,450	44.1	0.63	15,800	1.83	7,830	9.9 / 4.8	slightly or nonresistant
Sugar pine Pinus lambertiana	domestic softwood	380	25.2	0.36	8,200	1.19	4,460	5.6 / 2.9	slightly or nonresistant
Swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii	domestic hardwood	1,240	46.8	0.67	13,900	1.77	7,270	10.8 / 5.2	resistant
Swamp white oak Quercus bicolor	domestic hardwood	1,620	50.3	0.72	17,700	2.05	8,600	—	resistant
Sweet birch Betula lenta	domestic hardwood	1,470	45.4	0.65	16,900	2.17	8,540	9.0 / 6.5	slightly or nonresistant
Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	domestic hardwood	850	36.4	0.52	12,500	1.64	6,320	10.2 / 5.3	slightly or nonresistant
Tamarack Larix laricina	domestic softwood	590	37.1	0.53	11,600	1.64	7,160	7.4 / 3.7	moderately resistant
Tanoak Lithocarpus densiflorus	domestic hardwood	—	45.2*	0.65*	—	—	—	11.7 / 4.9	slightly or nonresistant
Teak Tectona grandis	imported hardwood	1,000	40.1*	0.57*	14,600	1.55	8,410	5.8 / 2.5	very resistant (old growth); moderately resistant (young growth)
Tornillo Cedrelinga cateniformis	imported hardwood	—	33.9*	0.48*	—	—	—	—	moderately resistant
Tropical American oak Quercus spp.	imported hardwood	2,500	60.4*	0.86*	23,000	3.02	—	—	not rated
Virginia pine Pinus virginiana	domestic softwood	740	33.6	0.48	13,000	1.52	6,710	7.2 / 4.2	slightly or nonresistant
Wallaba Eperua spp.	imported hardwood	2,040	58.0†	0.83†	19,100	2.28	10,760	6.9 / 3.6	resistant
Water hickory Carya aquatica	domestic hardwood	—	43.4	0.62	17,800	2.02	8,600	8.9 / 4.9	slightly or nonresistant
Water oak Quercus nigra	domestic hardwood	1,190	44.1	0.63	15,400	2.02	6,770	9.8 / 4.4	slightly or nonresistant
Water tupelo Nyssa aquatica	domestic hardwood	880	35.0	0.5	9,600	1.26	5,920	7.6 / 4.2	slightly or nonresistant
Western hemlock Tsuga heterophylla	domestic softwood	540	31.5	0.45	11,300	1.63	7,200	7.8 / 4.2	slightly or nonresistant
Western larch Larix occidentalis	domestic softwood	830	36.4	0.52	13,000	1.87	7,620	9.1 / 4.5	moderately resistant
Western redcedar Thuja plicata	domestic softwood	350	22.4	0.32	7,500	1.11	4,560	5.0 / 2.4	resistant
Western white pine Pinus monticola	domestic softwood	420	26.6	0.38	9,700	1.46	5,040	7.4 / 4.1	slightly or nonresistant
White ash Fraxinus americana	domestic hardwood	1,320	42.0	0.6	15,000	1.74	7,410	7.8 / 4.9	slightly or nonresistant
White fir Abies concolor	domestic softwood	480	27.3	0.39	9,800	1.5	5,800	7.0 / 3.3	slightly or nonresistant
White meranti	imported hardwood	—	40.3*	0.58*	—	—	—	6.6 / 3.0	slightly or nonresistant
White oak Quercus alba	domestic hardwood	1,360	47.5	0.68	15,200	1.78	7,440	10.5 / 5.6	resistant
White spruce Picea glauca	domestic softwood	410	25.2	0.36	9,400	1.43	5,180	—	slightly or nonresistant
Willow oak Quercus phellos	domestic hardwood	1,460	48.2	0.69	14,500	1.9	7,040	9.6 / 5.0	slightly or nonresistant
Yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis	domestic hardwood	1,260	43.4	0.62	16,600	2.01	8,170	9.5 / 7.3	slightly or nonresistant
Yellow meranti	imported hardwood	770	34.3*	0.49*	11,400	1.55	5,900	8.0 / 3.4	slightly or nonresistant
Yellow-cedar (Alaska) Chamaecyparis nootkatensis	domestic softwood	580	30.8	0.44	11,100	1.42	6,310	6.0 / 2.8	resistant
Yellow-poplar Liriodendron tulipifera	domestic hardwood	540	29.4	0.42	10,100	1.58	5,540	8.2 / 4.6	slightly or nonresistant

192 species. Strength and hardness at 12% moisture content; shrinkage green to ovendry. Source: USDA Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-190), Tables 4-3, 4-4, 5-3b, 5-5b and 14-1. * estimated.

Species profiles

Full profiles with every property, the species in each trade group, worked examples for weight and wood movement, and what each wood is used for:

What the columns mean

Janka (lbf): side hardness at 12% moisture content, the load to press an 11.28 mm (0.444 in.) ball half its diameter into the wood. See the Janka hardness chart.
Density (lb/ft³): weight at 12% moisture content per cubic foot, from specific gravity × 62.43 × 1.12 (Handbook Eq. 4-12). Divide by 12 for pounds per board foot.
SG 12%: specific gravity on ovendry weight and volume at 12% moisture content.
Bending (psi): modulus of rupture, the bending stress at which a small clear beam breaks.
Stiffness (Mpsi): modulus of elasticity in millions of psi, from a center-loaded beam; the Handbook notes it can be raised 10% to correct for shear deflection.
Crushing (psi): maximum crushing strength in compression parallel to the grain.
Shrink T/R (%): tangential and radial shrinkage from green to ovendry, in percent of the green dimension. A high T/R ratio means more cupping in flatsawn boards.
Decay: heartwood decay-resistance class from Handbook Table 14-1. Sapwood of every species has low decay resistance.

* For imported species the Handbook tables give specific gravity only on green volume, so density at 12% is estimated with its Eq. 4-9 from that value and the species’ volumetric shrinkage. † Where the Handbook’s species description states a density, that figure is used instead. Domestic values are as tabulated.

What these numbers are not

These are averages for small, clear, straight-grained specimens tested to ASTM methods. They are the right numbers for comparing species and for estimating weight and movement. They are not design values: graded structural lumber has knots and other features that lower its strength, and building codes publish separate design values for it. Size joists, beams and other structural members from your local building code or with a licensed professional.

Tools that use this data

Janka hardness chart: all species ranked by hardness, in lbf and newtons
Wood movement calculator: how much a board will shrink or swell
Board foot calculator and lumber cost calculator
Types of wood and what they are used for
All construction and woodworking calculators

Frequently asked questions

Which wood is the hardest?

In this database, lignumvitae at 4,500 lbf. Among domestic woods, pignut hickory is hardest at 2,140 lbf.

Which wood is the lightest?

Balsa, at an estimated 12 lb/ft³ at 12% moisture content. The lightest domestic woods are northern white-cedar, the firs and the soft pines at around 22 to 25 lb/ft³.

Where do these numbers come from?

From the USDA Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-190), a US Government publication in the public domain. We parsed its tables directly and show the table and equation behind each column.

Can I use these strength values to size a beam?

No. They describe small, clear specimens. Structural sizing uses grade-specific design values and your local building code; check with your building department or a licensed professional.

Sources

Last reviewed: 22 October 2026. We parsed the Handbook tables with a script and checked spot values by hand against the printed tables (how we check our data). Spotted an error? Please let us know.