The table below provides laboratory-derived values for several mechanical properties of wood that are associated with wood strength. Note that due to sampling inadequacies, these values may not necessarily represent average species characteristics.
Source: U.S. Forest Products Laboratory
Tree Species | Average Specific Gravity, Oven Dry Sample | Static Bending Modulus of Elasticity (E) | Impact Bending, Height of Drop Causing Failure | Compress. Parallel to Grain, Max Crushing Strength | Compress. Perpen. to Grain, Fiber Stress at Prop. Limit | Shear Parallel to Grain, Max Shear Strength |
(0-1.0) | 10^6 psi | inches | psi | psi | psi | |
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U. S. Hardwoods | ||||||
Alder, Red | 0.41 | 1.38 | 20 | 5,820 | 440 | 1,080 |
Ash, Black | 0.49 | 1.60 | 35 | 5,970 | 760 | 1,570 |
Ash, Blue | 0.58 | 1.40 | - | 6,980 | 1,420 | 2,030 |
Ash, Green | 0.56 | 1.66 | 32 | 7,080 | 1,310 | 1,910 |
Ash, Oregon | 0.55 | 1.36 | 33 | 6,040 | 1,250 | 1,790 |
Ash, White | 0.60 | 1.74 | 43 | 7,410 | 1,160 | 1,910 |
Aspen, Bigtooth | 0.39 | 1.43 | - | 5,300 | 450 | 1,080 |
Aspen, Quaking | 0.38 | 1.18 | 21 | 4,250 | 370 | 850 |
Basswood | 0.37 | 1.46 | 16 | 4,730 | 370 | 990 |
Beech, American | 0.64 | 1.72 | 41 | 7,300 | 1,010 | 2,010 |
Birch, Paper | 0.55 | 1.59 | 34 | 5,690 | 600 | 1,210 |
Birch, Sweet | 0.65 | 2.17 | 47 | 8,540 | 1,080 | 2,240 |
Birch, Yellow | 0.62 | 2.01 | 55 | 8,170 | 970 | 1,880 |
Butternut | 0.38 | 1.18 | 24 | 5,110 | 460 | 1,170 |
Cherry, Black | 0.50 | 1.49 | 29 | 7,110 | 690 | 1,700 |
Chestnut, American | 0.43 | 1.23 | 19 | 5,320 | 620 | 1,080 |
Cottonwood, Balsam Poplar | 0.34 | 1.1 | - | 4,020 | 300 | 790 |
Cottonwood, Black | 0.35 | 1.27 | 22 | 4,500 | 300 | 1,040 |
Elm, Eastern | 0.40 | 1.37 | 20 | 4,910 | 380 | 930 |
Elm, American | 0.50 | 1.34 | 39 | 5,520 | 690 | 1,510 |
Elm, Rock | 0.63 | 1.54 | 56 | 7,050 | 1,230 | 1,920 |
Elm, Slippery | 0.53 | 1.49 | 45 | 6,360 | 820 | 1,630 |
Hackberry | 0.53 | 1.19 | 43 | 5,440 | 890 | 1,590 |
Hickory, Bitternut | 0.66 | 1.79 | 66 | 9,040 | 1,680 | - |
Hickory, Nutmeg | 0.6 | 1.70 | - | 6,910 | 1,570 | - |
Hickory, Pecan | 0.66 | 1.73 | 44 | 7,850 | 1,720 | 2,080 |
Hickory, Water | 0.62 | 2.02 | 53 | 8,600 | 1,550 | - |
Hickory, Mockernut | 0.72 | 2.22 | 77 | 8,940 | 1,730 | 1,740 |
Hickory, Pignut | 0.75 | 2.26 | 74 | 9,190 | 1,980 | 2,150 |
Hickory, Shagbark | 0.72 | 2.16 | 67 | 9,210 | 1,760 | 2,430 |
Hickory, Shellbark | 0.69 | 1.89 | 88 | 8,000 | 1,800 | 2,110 |
Honeylocust | - | 1.63 | 47 | 7,500 | 1,840 | 2,250 |
Locust, Black | 0.69 | 2.05 | 57 | 10,180 | 1,830 | 2,480 |
Magnolia,Cucumbertree | 0.48 | 1.82 | 35 | 6,310 | 570 | 1,340 |
Magnolia, Southern | 0.50 | 1.40 | 29 | 5,460 | 860 | 1,530 |
Maple, Bigleaf | 0.48 | 1.45 | 28 | 5,950 | 750 | 1,730 |
Maple, Black | 0.57 | 1.62 | 40 | 6,680 | 1,020 | 1,820 |
Maple, Red | 0.54 | 1.64 | 32 | 6,540 | 1,000 | 1,850 |
Maple, Silver | 0.47 | 1.14 | 25 | 5,220 | 740 | 1,480 |
Maple, Sugar | 0.63 | 1.83 | 39 | 7,830 | 1,470 | 2,330 |
Oak, Black | 0.61 | 1.64 | 41 | 6,520 | 930 | 1,910 |
Oak, Cherrybark | 0.68 | 2.28 | 49 | 8,740 | 1,250 | 2,000 |
Oak, Laurel | 0.63 | 1.69 | 39 | 6,980 | 1,060 | 1,830 |
Oak, Northern Red | 0.63 | 1.82 | 43 | 6,760 | 1,010 | 1,780 |
Oak, Pin | 0.63 | 1.73 | 45 | 6,820 | 1,020 | 2,080 |
Oak, Scarlet | 0.67 | 1.91 | 53 | 8,330 | 1,120 | 1,890 |
Oak, Southern Red | 0.59 | 1.49 | 26 | 6,090 | 870 | 1,390 |
Oak, Water | 0.63 | 2.02 | 44 | 6,770 | 1,020 | 2,020 |
Oak, Willow | 0.69 | 1.90 | 42 | 7,040 | 1,130 | 1,650 |
Oak, Bur | 0.64 | 1.03 | 29 | 6,060 | 1,200 | 1,820 |
Oak, Chestnut | 0.66 | 1.59 | 40 | 6,830 | 840 | 1,490 |
Oak, Live | 0.88 | 1.98 | - | 8,900 | 2,840 | 2,660 |
Oak, Overcup | 0.63 | 1.42 | 38 | 6,200 | 810 | 2,000 |
Oak, Post | 0.67 | 1.51 | 46 | 6,600 | 1,430 | 1,840 |
Oak, Swamp Chestnut | 0.67 | 1.77 | 41 | 7,270 | 1,110 | 1,990 |
Oak, Swamp White | 0.72 | 2.05 | 49 | 8,600 | 1,190 | 2,000 |
Oak, White | 0.68 | 1.78 | 37 | 7,440 | 1,070 | 2,000 |
Sassafras | 0.46 | 1.12 | - | 4,760 | 850 | 1,240 |
Sweetgum | 0.52 | 1.64 | 32 | 6,320 | 620 | 1,600 |
Sycamore, American | 0.49 | 1.42 | 26 | 5,380 | 700 | 1,470 |
Tupelo, Black | 0.50 | 1.20 | 22 | 5,520 | 930 | 1,340 |
Tupelo, Water | 0.50 | 1.26 | 23 | 5,920 | 870 | 1,590 |
Walnut, Black | 0.55 | 1.68 | 34 | 7,580 | 1,010 | 1,370 |
Willow, Black | 0.39 | 1.01 | - | 4,100 | 430 | 1,250 |
Yellow-poplar | 0.42 | 1.58 | 24 | 5,540 | 500 | 1,190 |
U. S. Softwoods | ||||||
Baldcypress | 0.46 | 1.44 | 24 | 6,360 | 730 | 1,000 |
Cedar, Alaska | 0.44 | 1.42 | 29 | 6,310 | 620 | 1,130 |
Cedar, Atlantic White | 0.32 | 0.93 | 13 | 4,700 | 410 | 800 |
Cedar, Eastern Redcedar | 0.47 | 0.88 | 22 | 6,020 | 920 | - |
Cedar, Incense | 0.37 | 1.04 | 17 | 5,200 | 590 | 880 |
Cedar, Northern White | 0.31 | 0.80 | 12 | 3,960 | 310 | 850 |
Cedar, Port-Orford | 0.43 | 1.70 | 28 | 6,250 | 720 | 1,370 |
Cedar, Western Redcedar | 0.32 | 1.11 | 17 | 4,560 | 460 | 990 |
Douglas-fir, Coast | 0.48 | 1.95 | 31 | 7,230 | 800 | 1,130 |
Douglas-fir, Interior West | 0.50 | 1.83 | 32 | 7,430 | 760 | 1,290 |
Douglas-fir, Interior North | 0.48 | 1.79 | 26 | 6,900 | 770 | 1,400 |
Douglas-fir, Interior South | 0.46 | 1.49 | 20 | 6,230 | 740 | 1,510 |
Fir, Balsam | 0.35 | 1.45 | 20 | 5,280 | 404 | 944 |
Fir, California Red | 0.38 | 1.50 | 24 | 5,460 | 610 | 1,040 |
Fir, Grand | 0.37 | 1.57 | 28 | 5,290 | 500 | 900 |
Fir, Noble | 0.39 | 1.72 | 23 | 6,100 | 520 | 1,050 |
Fir, Pacific silver | 0.43 | 1.76 | 24 | 6,410 | 450 | 1,220 |
Fir, Subalpine | 0.32 | 1.29 | - | 4,860 | 390 | 1,070 |
Fir, White | 0.39 | 1.50 | 20 | 5,800 | 530 | 1,100 |
Hemlock, Eastern | 0.40 | 1.20 | 21 | 5,410 | 650 | 1,060 |
Hemlock, Mountain | 0.45 | 1.33 | 32 | 6,440 | 860 | 1,540 |
Hemlock, Western | 0.45 | 1.63 | 23 | 7,200 | 550 | 1,290 |
Larch, western | 0.52 | 1.87 | 35 | 7,620 | 930 | 1,360 |
Pine, Eastern white | 0.35 | 1.24 | 18 | 4,800 | 440 | 900 |
Pine, Jack | 0.43 | 1.35 | 27 | 5,660 | 580 | 1,170 |
Pine, Loblolly | 0.51 | 1.79 | 30 | 7,130 | 790 | 1,390 |
Pine, Lodgepole | 0.41 | 1.34 | 20 | 5,370 | 610 | 880 |
Pine, Longleaf | 0.59 | 1.98 | 34 | 8,470 | 960 | 1,510 |
Pine, Pitch | 0.52 | 1.43 | - | 5,940 | 820 | 1,360 |
Pine, Pond | 0.56 | 1.75 | - | 7,540 | 910 | 1,380 |
Pine, Ponderosa | 0.40 | 1.29 | 19 | 5,320 | 580 | 1,130 |
Pine, Red | 0.46 | 1.63 | 26 | 6,070 | 600 | 1,210 |
Pine, Sand | 0.48 | 1.41 | - | 6,920 | 836 | - |
Pine, Shortleaf | 0.51 | 1.75 | 33 | 7,270 | 820 | 1,390 |
Pine, Slash | 0.59 | 1.98 | - | 8,140 | 1,020 | 1,680 |
Pine, Spruce | 0.44 | 1.23 | - | 5,650 | 730 | 1,490 |
Pine, Sugar | 0.36 | 1.19 | 18 | 4,460 | 500 | 1,130 |
Pine, Virginia | 0.48 | 1.52 | 32 | 6,710 | 910 | 1,350 |
Pine, Western white | 0.38 | 1.46 | 23 | 5,040 | 470 | 1,040 |
Redwood, Old-growth | 0.40 | 1.34 | 19 | 6,150 | 700 | 940 |
Redwood, Young-growth | 0.35 | 1.10 | 15 | 5,220 | 520 | 1,110 |
Spruce, Black | 0.42 | 1.61 | 23 | 5,960 | 550 | 1,230 |
Spruce, Engelmann | 0.35 | 1.30 | 18 | 4,480 | 410 | 1,200 |
Spruce, Red | 0.40 | 1.61 | 25 | 5,540 | 550 | 1,290 |
Spruce, Sitka | 0.40 | 1.57 | 25 | 5,610 | 580 | 1,150 |
Spruce, White | 0.36 | 1.43 | 20 | 5,180 | 430 | 970 |
Tamarack | 0.53 | 1.64 | 23 | 7,160 | 800 | 1,280 |