Compressive Strength of Common Wood
The compressive strength of wood varies depending on the wood species, moisture content, and grain direction. In general, wood with a higher density and a tighter grain pattern tends to have a higher compressive strength.
The following table provides a comprehensive list of compressive strength values for different wood types at 12% moisture content, taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F).
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| Ash (black) | 41.2 | 5.2 |
| Ash (blue) | 48.1 | 9.8 |
| Ash (green) | 48.8 | 9 |
| Ash (white) | 51.1 | 8 |
| Aspen (quaking) | 29.3 | 2.6 |
| Balsa | 8.6 | 0.5 |
| Balsam poplar | 27.7 | 2.1 |
| Basswood (American) | 32.6 | 2.6 |
| Beech (American) | 50.3 | 7 |
| Birch (paper) | 39.2 | 4.1 |
| Birch (silver) | 39.2 | 5.1 |
| Birch (sweet) | 58.9 | 7.4 |
| Birch (yellow) | 56.3 | 6.7 |
| Black wattle | 60.7 | 7.5 |
| Butternut | 36.2 | 3.2 |
| Cedar (eastern red) | 41.5 | 6.3 |
| Cedar (northern white) | 27.3 | 2.1 |
| Cedar (southern white) | 32.4 | 2.8 |
| Cedar (western red) | 31.4 | 3.2 |
| Cherry (black) | 49 | 4.8 |
| Chestnut (American) | 36.7 | 4.3 |
| Cottonwood (black) | 31 | 2.1 |
| Cottonwood (eastern) | 33.9 | 2.6 |
| Cypress | 43.9 | 5.4 |
| Douglas fir (coast) | 49.9 | 5.5 |
| Elm (American) | 38.1 | 4.8 |
| Elm (rock) | 48.6 | 8.5 |
| Elm (slippery) | 43.9 | 5.7 |
| Fir (balsam) | 36.4 | 2.8 |
| Fir (white) | 40 | 3.7 |
| Hemlock (eastern) | 37.3 | 4.5 |
| Hemlock (mountain) | 44.4 | 5.9 |
| Hemlock (western) | 49 | 3.8 |
| Hickory (mockernut) | 61.6 | 11.9 |
| Hickory (pignut) | 63.4 | 13.7 |
| Hickory (shagbark) | 63.5 | 12.1 |
| Juniper (alligator) | 28.4 | 11.7 |
| Larch (western) | 52.5 | 6.4 |
| Locust (black) | 70.2 | 12.6 |
| Locust (honey) | 51.7 | 12.7 |
| Magnolia (cucumber tree) | 43.5 | 3.9 |
| Magnolia (sweetbay) | 39.8 | 3.9 |
| Mahogany | 46.9 | 7.6 |
| Maple (bigleaf) | 41 | 5.2 |
| Maple (black) | 46.1 | 7 |
| Maple (red) | 45.1 | 6.9 |
| Maple (silver, creek) | 36 | 5.1 |
| Maple (sugar) | 54 | 10.1 |
| Oak (black) | 45 | 6.4 |
| Oak (bur) | 41.8 | 8.3 |
| Oak (chestnut) | 47.1 | 5.8 |
| Oak (laurel) | 48.1 | 7.3 |
| Oak (live) | 61.4 | 19.6 |
| Oak (northern red) | 46.6 | 7 |
| Oak (pin) | 47 | 7 |
| Oak (post) | 45.3 | 9.9 |
| Oak (scarlet) | 57.4 | 7.7 |
| Oak (swamp chestnut) | 50.1 | 7.7 |
| Oak (swamp white) | 59.3 | 8.2 |
| Oak (white) | 51.3 | 7.4 |
| Pine (eastern white) | 33.1 | 3 |
| Pine (jack) | 39 | 4 |
| Pine (lobolly) | 49.2 | 5.4 |
| Pine (longleaf) | 58.4 | 6.6 |
| Pine (pitch) | 41 | 5.6 |
| Pine (ponderosa) | 36.7 | 4 |
| Pine (red) | 41.9 | 4.1 |
| Pine (shortleaf) | 50.1 | 5.7 |
| Pine (western white) | 34.7 | 3.2 |
| Poplar (yellow) | 38.2 | 3.4 |
| Redwood (young growth) | 36 | 3.6 |
| Sassafras | 32.8 | 5.9 |
| Silver fir (Pacific) | 44.2 | 3.1 |
| Spruce (black) | 41.1 | 3.8 |
| Spruce (red) | 38.2 | 3.8 |
| Spruce (white) | 35.7 | 3 |
| Sycamore | 37.1 | 4.8 |
| Tamarack | 49.4 | 5.5 |
| Tupelo (black) | 38.1 | 6.4 |
| Walnut (black) | 52.3 | 7 |
| Willow (black) | 28.3 | 3 |
The compressive strength of wood can vary depending on a number of factors, including the species of wood, its moisture content, and the direction of grain.
Related Tables
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) Forest Products Laboratory. Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material. United States: USDA, 2010.