Specific Gravity of Common Wood Types

The specific gravity of wood is a measure of its density relative to water. It is defined as the ratio of the weight of a given volume of wood to the weight of the same volume of water. Generally, the specific gravity of wood ranges from around 0.3 to 1.2, with higher values indicating denser, heavier woods.

The following table provides a comprehensive list of specific gravity values for different types of wood at 12% moisture content.

All values are taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)

Specific Gravity of Common Wood
Afromosia0.57
Ash (black)0.53
Ash (blue)0.58
Ash (white)0.64
Aspen (quaking)0.38
Balsa0.13
Balsam poplar0.34
Basswood (American)0.37
Beech (American)0.64
Berlinia, ebiara0.58
Birch (silver)0.6
Birch (sweet)0.71
Birch (yellow)0.66
Black wattle0.64
Bluegum (southern)0.8
Boxelder0.46
Bucida (oxhorn)0.93
Cedar (eastern red)0.48
Cedar (northern white)0.31
Cedar (southern white)0.34
Cedar (western red)0.33
Cherry (black)0.53
Chestnut (American)0.45
Cottonwood (black)0.35
Cottonwood (eastern)0.43
Cypress0.48
Danta, kotibe0.65
Douglas fir (coast)0.51
Elm (American)0.55
Elm (rock)0.67
Elm (slippery)0.56
Fir (balsam)0.37
Fir (White)0.41
Hairi0.51
Hemlock (eastern)0.43
Hemlock (western)0.44
Hickory (mockernut)0.78
Hickory (pignut)0.77
Hickory (shagbark)0.77
Juniper (alligator)0.51
Lapacho, bethabara, ipe0.85 - 0.97
Larch (western)0.59
Magnolia (sweetbay)0.45
Mahogany0.51
Maple (bigleaf)0.48
Maple (black)0.6
Maple (red)0.56
Maple (silver, creek)0.5
Maple (sugar)0.66
Oak (black)0.66
Oak (bur)0.66
Oak (chestnut)0.66
Oak (northern red)0.65
Oak (post)0.67
Oak (scarlet)0.67
Oak (white)0.72
Oboto0.53 - 0.70
Pine (eastern white)0.37
Pine (jack)0.45
Pine (lobolly)0.54
Pine (longleaf)0.62
Pine (pitch)0.53
Pine (ponderosa)0.42
Pine (red)0.47
Pine (shortleaf)0.54
Pine (western white)0.42
Red cedar (Australian)0.52
Redwood (young growth)0.37
Rosewood (Indian)0.7
Silver fir (Pacific)0.43
Spruce (black)0.43
Spruce (red)0.42
Spruce (white)0.45
Sycamore0.54
Tupelo (black)0.55
Walnut (black)0.56
Willow (black)0.37

The specific gravity of wood can vary based on factors such as the wood’s moisture content and growing conditions.

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.