American Beech wood movement, board-foot & weight calculator
- Janka
- 1,300lbf
- Density
- 44.7lb/ft³
- T/R ratio
- 2.2
- Spec. gravity
- 0.64
American Beech is a North American hardwood. It has a Janka side hardness of 1,300 lbf, a specific gravity of 0.64, and an air-dry density near 45 lb/ft³ (716 kg/m³) (mechanical values at 12% moisture content). It shrinks 11.9% tangentially and 5.5% radially from green to oven-dry (T/R ratio 2.2), so a 12-inch flatsawn board moves about 0.29 in (≈ 9/32 in) across a 6-point moisture swing (about 6%→12% MC).
Compute American Beech: movement, weight & board footage
Every number below is worked from American Beech's own shrinkage and density figures, not looked up from a table — change the width, moisture swing, or board size in the calculators linked alongside.
Cross-grain movement by board width
| Board width | Flatsawn (tangential) | Quartersawn (radial) |
|---|---|---|
| 2″ | 0.048″ (≈ 1/16 in) | 0.022″ (≈ 1/32 in) |
| 3″ | 0.071″ (≈ 1/16 in) | 0.033″ (≈ 1/32 in) |
| 4″ | 0.095″ (≈ 3/32 in) | 0.044″ (≈ 1/32 in) |
| 6″ | 0.143″ (≈ 5/32 in) | 0.066″ (≈ 1/16 in) |
| 8″ | 0.19″ (≈ 3/16 in) | 0.088″ (≈ 3/32 in) |
| 10″ | 0.238″ (≈ 1/4 in) | 0.11″ (≈ 1/8 in) |
| 12″ | 0.286″ (≈ 9/32 in) | 0.132″ (≈ 1/8 in) |
| 16″ | 0.381″ (≈ 3/8 in) | 0.176″ (≈ 3/16 in) |
Need a different width or moisture swing? Run the movement calculator preloaded with American Beech. At a T/R ratio of 2.16, American Beech is moderately unstable — it moves substantially more tangentially than radially, so flatsawn stock is noticeably cup-prone and quartersawn stock is worth the extra cost in wide panels.
Board footage & weight, standard sizes
| Nominal size × length | Board feet | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1×4 × 8′ | 2.67 bd ft | 9.9 lb |
| 1×6 × 8′ | 4 bd ft | 14.9 lb |
| 1×8 × 8′ | 5.33 bd ft | 19.9 lb |
| 1×10 × 8′ | 6.67 bd ft | 24.8 lb |
| 1×12 × 8′ | 8 bd ft | 29.8 lb |
| 2×4 × 8′ | 5.33 bd ft | 19.9 lb |
| 2×6 × 8′ | 8 bd ft | 29.8 lb |
| 2×8 × 8′ | 10.67 bd ft | 39.7 lb |
Different length or size? Run the board foot calculator or the weight calculator, both preloaded with American Beech.
Seasonal movement by city
| City | Driest month (EMC) | Most-humid month (EMC) | EMC swing | 12″ board movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | Jun · 4.4% | Dec · 9% | 4.6 pts | 0.219″ (≈ 7/32 in) |
| Chicago, IL | May · 12.3% | Dec · 15.1% | 2.8 pts | 0.133″ (≈ 1/8 in) |
| Miami, FL | Apr · 12.2% | Sep · 14.4% | 2.2 pts | 0.105″ (≈ 3/32 in) |
| Boston, MA | Apr · 11.5% | Sep · 12.8% | 1.3 pts | 0.062″ (≈ 1/16 in) |
| Denver, CO | Jul · 8% | Dec · 10.5% | 2.5 pts | 0.119″ (≈ 1/8 in) |
| Seattle, WA | Jul · 12% | Dec · 16.9% | 4.9 pts | 0.233″ (≈ 7/32 in) |
Driven by American Beech's tangential shrinkage of 11.9%. These are outdoor equilibrium-moisture figures, so they are an upper bound — a climate-controlled interior swings less. How this is calculated.
How American Beech compares
Ranked against the 196 species in the Wood Handbook tables this site carries.
- Hardness: at 1,300 lbf, American Beech is harder than 68% of the 157 species with a Janka figure.
- Weight: at 44.7 lb/ft³ it is heavier than 73% of the 170 species measured — an 8-foot 1×6 board weighs about 14.9 lb.
- Stability: its T/R ratio of 2.16 is more even than 20% of the 196 species here — as humidity changes, 80% of them hold their shape more evenly.
See American Beech plotted against every species we carry: the full Janka hardness chart and the full density chart .
Species with a similar working profile
Closest matches on hardness, weight and stability together — useful when American Beech is unavailable or priced out.
- Northern Red Oak is a common substitute for American Beech : nearly identical hardness, about the same weight, and similarly stable in service.
- Sugar Maple is a common substitute for American Beech : 12% harder, about the same weight, and similarly stable in service.
- Afrormosia is a common substitute for American Beech : 20% harder, about the same weight, and similarly stable in service.
- Bur Oak is a common substitute for American Beech : nearly identical hardness, about the same weight, and similarly stable in service.
| Species | Janka | Density | T/R |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Red Oak | 1,290 lbf | 44 | 2.15 |
| Sugar Maple | 1,450 lbf | 44 | 2.06 |
| Afrormosia | 1,560 lbf | 42.6 | 2.13 |
| Bur Oak | 1,370 lbf | 44.7 | 2 |
About American Beech
Only one species of beech, American beech (Fagus grandifolia), is native to the United States. It grows in the eastern one-third of the United States and adjacent Canadian provinces. The greatest production of beech lumber is in the Central and Middle Atlantic States. Wood color varies from nearly white sapwood to reddish- brown heartwood, and sometimes there is no clear line of demarcation between the two. Sapwood may be roughly 7 to 13 cm (3 to 5 in.) wide. The wood has little figure and is of close, uniform texture. It has no characteristic taste or odor. The wood of beech is classified as heavy, hard, strong, and high in resistance to shock, and it is highly suitable for steam bending. Beech shrinks substantially and therefore requires careful drying. It machines smoothly, is an excellent wood for turning, wears well, and is rather easily treated with preservatives. Most beech is used for flooring, furniture, brush blocks, handles, veneer, woodenware, containers, and cooperage. When treated with preservative, beech is suitable for railway ties.
Durability & sustainability
Decay resistance: the Wood Handbook rates American Beech heartwood slightly or nonresistant to fungal decay (Table 14-1 rates the Beech genus as a whole, without splitting by growth region or variety) . Ratings are for heartwood only and the table's own note cautions that resistance varies substantially within a species; treat this as a general indicator, not a guarantee, especially for ground contact. Wood Handbook, Chapter 14: Biodeterioration of Wood (Arango, Lebow, Glaeser), USDA Forest Products Laboratory, FPL-GTR-282 (2021), Table 14-1. Public domain.
CITES status: not listed on any CITES Appendix — no international-trade restriction applies to American Beech.
Properties
| Specific gravity | 0.64 |
|---|---|
| Janka hardness (side) | 1,300 lbf |
| Density (air-dry, 12% MC) | 44.7 lb/ft³ (716 kg/m³) ovendry-weight basis: 39.9 lb/ft³ |
| Weight per board foot (air-dry) | 3.73 lb |
| Radial shrinkage (green→oven-dry) | 5.5% |
| Tangential shrinkage (green→oven-dry) | 11.9% |
| Volumetric shrinkage (green→oven-dry) | 17.2% |
| T/R ratio (stability indicator) | 2.2 |
Shrinkage is total green-to-oven-dry (Table 4-3); strength values are at 12% MC. Full bases and the derivation formulas are on the methodology page.
Data: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021), public domain.