Pecan Hickory wood movement, board-foot & weight calculator
- Janka
- 1,820lbf
- Density
- 46.1lb/ft³
- T/R ratio
- 1.8
- Spec. gravity
- 0.66
Pecan Hickory is a North American hardwood. It has a Janka side hardness of 1,820 lbf, a specific gravity of 0.66, and an air-dry density near 46 lb/ft³ (738 kg/m³) (mechanical values at 12% moisture content). It shrinks 8.9% tangentially and 4.9% radially from green to oven-dry (T/R ratio 1.8), so a 12-inch flatsawn board moves about 0.21 in (≈ 7/32 in) across a 6-point moisture swing (about 6%→12% MC).
Compute Pecan Hickory: movement, weight & board footage
Every number below is worked from Pecan Hickory'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″ | 0.036″ (≈ 1/32 in) | 0.02″ (≈ 1/32 in) |
| 3″ | 0.053″ (≈ 1/16 in) | 0.029″ (≈ 1/32 in) |
| 4″ | 0.071″ (≈ 1/16 in) | 0.039″ (≈ 1/32 in) |
| 6″ | 0.107″ (≈ 3/32 in) | 0.059″ (≈ 1/16 in) |
| 8″ | 0.142″ (≈ 5/32 in) | 0.078″ (≈ 3/32 in) |
| 10″ | 0.178″ (≈ 3/16 in) | 0.098″ (≈ 3/32 in) |
| 12″ | 0.214″ (≈ 7/32 in) | 0.118″ (≈ 1/8 in) |
| 16″ | 0.285″ (≈ 9/32 in) | 0.157″ (≈ 5/32 in) |
Need a different width or moisture swing? Run the movement calculator preloaded with Pecan Hickory. At a T/R ratio of 1.82, Pecan Hickory is stable — it moves moderately more across the face than through the thickness — normal behaviour for a furniture hardwood, and predictable if boards are acclimatised before milling.
Board footage & weight, standard sizes
| Nominal size × length | Board feet | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1×4 × 8′ | 2.67 bd ft | 10.2 lb |
| 1×6 × 8′ | 4 bd ft | 15.4 lb |
| 1×8 × 8′ | 5.33 bd ft | 20.5 lb |
| 1×10 × 8′ | 6.67 bd ft | 25.6 lb |
| 1×12 × 8′ | 8 bd ft | 30.7 lb |
| 2×4 × 8′ | 5.33 bd ft | 20.5 lb |
| 2×6 × 8′ | 8 bd ft | 30.7 lb |
| 2×8 × 8′ | 10.67 bd ft | 41 lb |
Different length or size? Run the board foot calculator or the weight calculator, both preloaded with Pecan Hickory.
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 | 0.164″ (≈ 5/32 in) |
| Chicago, IL | May · 12.3% | Dec · 15.1% | 2.8 pts | 0.1″ (≈ 3/32 in) |
| Miami, FL | Apr · 12.2% | Sep · 14.4% | 2.2 pts | 0.078″ (≈ 3/32 in) |
| Boston, MA | Apr · 11.5% | Sep · 12.8% | 1.3 pts | 0.046″ (≈ 1/32 in) |
| Denver, CO | Jul · 8% | Dec · 10.5% | 2.5 pts | 0.089″ (≈ 3/32 in) |
| Seattle, WA | Jul · 12% | Dec · 16.9% | 4.9 pts | 0.174″ (≈ 3/16 in) |
Driven by Pecan Hickory's tangential shrinkage of 8.9%. These are outdoor equilibrium-moisture figures, so they are an upper bound — a climate-controlled interior swings less. How this is calculated.
How Pecan Hickory compares
Ranked against the 196 species in the Wood Handbook tables this site carries.
- Hardness: at 1,820 lbf, Pecan Hickory is harder than 85% of the 157 species with a Janka figure — firmly in the hard quarter, which is what resists denting in flooring and worktops.
- Weight: at 46.1 lb/ft³ it is heavier than 77% of the 170 species measured — an 8-foot 1×6 board weighs about 15.4 lb.
- Stability: its T/R ratio of 1.82 is more even than 51% of the 196 species here — as humidity changes, 49% of them hold their shape more evenly.
See Pecan Hickory 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 Pecan Hickory is unavailable or priced out.
- Purpleheart is a common substitute for Pecan Hickory : nearly identical hardness, about the same weight, and similarly stable in service.
- Post Oak is a common substitute for Pecan Hickory : 25% softer, about the same weight, and similarly stable in service.
- White Oak is a common substitute for Pecan Hickory : 25% softer, about the same weight, and similarly stable in service.
- Black Locust is a common substitute for Pecan Hickory : nearly identical hardness, about the same weight, and more stable in service.
| Species | Janka | Density | T/R |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpleheart | 1,860 lbf | 46.8 | 1.91 |
| Post Oak | 1,360 lbf | 46.8 | 1.81 |
| White Oak | 1,360 lbf | 47.5 | 1.88 |
| Black Locust | 1,700 lbf | 48.2 | 1.57 |
About Pecan Hickory
The Wood Handbook describes Pecan Hickory as part of the Hickory (Pecan Hickory Group); the account below is of that group, which Pecan Hickory belongs to.
Species of the pecan hickory group include bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), pecan hickory (C. illinoensis), water hickory (C. aquatica), and nutmeg hickory (C. myristiciformis). Bitternut hickory grows throughout the eastern half of the United States; pecan hickory, from central Texas and Louisiana to Missouri and Indiana; water hickory, from Texas to South Carolina; and nutmeg hickory, in Texas and Louisiana. The sapwood of this group is white or nearly white and relatively wide. The heartwood is somewhat darker. The wood is heavy and sometimes has very high shrinkage. Heavy pecan hickory is used for tool and implement handles and flooring. The lower grades are used for pallets. Many higher grade logs are sliced to provide veneer for furniture and decorative paneling.
Durability & sustainability
CITES status: not listed on any CITES Appendix — no international-trade restriction applies to Pecan Hickory.
Properties
| Specific gravity | 0.66 |
|---|---|
| Janka hardness (side) | 1,820 lbf |
| Density (air-dry, 12% MC) | 46.1 lb/ft³ (738 kg/m³) ovendry-weight basis: 41.2 lb/ft³ |
| Weight per board foot (air-dry) | 3.84 lb |
| Radial shrinkage (green→oven-dry) | 4.9% |
| Tangential shrinkage (green→oven-dry) | 8.9% |
| Volumetric shrinkage (green→oven-dry) | 13.6% |
| T/R ratio (stability indicator) | 1.8 |
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.