hardwood · Fagus sylvatica
European Beech wood properties
Also known as: common beech.
| Type | hardwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Fagus sylvatica |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 2,075,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.71 |
| Density (approx) | 44 lb/ft³ (3.7 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 1,450 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 11.7% / 5.8% |
| Region | Europe |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of European Beech weighs about 14.8 lb (roughly 44 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 1,450 lbf is harder than about 64% of the woods in our database.
Uses and working notes
Common uses: furniture, flooring, plywood, veneer, musical instruments, turning.
Durability: Quick to rot, with feeble defense against wood-boring insects.
Workability: Turns, finishes, glues and machines well; steam-bends beautifully; moves heavily once in service.
Use this data
Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to European Beech:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE, SG (12% MC), Janka and shrinkage from The Wood Database (cites USDA FPL Wood Handbook). CT/CR omitted: the FPL/Hoadley dimensional change coefficient table lists American beech but not European beech, so no coefficients are assigned here. Uses, region, durability and workability summarized from The Wood Database. Price indicative.
Values shown as estimates rather than sourced constants: typicalPricePerBF_usd.
Sources
These calculators are for planning and estimation. Engineering results (shelf sag, wood movement) use published average material properties; real boards vary by grade, grain, moisture and defects. Verify load-bearing designs with a professional.