hardwood · Gleditsia triacanthos

Honey Locust wood properties

Type hardwood
Botanical name Gleditsia triacanthos
Modulus of elasticity (MOE) 1,630,000 psi
Specific gravity 0.75
Density (approx) 47 lb/ft³ (3.9 lb per board foot)
Janka hardness 1,580 lbf
Shrinkage (tangential / radial) 6.6% / 4.2%
Region South-central and eastern United States

A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of Honey Locust weighs about 15.6 lb (roughly 47 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 1,580 lbf is harder than about 70% of the woods in our database.

Uses and working notes

Common uses: furniture, fence posts, utility lumber, turned objects.

Durability: Moderately durable to durable, yet open to insect attack.

Workability: Density can make it hard going, though results are usually good; finishes, stains, glues and turns well.

Use this data

Similar woods

Woods with comparable hardness and density to Honey Locust:

How these numbers were sourced

MOE, SG (12% MC), Janka and shrinkage from The Wood Database (cites USDA FPL Wood Handbook). Uses, region, durability and workability summarized from The Wood Database. Honey Locust is not listed in the FPL/Hoadley dimensional change coefficient table, so CT/CR are omitted. 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.