True firs
Hardness among the 7 true firs here ranges from 350 lbf (Subalpine fir) to 500 lbf (California red fir). The flattest-drying is California red fir; the stiffest is Pacific silver fir.
- All seven sit in the softest quarter of the 155 woods, at 565 lbf or less.
- The largest step inside the family is the 50 lbf between white fir, at 480 lbf, and Pacific silver fir, at 430 lbf.
- Density runs from a specific gravity of 0.31 in subalpine fir to 0.40 in Pacific silver fir.
- The stiffest is Pacific silver fir, at 1.76 million psi, 66th of all 155.
- 430 lbfmedian hardness
- 0.36median density
- 9,800 psimedian bending strength
- 7.5%median face shrinkage
True firsOther woodsNorthern red oak, the usual yardstick
Ranked by hardness
Hardest first. Density is specific gravity; shrinkage is volumetric, green to oven-dry.
| # | Wood | Janka, lbf | Density | Bending, psi | Shrinkage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California red firAbies magnificaSG 0.36 · 11.4% shrinkage | 500 | 0.36 | 10,500 | 11.4% |
| 2 | Grand firAbies grandisSG 0.35 · 11.0% shrinkage | 490 | 0.35 | 8,900 | 11.0% |
| 3 | White firAbies concolorSG 0.37 · 9.8% shrinkage | 480 | 0.37 | 9,800 | 9.8% |
| 4 | Pacific silver firAbies amabilisSG 0.40 · 13.0% shrinkage | 430 | 0.40 | 11,000 | 13.0% |
| 5 | Noble firAbies proceraSG 0.37 · 12.4% shrinkage | 410 | 0.37 | 10,700 | 12.4% |
| 6 | Balsam firAbies balsameaSG 0.33 · 11.2% shrinkage | 380 | 0.33 | 9,200 | 11.2% |
| 7 | Subalpine firAbies lasiocarpaSG 0.31 · 9.4% shrinkage | 350 | 0.31 | 8,600 | 9.4% |
Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook (2010), Tables 4-3, 4-4, 5-3b and 5-5b. How we use the data · Compare or filter these woods · Guide: Hardwood vs softwood in numbers