hardwood · Quercus macrocarpa
Bur Oak wood properties
Also known as: burr oak, mossycup oak.
| Type | hardwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Quercus macrocarpa |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 1,040,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.72 |
| Density (approx) | 45 lb/ft³ (3.7 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 1,360 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 8.8% / 4.4% |
| Region | Eastern and Midwestern United States and south-central Canada |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of Bur Oak weighs about 15.0 lb (roughly 45 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 1,360 lbf is harder than about 62% of the woods in our database.
Uses and working notes
Common uses: cabinetry, furniture, interior trim, flooring, barrels, veneer.
Durability: Heartwood rated highly resistant to decay, like other members of the white oak group.
Workability: Glues cleanly and accepts stain and finish readily, behaving much like standard white oak.
Use this data
Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to Bur Oak:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE, SG (12% MC), Janka and shrinkage from The Wood Database (which cites the USDA FPL Wood Handbook). Bur Oak is not individually listed in the printed FPL/Hoadley dimensional change coefficient chart, so CT/CR are omitted. 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.