hardwood · Liriodendron tulipifera
Yellow Poplar wood properties
Also known as: tulip poplar, tulipwood, tulip tree.
| Type | hardwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Liriodendron tulipifera |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 1,580,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.46 |
| Density (approx) | 29 lb/ft³ (2.4 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 540 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 8.2% / 4.6% |
| Movement coefficient (CT / CR) | 0.00289 / 0.00158 |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of Yellow Poplar weighs about 9.6 lb (roughly 29 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 540 lbf is harder than about 20% of the woods in our database.
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Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to Yellow Poplar:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE (1,580,000 lbf/in2), Janka (540 lbf) and shrinkage (T 8.2%, R 4.6%) from The Wood Database, which cites the USDA FPL Wood Handbook. Specific gravity 0.46 is the Wood Database value at 12% MC (it also lists basic 0.40; the FPL Wood Handbook gives 0.42). CT 0.00289 and CR 0.00158 (Poplar, yellow) from the Hoadley / FPL dimensional change coefficient table reproduced by Popular Woodworking. 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.