softwood · Picea engelmannii
Engelmann Spruce wood properties
| Type | softwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Picea engelmannii |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 1,369,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.39 |
| Density (approx) | 24 lb/ft³ (2.0 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 390 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 7.1% / 3.8% |
| Region | Western North America |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of Engelmann Spruce weighs about 8.1 lb (roughly 24 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 390 lbf is harder than about 4% of the woods in our database.
Uses and working notes
Common uses: construction lumber, sheathing, railroad ties, wood pulp, musical instrument soundboards.
Durability: Heartwood is barely resistant to decay, so it belongs in dry, sheltered applications.
Workability: Knot-free stock works easily and glues well, though staining often turns blotchy across its tight pores.
Use this data
Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to Engelmann Spruce:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE (1,369,000 lbf/in2), Janka (390 lbf) and shrinkage (T 7.1%, R 3.8%) from The Wood Database, which cites the USDA FPL Wood Handbook. Specific gravity 0.39 is the 12% MC value (page lists basic 0.33, 12% MC 0.39). No dimensional change coefficient given: Engelmann Spruce has no exact row in the FPL/Hoadley table reproduced by Popular Woodworking, so CT/CR are omitted. Region, uses, 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.