hardwood · Quercus virginiana
Live Oak wood properties
Also known as: southern live oak.
| Type | hardwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Quercus virginiana |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 1,960,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 1.00 |
| Density (approx) | 62 lb/ft³ (5.2 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 2,680 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 9.5% / 6.6% |
| Region | Southeastern United States |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of Live Oak weighs about 20.8 lb (roughly 62 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 2,680 lbf is harder than about 90% of the woods in our database.
Uses and working notes
Common uses: cabinetry, furniture, interior trim, flooring, boatbuilding, veneer.
Durability: Highly decay-resistant heartwood, long favored for ships and boats because of its toughness.
Workability: Exceptionally dense even among oaks, so harder to machine, but it glues and finishes nicely.
Use this data
Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to Live Oak:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE, SG (12% MC), Janka and shrinkage from The Wood Database (which cites the USDA FPL Wood Handbook). Live 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.