Home / Wood Compare / Douglas Fir vs Scots Pine
Professional Comparison · Source-attributed engineering data · Updated 19 July 2026
Douglas Fir VS Scots Pine
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
🥇
Douglas Fir
66/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood💧Moisture Stable
- Higher durability (EN 350 Class 3 vs Class 4)
🥈
Scots Pine
36/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood💧Moisture Stable
- Close second across most categories
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
Douglas FirScots Pine
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Douglas Fir |
| Stability | Tie |
| Hardness | Douglas Fir |
| Strength (MOR) | Tie |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Douglas Fir |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Tie |
| Lightness | Douglas Fir |
Engineering data
| Property | Douglas Fir | Scots Pine |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 620WD lbf | 540WD lbf |
| Density | 0.48FPL g/cm³ | 0.49WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 13.4FPL GPa | 10.1WD GPa |
| MOR | 85.0FPL MPa | 83.0WD MPa |
| Durability | Class 3 Moderately Durable | Class 4 Slightly Durable |
| Stability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Fire (E84) | Class C indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 4.8WD % | 5.2WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 7.6WD % | 8.3WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.58 | 1.6 |
Figures carry the same source status as the species pages they come from — verified where cited, indicative where marked.
Best for
| Application | Recommended | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor decking / pergola | 🥇 Douglas Fir | ★★★★☆ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Douglas Fir | ★★★★☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Douglas Fir | ★★★☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Scots Pine | ★★★★☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Douglas Fir | ★★★☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Douglas Fir
Advantages relative to Scots Pine
- MOE is 13.4 GPa vs 10.1 GPa, about 33% higher
- Durability is Class 3 vs Class 4 — one class more durable in exterior service
Limitations relative to Scots Pine
Scots Pine
Advantages relative to Douglas Fir
Limitations relative to Douglas Fir
- MOE is 10.1 GPa vs 13.4 GPa, about 25% lower
- Durability is Class 4 vs Class 3 — one class less durable in exterior service
Recommendation
Choose Douglas Fir if…
- Structural and construction lumber, glulam beams and roof trusses, plywood and veneer, timber framing where the higher stiffness and Class 3 durability both matter in specification
- Poles, marine pilings and railway crossties where the natural durability rating is what the exterior exposure needs
Choose Scots Pine if…
- Construction and general building, windows and doors (treated) and external joinery where the working properties are sufficient at a lower cost profile
- Flooring, vehicle bodies, railway sleepers and telephone poles where either softwood performs adequately when specified with appropriate treatment
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Douglas Fir or Scots Pine?
Douglas Fir — it carries the better EN 350 rating (Class 3 vs Class 4). Lower class numbers mean higher natural durability.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
Douglas Fir — outdoor performance combines decay durability with dimensional stability, and it leads on that combination.
Is Douglas Fir harder than Scots Pine?
Yes — Janka 620 lbf vs 540 lbf.
How we score. Each Library Score is a weighted composite of the verified figures above, expressed as a percentile against our 60-species library. Cost is handled qualitatively, never scored. Full weighting and what it excludes.