Home / Wood Compare / Douglas Fir vs Southern Yellow Pine
Professional Comparison · Source-attributed engineering data · Updated 19 July 2026
Douglas Fir VS Southern Yellow 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)
🥈
Southern Yellow Pine
54/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood💧Moisture Stable
- Harder wear surface
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
Douglas FirSouthern Yellow 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 | Southern Yellow Pine |
| Strength (MOR) | Southern Yellow Pine |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Douglas Fir |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Douglas Fir |
| Lightness | Douglas Fir |
Engineering data
| Property | Douglas Fir | Southern Yellow Pine |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 620WD lbf | 870grade lbf |
| Density | 0.48FPL g/cm³ | 0.51grade g/cm³ |
| MOE | 13.4FPL GPa | 12.3grade GPa |
| MOR | 85.0FPL MPa | 100.0grade 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 % | 5.4grade % |
| Tangential Shrink | 7.6WD % | 7.7grade % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.58 | 1.43 |
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 | 🥇 Southern Yellow Pine | ★★★☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Douglas Fir | ★★★★☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Southern Yellow Pine | ★★★☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Douglas Fir
Advantages relative to Southern Yellow Pine
- Durability is Class 3 vs Class 4 — one class more durable in exterior service
Limitations relative to Southern Yellow Pine
- Janka is 620 lbf vs 870 lbf, about 29% lower
- MOR is 85 MPa vs 100 MPa, about 15% lower
Southern Yellow Pine
Advantages relative to Douglas Fir
- Janka is 870 lbf vs 620 lbf, about 40% harder
- MOR is 100 MPa vs 85 MPa, about 18% higher
Limitations relative to Douglas Fir
- 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 Class 3 durability is what the exterior exposure needs
- Poles, marine pilings and railway crossties where the natural durability rating is the specification
Choose Southern Yellow Pine if…
- Structural framing, roof trusses and heavy timber framing, engineered wood products, pressure-treated decking, docks, boardwalks and playground equipment where the higher hardness and bending strength matter in specification
- Utility poles and marine pilings where the treated softwood profile is what the project is specifying
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Douglas Fir or Southern Yellow 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 Southern Yellow Pine?
No — Southern Yellow Pine is harder (Janka 870 vs 620 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.