Southern Yellow Pine VS Scots Pine
- Harder wear surface (Janka 870 vs 540 lbf)
- Stronger in bending (MOR 100.0 vs 83.0 MPa)
- Easier to machine and fasten
- Lighter (0.49 vs 0.51 g/cm³)
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Tie |
| Stability | Tie |
| Hardness | Southern Yellow Pine |
| Strength (MOR) | Southern Yellow Pine |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Southern Yellow Pine |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Scots Pine |
| Lightness | Scots Pine |
Engineering data
| Property | Southern Yellow Pine | Scots Pine |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 870grade lbf | 540WD lbf |
| Density | 0.51grade g/cm³ | 0.49WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 12.3grade GPa | 10.1WD GPa |
| MOR | 100.0grade MPa | 83.0WD MPa |
| Durability | Class 4 Slightly Durable | Class 4 Slightly Durable |
| Stability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Fire (E84) | Class C indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 5.4grade % | 5.2WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 7.7grade % | 8.3WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.43 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Scots Pine | ★★★☆☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Southern Yellow Pine | ★★★☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Scots Pine | ★★★★☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Southern Yellow Pine | ★★★☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Southern Yellow Pine
Advantages relative to Scots Pine
- Janka is 870 lbf vs 540 lbf, about 61% harder
- MOR is 100 MPa vs 83 MPa, about 20% higher
- MOE is 12.3 GPa vs 10.1 GPa, about 22% higher
Limitations relative to Scots Pine
Scots Pine
Advantages relative to Southern Yellow Pine
Limitations relative to Southern Yellow Pine
- Janka is 540 lbf vs 870 lbf, about 38% lower
- MOR is 83 MPa vs 100 MPa, about 17% lower
- MOE is 10.1 GPa vs 12.3 GPa, about 18% lower
Recommendation
Choose Southern Yellow Pine if…
- Structural framing, roof trusses and heavy timber framing, engineered wood products, and pressure-treated decking, docks and boardwalks where the higher strength and stiffness are what the piece must deliver
- Utility poles, marine pilings and playground equipment where the harder, stiffer treated softwood is what the specification requires
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 pine performs adequately when specified with appropriate treatment
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Southern Yellow Pine or Scots Pine?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 4, Slightly Durable). Outdoors, movement will not separate them either — 7.7% against 8.3% tangential. The practical difference is weight: Southern Yellow Pine runs 0.51 g/cm³ against 0.49, so Scots Pine is the easier fix overhead and the cheaper one to freight.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
Both are EN 350 Class 4, and tangential movement runs 7.7% for Southern Yellow Pine against 8.3% for Scots Pine — close enough that decay resistance will not choose between them, and Southern Yellow Pine holds its dimension marginally better. Southern Yellow Pine gives the harder wearing surface at 870 lbf; Scots Pine is the lighter section at 0.49 g/cm³ — traffic favours the first, cladding and handling the second.
Is Southern Yellow Pine harder than Scots Pine?
Yes — Janka 870 lbf vs 540 lbf.