Home / Wood Compare / Western Hemlock vs Hem-Fir
Professional Comparison · Verified Engineering Data · Updated 19 July 2026
Western Hemlock VS Hem-Fir
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
🥇
Western Hemlock
28/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood💧Moisture Stable
- Leads on hardness, bending strength, stiffness — a narrow but consistent edge
🥈
Hem-Fir
16/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood💧Moisture Stable
- Close second across most categories
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
Western HemlockHem-Fir
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 | Western Hemlock |
| Strength (MOR) | Western Hemlock |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Western Hemlock |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Hem-Fir |
| Lightness | Tie |
Engineering data
| Property | Western Hemlock | Hem-Fir |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 540WD lbf | 500grade lbf |
| Density | 0.45FPL g/cm³ | 0.45grade g/cm³ |
| MOE | 11.3FPL GPa | 11.0grade GPa |
| MOR | 78.0FPL MPa | 75.0grade MPa |
| Durability | Class 4 Slightly Durable | Class 4 Slightly Durable |
| Stability | Good | Good |
| Fire (E84) | Class C indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 4.2WD % | 4.4grade % |
| Tangential Shrink | 7.8WD % | 7.6grade % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.86 | 1.73 |
Figures carry the same source status as the species pages they come from — verified where cited, indicative where marked.
Best for
| Application | Recommended | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Western Hemlock | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Hem-Fir | ★★★★☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Western Hemlock | ★★☆☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Western Hemlock
Advantages
- Easy to machine, glue and fasten
- Lightweight — easy handling and installation
Limitations
- Not durable outdoors untreated (Class 4)
- Soft surface — dents under point loads
Hem-Fir
Advantages
- Easy to machine, glue and fasten
- Lightweight — easy handling and installation
Limitations
- Not durable outdoors untreated (Class 4)
- Soft surface — dents under point loads
Recommendation
Choose Western Hemlock if…
- The surface takes traffic or impact
Choose Hem-Fir if…
- Its profile matches the application better than a single overall score
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Western Hemlock or Hem-Fir?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 4, Slightly Durable). For outdoor decisions between them, weigh dimensional stability and hardness instead.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
They are closely matched outdoors — durability and stability come out almost level. Let the application decide: harder surface for decking traffic, lighter weight for cladding.
Is Western Hemlock harder than Hem-Fir?
Yes — Janka 540 lbf vs 500 lbf.
How we score. Each wood gets a weighted composite of the verified figures shown above: durability 22%, stability 18%, hardness 12%, bending strength 12%, machining ease 12%, stiffness 8%, flame spread 8%, lightness 8%. The Library Score is that composite's percentile rank within our 60-species library — 50 means the library median, 90 means it outperforms nine of every ten species we cover. No price data is scored — cost guidance is qualitative. The score summarises the data; it does not replace judgement about your specific application.