Moisture Content Reference
Green moisture content, fiber saturation point, shrinkage and dimensional stability for 60 timber species — the numbers that govern drying, movement and joinery.
Revision history
- — Site-wide audit — all tabulated values re-checked against listed sources
Wood is hygroscopic: it gains and loses moisture with the surrounding air, and it shrinks or swells as it does. Above the fiber saturation point (FSP, typically 26–30%) wood is dimensionally stable; below it, every change in moisture moves the wood. The T/R ratio (tangential ÷ radial shrinkage) predicts cupping and distortion — values near 1.5 are stable, above 2.0 are prone to movement.
| Species ↕ | Green MC ↕ | FSP ↕ | Radial Shrink ↕ | Tangential Shrink ↕ | T/R Ratio ↕ | Stability ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PaulowniaPaulownia tomentosa | 100% | 30% | 2.2% | 4.0% | 1.82 | Good |
| Sugi Japanese CedarCryptomeria japonica | 100% | 30% | 1.8% | 4.2% | 2.33 | Poor (warp-prone) |
| Spruce-Pine-Fir SPFPicea / Pinus / Abies spp. | 95% | 30% | 4.4% | 7.4% | 1.68 | Excellent |
| Hem-FirTsuga / Abies spp. | 95% | 28% | 4.4% | 7.6% | 1.73 | Good |
| Norway SprucePicea abies | 95% | 30% | 3.7% | 7.8% | 2.11 | Moderate |
| Kail Blue PinePinus wallichiana | 90% | 30% | 2.5% | 5.2% | 2.08 | Moderate |
| Southern Yellow PinePinus spp. (P. palustris, P. taeda) | 90% | 28% | 5.4% | 7.7% | 1.43 | Excellent |
| Western HemlockTsuga heterophylla | 90% | 28% | 4.2% | 7.8% | 1.86 | Good |
| Western Red CedarThuja plicata | 90% | 28% | 2.4% | 5.0% | 2.08 | Moderate |
| Scots PinePinus sylvestris | 90% | 28% | 4.0% | 7.7% | 1.93 | Good |
| Hinoki CypressChamaecyparis obtusa | 90% | 30% | 2.0% | 4.5% | 2.25 | Moderate |
| Mango WoodMangifera indica | 85% | 28% | 3.6% | 6.0% | 1.67 | Excellent |
| Douglas FirPseudotsuga menziesii | 85% | 28% | 4.8% | 7.6% | 1.58 | Excellent |
| European LarchLarix decidua | 85% | 28% | 3.3% | 7.8% | 2.36 | Poor (warp-prone) |
| Sweet ChestnutCastanea sativa | 80% | 28% | 4.3% | 6.4% | 1.49 | Excellent |
| African MahoganyKhaya ivorensis | 80% | 28% | 3.0% | 5.0% | 1.67 | Excellent |
| Deodar CedarCedrus deodara | 75% | 30% | 2.0% | 4.5% | 2.25 | Moderate |
| European BeechFagus sylvatica | 75% | 28% | 5.8% | 11.8% | 2.03 | Moderate |
| Silver BirchBetula pendula | 75% | 29% | 5.3% | 7.8% | 1.47 | Excellent |
| Meranti Red LauanShorea spp. | 75% | 28% | 3.0% | 7.5% | 2.50 | Poor (warp-prone) |
| IrokoMilicia excelsa | 75% | 27% | 2.8% | 3.8% | 1.36 | Excellent |
| Yellow BirchBetula alleghaniensis | 72% | 29% | 7.3% | 9.5% | 1.30 | Excellent |
| Rubber WoodHevea brasiliensis | 70% | 28% | 2.3% | 5.1% | 2.22 | Moderate |
| Bamboo Structural EngineeredBambusa / Dendrocalamus spp. | 70% | 30% | 4.0% | 8.0% | 2.00 | Moderate |
| Black WalnutJuglans nigra | 70% | 28% | 5.5% | 7.8% | 1.42 | Excellent |
| American CherryPrunus serotina | 70% | 28% | 3.7% | 7.1% | 1.92 | Good |
| European OakQuercus robur | 70% | 28% | 4.6% | 11.0% | 2.39 | Good |
| SapeleEntandrophragma cylindricum | 70% | 27% | 4.6% | 7.4% | 1.61 | Excellent |
| NeemAzadirachta indica | 65% | 28% | 3.4% | 6.2% | 1.82 | Good |
| Hard MapleAcer saccharum | 65% | 29% | 4.8% | 9.9% | 2.06 | Moderate |
| White AshFraxinus americana | 65% | 28% | 4.9% | 7.8% | 1.59 | Excellent |
| KeruingDipterocarpus spp. | 65% | 27% | 5.2% | 10.9% | 2.10 | Good |
| TeakTectona grandis | 60% | 28% | 2.6% | 5.3% | 2.04 | Moderate |
| GarapaApuleia leiocarpa | 60% | 27% | 4.6% | 8.2% | 1.78 | Good |
| Burma Teak Premium GradeTectona grandis | 58% | 27% | 2.5% | 5.0% | 2.00 | Moderate |
| Indian RosewoodDalbergia latifolia | 55% | 26% | 2.7% | 5.8% | 2.15 | Moderate |
| Shisham SissooDalbergia sissoo | 55% | 26% | 3.0% | 6.0% | 2.00 | Moderate |
| MassarandubaManilkara bidentata | 55% | 25% | 6.3% | 9.4% | 1.49 | Excellent |
| MerbauIntsia bijuga | 55% | 26% | 2.7% | 4.6% | 1.70 | Good |
| BalauShorea spp. | 55% | 26% | 3.5% | 6.5% | 1.86 | Good |
| WengeMillettia laurentii | 55% | 26% | 4.8% | 8.1% | 1.69 | Excellent |
| JarrahEucalyptus marginata | 55% | 26% | 4.6% | 6.6% | 1.43 | Excellent |
| Spotted GumCorymbia citriodora | 55% | 25% | 4.0% | 6.0% | 1.50 | Excellent |
| SalShorea robusta | 50% | 27% | 4.0% | 7.5% | 1.88 | Good |
| Ipe LapachoHandroanthus serratifolius | 50% | 25% | 6.6% | 8.0% | 1.21 | Excellent |
| CumaruDipteryx odorata | 50% | 25% | 4.5% | 7.2% | 1.60 | Excellent |
| BangkiraiShorea laevis | 50% | 26% | 3.8% | 7.0% | 1.84 | Good |
| EbonyDiospyros ebenum | 45% | 25% | 5.5% | 6.5% | 1.18 | Excellent |
| African BlackwoodDalbergia melanoxylon | 40% | 24% | 2.9% | 4.8% | 1.66 | Excellent |
| Lignum VitaeGuaiacum officinale | 35% | 23% | 4.0% | 6.5% | 1.62 | Excellent |
| ThermoWood Pine Thermo-DPinus sylvestris | 12% | 14% | 1.2% | 2.5% | 2.08 | Moderate |
| ThermoWood Spruce Thermo-DPicea abies | 12% | 14% | 1.0% | 2.2% | 2.20 | Moderate |
| Thermally Modified OakQuercus robur | 12% | 15% | 1.8% | 3.5% | 1.94 | Good |
| ThermoWood Birch Thermo-DBetula pubescens | 12% | 15% | 1.6% | 3.0% | 1.88 | Good |
| ThermoWood Ash Thermo-DFraxinus excelsior | 12% | 15% | 1.7% | 3.2% | 1.88 | Good |
| Thermally Modified LarchLarix decidua | 12% | 14% | 1.3% | 2.8% | 2.15 | Moderate |
| ThermoWood Radiata Pine Thermo-DPinus radiata | 12% | 14% | 1.2% | 2.6% | 2.17 | Moderate |
| Accoya Acetylated Radiata PinePinus radiata | 12% | 12% | 0.7% | 1.5% | 2.14 | Moderate |
| Thermally Modified Siberian LarchLarix sibirica | 12% | 14% | 1.4% | 2.9% | 2.07 | Moderate |
| Thermally Modified Western Red CedarThuja plicata | 12% | 14% | 1.0% | 2.0% | 2.00 | Moderate |
Related tools
Sources
- USDA FPL Wood Handbook GTR-190, Ch. 4 (Hailwood-Horrobin, EMC tables) — www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr190
Common questions
What moisture content is ideal for indoor furniture?
In most homes, wood settles between 6% and 10% moisture. If you build furniture with wood at that level, it will move very little after delivery. Wood that is too wet will shrink and crack later.
How do I check moisture content?
The easy way is a moisture meter — push the pins in and read the number. The exact way is to weigh a small piece, oven-dry it, and weigh it again. Our EMC calculator tells you what number to expect for your climate.
Why does wood keep moving even after drying?
Because wood always tries to match the air around it. In humid months it takes in moisture and swells a little. In dry months it gives moisture back and shrinks. This never stops — good design just allows for it.
What happens if I use wood that is too wet?
Joints open up, panels crack, doors stick and floors cup. Most furniture complaints come from wood that was not dried properly before it was used.