Modulus of elasticity (MOE, stiffness) and modulus of rupture (MOR, bending strength) for 60 timber species, at 12% moisture content. The two numbers structural engineers use to size beams, joists and posts.
MOE (modulus of elasticity) measures stiffness — how much a beam deflects under load, expressed in GPa. MOR (modulus of rupture) measures bending strength — the stress at which it finally breaks, in MPa. A stiff beam (high MOE) sags less; a strong beam (high MOR) carries more before failure. Both rise with density but grain and species structure also matter. Values are at 12% moisture content and represent published averages — actual figures vary with origin and growing conditions.
| Species ↕ | MOE (GPa) ↕ | MOR (MPa) ↕ | Specific Gravity ↕ | Hardness ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| African BlackwoodDalbergia melanoxylon | 17.8 | 213 | 0.98 | Medium |
| MassarandubaManilkara bidentata | 23.0 | 205 | 0.85 | Medium |
| Ipe LapachoHandroanthus serratifolius | 22.0 | 177 | 0.92 | Hard |
| CumaruDipteryx odorata | 22.5 | 176 | 0.87 | Medium |
| WengeMillettia laurentii | 17.6 | 147 | 0.80 | Medium |
| BangkiraiShorea laevis | 18.0 | 142 | 0.85 | Medium |
| BalauShorea spp. | 18.0 | 138 | 0.78 | Medium |
| Spotted GumCorymbia citriodora | 20.0 | 137 | 0.85 | Medium |
| EbonyDiospyros ebenum | 16.0 | 136 | 0.90 | Medium |
| GarapaApuleia leiocarpa | 16.5 | 130 | 0.72 | Medium |
| Lignum VitaeGuaiacum officinale | 19.0 | 130 | 1.05 | Hard |
| Silver BirchBetula pendula | 14.0 | 120 | 0.61 | Medium |
| Indian RosewoodDalbergia latifolia | 11.6 | 116 | 0.75 | Medium |
| Shisham SissooDalbergia sissoo | 11.6 | 116 | 0.75 | Medium |
| MerbauIntsia bijuga | 15.4 | 116 | 0.74 | Medium |
| Yellow BirchBetula alleghaniensis | 13.9 | 114 | 0.62 | Medium |
| KeruingDipterocarpus spp. | 14.5 | 113 | 0.69 | Medium |
| SalShorea robusta | 14.2 | 112 | 0.74 | Medium |
| SapeleEntandrophragma cylindricum | 12.2 | 112 | 0.62 | Medium |
| JarrahEucalyptus marginata | 13.0 | 112 | 0.82 | Medium |
| Hard MapleAcer saccharum | 12.6 | 109 | 0.63 | Medium |
| European OakQuercus robur | 12.0 | 105 | 0.67 | Medium |
| European BeechFagus sylvatica | 14.3 | 105 | 0.68 | Medium |
| White AshFraxinus americana | 12.0 | 103 | 0.60 | Medium |
| Black WalnutJuglans nigra | 11.6 | 101 | 0.55 | Medium |
| TeakTectona grandis | 10.7 | 100 | 0.55 | Medium |
| Burma Teak Premium GradeTectona grandis | 10.7 | 100 | 0.66 | Medium |
| Bamboo Structural EngineeredBambusa / Dendrocalamus spp. | 10.0 | 100 | 0.60 | Medium |
| Southern Yellow PinePinus spp. (P. palustris, P. taeda) | 12.3 | 100 | 0.51 | Medium |
| Thermowood Birch ThermoDBetula pubescens | 12.0 | 95 | 0.62 | Medium |
| European LarchLarix decidua | 13.8 | 93 | 0.55 | Medium |
| Thermowood Ash ThermoDFraxinus excelsior | 11.5 | 90 | 0.66 | Medium |
| IrokoMilicia excelsa | 10.1 | 86 | 0.55 | Medium |
| Douglas FirPseudotsuga menziesii | 13.4 | 85 | 0.48 | Medium |
| American CherryPrunus serotina | 10.3 | 85 | 0.50 | Medium |
| Scots PinePinus sylvestris | 10.1 | 83 | 0.49 | Medium |
| Meranti Red LauanShorea spp. | 10.6 | 79 | 0.52 | Medium |
| African MahoganyKhaya ivorensis | 9.7 | 79 | 0.52 | Medium |
| NeemAzadirachta indica | 7.8 | 78 | 0.68 | Medium |
| Thermowood Oak ThermoDQuercus robur | 11.0 | 78 | 0.68 | Medium |
| Thermowood Siberian Larch ThermoDLarix sibirica | 11.5 | 78 | 0.59 | Medium |
| Western HemlockTsuga heterophylla | 11.3 | 78 | 0.45 | Medium |
| Mango WoodMangifera indica | 8.8 | 75 | 0.51 | Medium |
| Thermowood Larch ThermoDLarix decidua | 11.0 | 75 | 0.55 | Medium |
| Hem-FirTsuga / Abies spp. | 11.0 | 75 | 0.45 | Soft |
| Hinoki CypressChamaecyparis obtusa | 9.0 | 75 | 0.42 | Soft |
| Rubber WoodHevea brasiliensis | 9.1 | 66 | 0.55 | Soft |
| Norway SprucePicea abies | 10.7 | 66 | 0.43 | Soft |
| Thermowood Pine ThermoDPinus sylvestris | 9.5 | 65 | 0.48 | Soft |
| Deodar CedarCedrus deodara | 8.5 | 64 | 0.48 | Medium |
| Kail Blue PinePinus wallichiana | 8.6 | 64 | 0.45 | Soft |
| Spruce-Pine-Fir SPFPicea / Pinus / Abies spp. | 9.5 | 63 | 0.42 | Medium |
| Thermowood Radiata Pine ThermoDPinus radiata | 9.0 | 62 | 0.50 | Medium |
| Sweet ChestnutCastanea sativa | 8.5 | 62 | 0.56 | Medium |
| Sugi Japanese CedarCryptomeria japonica | 7.4 | 62 | 0.38 | Soft |
| Thermowood Spruce ThermoDPicea abies | 9.0 | 60 | 0.45 | Medium |
| Accoya Acetylated Radiata PinePinus radiata | 8.5 | 60 | 0.51 | Medium |
| Western Red CedarThuja plicata | 7.7 | 52 | 0.32 | Soft |
| Thermowood Western Red Cedar ThermoDThuja plicata | 7.5 | 45 | 0.38 | Medium |
| PaulowniaPaulownia tomentosa | 4.6 | 38 | 0.28 | Medium |
