---
title: "Beech — density, melting point and properties"
description: "Beech has a density of 720 kg/m³ (670–760). Melting point, strength, conductivity, what it is used for, and whether it floats, rusts or is magnetic."
url: https://atoneplace.net/material/beech/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Beech

**Density of beech: 720 kg/m³ (670–760)**

0.72 g/cm³ · 44.9 lb/ft³

The classic steam-bending timber: its short, uniform fibres let it be bent around a former and hold the curve, which is the basis of every bentwood chair since Thonet. It is also odourless and tasteless, so it is the traditional wood for food utensils and for beer fermentation vessels. It moves a lot with humidity and rots quickly if damp, so it belongs indoors.

## Properties

- **Density:** 720 kg/m³ (670–760) — 0.72 g/cm³
- **Young's modulus:** 11.9 GPa
- **Floats in water:** Yes
- **Magnetic:** No

## What it is used for

- Steam-bent chair frames
- Wooden planes, mallets and tool handles
- Kitchen worktops and chopping boards
- Toys and school furniture

## How it compares

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.*

- air: 1.2 kg/m³
- expanded polystyrene foam: 20 kg/m³
- rigid polyurethane foam: 40 kg/m³
- beech: 720 kg/m³
- Water — the float line: 1,000 kg/m³
- tungsten: 19,250 kg/m³
- gold: 19,300 kg/m³
- platinum: 21,450 kg/m³

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.*

| Material | Density | Relative to water |
| --- | --- | --- |
| rigid polyurethane foam | 40 kg/m³ | 0.04× |
| expanded polystyrene foam | 20 kg/m³ | 0.02× |
| air | 1.2 kg/m³ | 0.00× |
| beech ← | 720 kg/m³ | 0.72× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |

## Does it rust?

Beech contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.

## Is it magnetic?

Beech is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Common questions

### What is the density of beech?

720 kg/m³ (670–760), or 0.72 g/cm³.

### Does beech float?

Yes. At 720 kg/m³ it is less dense than water's 1,000.

### Is beech magnetic?

Beech is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Related pages

- [Does beech float?](https://atoneplace.net/does-it-float/beech/)
- [Pine](https://atoneplace.net/material/pine/)
- [Plywood](https://atoneplace.net/material/plywood/)
- [MDF](https://atoneplace.net/material/mdf/)
- [White oak](https://atoneplace.net/material/white-oak/)
- [Red oak](https://atoneplace.net/material/red-oak/)
- [Balsa](https://atoneplace.net/material/balsa/)
- [Spruce](https://atoneplace.net/material/spruce/)
- [Western red cedar](https://atoneplace.net/material/cedar/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)