At One Place

Birch

Density of birch
690 kg/m³ (620–730)
0.69 g/cm³ · 43.1 lb/ft³

The plywood wood: it peels into flawless continuous veneer and glues into panels with no voids, which is what Baltic birch ply is and why laser cutters and CNC routers are set up for it. Solid birch is stiff — 13.9 GPa, higher than oak — but has almost no rot resistance and will not last a season outdoors. It is bland-looking, which is why it usually gets painted or stained rather than clear-finished.

Properties

Density
690 kg/m³ (620–730) — 0.69 g/cm³
Young's modulus
13.9 GPa
Floats in water
Yes
Magnetic
No

What it is used for

  • Plywood, especially Baltic birch
  • Kitchen utensils and toys
  • Drum shells and speaker cabinets
  • Furniture and cabinet interiors

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
birch 690 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×
birch ← 690 kg/m³ 0.69×
platinum 21,450 kg/m³ 21.45×
gold 19,300 kg/m³ 19.30×
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³ 19.25×

Does it rust?

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

Is it magnetic?

Birch is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Common questions

What is the density of birch?
690 kg/m³ (620–730), or 0.69 g/cm³.
Does birch float?
Yes. At 690 kg/m³ it is less dense than water's 1,000.
Is birch magnetic?
Birch is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked