At One Place

Douglas fir

Density of Douglas fir
530 kg/m³ (470–560)
0.53 g/cm³ · 33.1 lb/ft³

The strongest of the common softwoods, with a modulus of elasticity of 13.4 GPa that exceeds many hardwoods — which is why it spans further per unit depth than pine or spruce and dominates engineered beams and structural plywood. It is available in long, straight, knot-free lengths, so it also became the traditional mast timber. It splits readily, so nails near the ends need pre-drilling.

Properties

Density
530 kg/m³ (470–560) — 0.53 g/cm³
Young's modulus
13.4 GPa
Floats in water
Yes
Magnetic
No

What it is used for

  • Beams, joists and glulam
  • Plywood face veneers
  • Timber frame and post-and-beam building
  • Boat masts and spars

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
Douglas fir 530 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×
Douglas fir ← 530 kg/m³ 0.53×
platinum 21,450 kg/m³ 21.45×
gold 19,300 kg/m³ 19.30×
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³ 19.25×

Does it rust?

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

Is it magnetic?

Douglas fir is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Common questions

What is the density of Douglas fir?
530 kg/m³ (470–560), or 0.53 g/cm³.
Does Douglas fir float?
Yes. At 530 kg/m³ it is less dense than water's 1,000.
Is Douglas fir magnetic?
Douglas fir 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