At One Place

Hard maple

Density of hard maple
705 kg/m³ (630–750)
0.70 g/cm³ · 44.0 lb/ft³

Very hard and very fine-pored, which is why it is the standard food-preparation surface: there is nowhere for bacteria or juices to sit, and it can be planed flat repeatedly. The same tight grain makes it dull edges quickly and burn easily if a router or saw dwells. Soft maple, from different species, is around 550 kg/m³ and is a genuinely different working material despite the shared name.

Properties

Density
705 kg/m³ (630–750) — 0.70 g/cm³
Young's modulus
12.6 GPa
Floats in water
Yes
Magnetic
No

What it is used for

  • Butcher blocks and worktops
  • Basketball courts and bowling lanes
  • Guitar necks and drum shells
  • Workbench tops

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
hard maple 705 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×
hard maple ← 705 kg/m³ 0.70×
platinum 21,450 kg/m³ 21.45×
gold 19,300 kg/m³ 19.30×
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³ 19.25×

Does it rust?

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

Is it magnetic?

Hard maple is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

Common questions

What is the density of hard maple?
705 kg/m³ (630–750), or 0.70 g/cm³.
Does hard maple float?
Yes. At 705 kg/m³ it is less dense than water's 1,000.
Is hard maple magnetic?
Hard maple 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