---
title: "Spruce — density, melting point and properties"
description: "Spruce has a density of 430 kg/m³ (350–500). Melting point, strength, conductivity, what it is used for, and whether it floats, rusts or is magnetic."
url: https://atoneplace.net/material/spruce/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Spruce

**Density of spruce: 430 kg/m³ (350–500)**

0.43 g/cm³ · 26.8 lb/ft³

The standard European and North American framing timber, sold as part of the SPF (spruce-pine-fir) mix. It has one of the highest stiffness-to-weight ratios of any wood, which is why it is the soundboard of nearly every acoustic instrument and was the spar material for wooden aircraft. Its low resin content means it takes glue and finish cleanly, unlike pine.

## Properties

- **Density:** 430 kg/m³ (350–500) — 0.43 g/cm³
- **Young's modulus:** 9.9 GPa
- **Floats in water:** Yes
- **Magnetic:** No

## What it is used for

- Structural framing and roof trusses
- Guitar, violin and piano soundboards
- Paper pulp
- Ladder rails and glider 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
- spruce: 430 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× |
| spruce ← | 430 kg/m³ | 0.43× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |

## Does it rust?

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

## Is it magnetic?

Spruce is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Common questions

### What is the density of spruce?

430 kg/m³ (350–500), or 0.43 g/cm³.

### Does spruce float?

Yes. At 430 kg/m³ it is less dense than water's 1,000.

### Is spruce magnetic?

Spruce is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Related pages

- [Does spruce float?](https://atoneplace.net/does-it-float/spruce/)
- [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/)
- [Western red cedar](https://atoneplace.net/material/cedar/)
- [Hard maple](https://atoneplace.net/material/maple/)

## Sources

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