---
title: "White oak — density, melting point and properties"
description: "White oak has a density of 755 kg/m³ (700–800). Melting point, strength, conductivity, what it is used for, and whether it floats, rusts or is magnetic."
url: https://atoneplace.net/material/white-oak/
site: "At One Place"
---

# White oak

**Density of white oak: 755 kg/m³ (700–800)**

0.76 g/cm³ · 47.1 lb/ft³

Its pores are plugged by growths called tyloses, which makes it effectively watertight — this is the single reason every whisky and wine barrel in the world is white oak and not the cheaper red oak. The same closed structure gives it real rot resistance, so it works outdoors untreated. Like cedar it is high in tannin, which reacts with iron to produce black stains, so oak takes brass, bronze or stainless fixings.

## Properties

- **Density:** 755 kg/m³ (700–800) — 0.76 g/cm³
- **Young's modulus:** 12.3 GPa
- **Floats in water:** Yes
- **Magnetic:** No

## What it is used for

- Whisky, wine and sherry barrels
- Boat frames and decking
- Exterior doors, thresholds and joinery
- High-end flooring and 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
- white oak: 755 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× |
| white oak ← | 755 kg/m³ | 0.76× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |

## Does it rust?

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

## Is it magnetic?

White oak is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Common questions

### What is the density of white oak?

755 kg/m³ (700–800), or 0.76 g/cm³.

### Does white oak float?

Yes. At 755 kg/m³ it is less dense than water's 1,000.

### Is white oak magnetic?

White oak is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Related pages

- [Does white oak float?](https://atoneplace.net/does-it-float/white-oak/)
- [Pine](https://atoneplace.net/material/pine/)
- [Plywood](https://atoneplace.net/material/plywood/)
- [MDF](https://atoneplace.net/material/mdf/)
- [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/)
- [Hard maple](https://atoneplace.net/material/maple/)

## Sources

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