American Basswood
Tilia americana · hardwood · Eastern North America · high movement
- Janka hardness 410 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 26 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.37 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 9.3%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 6.6%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.4 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes The carver’s wood — soft, even, nearly featureless grain that holds crisp knife lines. Moves more than its softness suggests; keep carvings sealed.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for american basswood across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 1/8″ (0.120″) | 3/32″ (0.085″) |
| 12″ | 1/4″ (0.239″) | 5/32″ (0.170″) |
| 24″ | 15/32″ (0.478″) | 11/32″ (0.339″) |
| 36″ | 23/32″ (0.717″) | 1/2″ (0.509″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to american basswood:
Typical swings:
American Basswood questions
How much does american basswood move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn american basswood board moves about 1/4″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 5/32″. Its tangential shrinkage is 9.3% and radial 6.6% (green to ovendry) — a high-movement wood.
How hard is american basswood?
American Basswood rates about 410 lbf on the Janka scale — soft enough to dent in daily use (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 26 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is american basswood good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.4:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is unusually balanced, so panels stay flatter than most. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Bigtooth Aspen · Eastern Cottonwood · Black Willow · Quaking Aspen · Butternut · Balsam Poplar
Shrinkage, specific gravity, and hardness from the Wood Handbook, FPL-GTR-282 (2021 edition), USDA Forest Products Laboratory (public domain). Values are species averages — individual boards vary with growth conditions and how they were dried.