American Beech
Fagus grandifolia · hardwood · Eastern North America · high movement
- Janka hardness 1,300 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 45 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.64 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 11.9%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 5.5%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 2.2 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes Hard, fine-grained, and cheap for its strength — the workbench and mallet wood. Famously restless: one of the biggest movers in the shop, so acclimate it thoroughly.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for american beech across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 5/32″ (0.153″) | 1/16″ (0.071″) |
| 12″ | 5/16″ (0.306″) | 5/32″ (0.141″) |
| 24″ | 5/8″ (0.612″) | 9/32″ (0.283″) |
| 36″ | 29/32″ (0.918″) | 7/16″ (0.424″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to american beech:
Typical swings:
American Beech questions
How much does american beech move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn american beech board moves about 5/16″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 5/32″. Its tangential shrinkage is 11.9% and radial 5.5% (green to ovendry) — a high-movement wood.
How hard is american beech?
American Beech rates about 1,300 lbf on the Janka scale — in red oak’s hardness neighborhood (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 45 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is american beech good for wide panels and tabletops?
Carefully. Its tangential-to-radial ratio of 2.2:1 makes flatsawn boards prone to cupping — choose quartersawn stock for wide glue-ups, alternate growth rings, and fasten tops so they can slide.
Similar species
Northern Red Oak · White Ash · Rock Elm · Yellow Birch · Iroko · White Oak
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.