Loblolly Pine (Southern Yellow)
Pinus taeda · softwood · Southeastern US · moderate movement
- Janka hardness 690 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 36 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.51 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 7.4%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 4.8%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.5 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes The bulk of southern yellow pine framing and pressure-treated stock. Strong, hard-latewood grain that splinters; blunt-tip screws wander — pre-drill.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for loblolly pine (southern yellow) across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 3/32″ (0.095″) | 1/16″ (0.062″) |
| 12″ | 3/16″ (0.190″) | 1/8″ (0.123″) |
| 24″ | 3/8″ (0.381″) | 1/4″ (0.247″) |
| 36″ | 9/16″ (0.571″) | 3/8″ (0.370″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to loblolly pine (southern yellow):
Typical swings:
Loblolly Pine (Southern Yellow) questions
How much does loblolly pine (southern yellow) move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn loblolly pine (southern yellow) board moves about 3/16″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 1/8″. Its tangential shrinkage is 7.4% and radial 4.8% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.
How hard is loblolly pine (southern yellow)?
Loblolly Pine (Southern Yellow) rates about 690 lbf on the Janka scale — soft enough to dent in daily use (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 36 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is loblolly pine (southern yellow) good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.5:1 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
Shortleaf Pine · Port-Orford-Cedar · Douglas-Fir · Slash Pine · Tamarack · Alaska Yellow-Cedar
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.