Western White Pine
Pinus monticola · softwood · Northwestern US · moderate movement
- Janka hardness 420 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 27 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.38 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 7.4%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 4.1%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.8 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes The match-stick and millwork pine; like eastern white pine with a bit more movement and a bit more strength.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for western white pine 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″ (0.053″) |
| 12″ | 3/16″ (0.190″) | 3/32″ (0.105″) |
| 24″ | 3/8″ (0.381″) | 7/32″ (0.211″) |
| 36″ | 9/16″ (0.571″) | 5/16″ (0.316″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to western white pine:
Typical swings:
Western White Pine questions
How much does western white pine move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn western white pine board moves about 3/16″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 3/32″. Its tangential shrinkage is 7.4% and radial 4.1% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.
How hard is western white pine?
Western White Pine rates about 420 lbf on the Janka scale — soft enough to dent in daily use (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 27 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is western white pine good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.8:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is moderate. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Noble Fir · Pacific Silver Fir · Balsam Fir · Engelmann Spruce · Eastern White Pine · Sugar Pine
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.