Silver Maple (Soft Maple)
Acer saccharinum · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Central and Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 700 lbf (Soft)
- Durability
- Non-durable; susceptible to rot, decay, and insect attack (especially beetles) if left exposed to moisture.
Got a wood sample like this?
Identify any wood from a photo, free.
Grain Pattern
Generally straight and fine-textured with a consistent pore structure. Close-grained with indistinct growth rings, occasionally showing ripple marks or slight figure in the end grain cross-section.
Color & Appearance
Sapwood is a pale creamy white to light grayish tan; heartwood is a light to medium reddish brown. The wood typically lacks the high luster of Hard Maple and may gray or yellow slightly over time.
Hardness (Janka)
700 lbf (Soft)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Non-durable; susceptible to rot, decay, and insect attack (especially beetles) if left exposed to moisture.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $2.50 - $4.00 per board foot (standard lumber grade)
- Wood Age Estimate
- Freshly cut to 6 months old; the bark is intact and the end grain shows minimal checking/cracking and light oxidation, suggesting it has not seasoned for long.
- Sustainability Status
- Least Concern (IUCN); widely available and not CITES protected. Generally considered a sustainable, fast-growing species.
Common Uses
Firewood, paper pulp, crates, pallets, interior furniture components, musical instruments (limited), and turned objects.
Geographic Origin
Central and Eastern North America
Workability
Easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It planes, sands, and glues well, though it is softer than Sugar Maple, making it prone to fuzzy grain if tools are not sharp.
Finish Recommendations
Accepts most finishes well, including oils, polyurethane, and lacquer. Can be prone to blotching when stained, so a pre-stain conditioner is recommended.
Notable Features
Often lacks a distinct scent. Known for its rapid growth and relatively low density compared to other maples. The bark on the logs shown is thin, grayish-brown, and breaks into long thin flakes in older samples.
