American Beech
Fagus grandifolia • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight, tight, and close-grained with a fine, uniform texture; distinctive large medullary rays visible as small silken flakes on quarter-sawn surfaces.
Color Description
Heartwood is typically a pale straw to reddish-brown color; sapwood is generally thin and creamy white. Wood tends to darken slightly to a more golden brown with age.
Hardness Rating
1,300 lbf (Hard)
Durability Rating
Non-durable to Perishable; poor resistance to rot and insect attack, specifically susceptible to furniture beetle.
Common Uses
Flooring, furniture, cabinets, tool handles, crates/pallets, railroad ties, turned objects, and veneer.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America, from Nova Scotia to Florida and west to Wisconsin and Texas.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$4.00 - $7.00 per board foot
Wood Age Estimate
Standing live tree; based on trunk diameter and forest context, estimated at 40-60 years old.
Sustainability Status
Not listed on CITES Appendices or the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally sustainable.
Workability
Generally easy to work with machine and hand tools; glues, finishes, and turns well. It has high shrinkage and may warp during drying.
Notable Features
Distinctive smooth, silver-gray bark that remains smooth even into old age; known for excellent steam-bending properties and being completely odorless and tasteless.
Finish Recommendations
Takes all finishes well; polyurethane or lacquer is recommended to protect against its natural lack of decay resistance.
Identification Confidence
High; the smooth, light gray "elephant-skin" bark is a diagnostic characteristic of American Beech, and the associated foliage in the background supports this ID.