American Beech
Fagus grandifolia · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America, from Nova Scotia to Florida and west to Wisconsin and Texas.
- Hardness
- 1,300 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Non-durable to Perishable; poor resistance to rot and insect attack, specifically susceptible to furniture beetle.
Got a wood sample like this?
Identify any wood from a photo, free.
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 & Appearance
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 (Janka)
1,300 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Non-durable to Perishable; poor resistance to rot and insect attack, specifically susceptible to furniture beetle.
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.
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.
Workability
Generally easy to work with machine and hand tools; glues, finishes, and turns well. It has high shrinkage and may warp during drying.
Finish Recommendations
Takes all finishes well; polyurethane or lacquer is recommended to protect against its natural lack of decay resistance.
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.
