White Oak (or Red Oak)
Quercus alba (or Quercus rubra) · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 1360 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Durable
Got a wood sample like this?
Identify any wood from a photo, free.
Grain Pattern
Straight to slightly irregular grain with coarse texture, typical of ring-porous hardwoods split along the radial plane.
Color & Appearance
Light brown to pale yellowish-brown heartwood with lighter sapwood, showing moderate natural luster.
Hardness (Janka)
1360 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Durable
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- Nominal value as firewood; approximately $3 to $6 per board foot if milled into lumber.
- Wood Age Estimate
- Recently harvested firewood log, estimated green to partially seasoned (under 1 year).
- Sustainability Status
- Least Concern (Not CITES listed, widely abundant, commercially sustainable)
Common Uses
Firewood, furniture, flooring, cabinetry, timber framing, boat building, and exterior construction.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Moderately difficult to work due to hardness and coarse texture; glues, stains, and finishes well.
Finish Recommendations
Polyurethane, varnish, or penetrating oils; requires sanding to smooth the coarse open pores if a fine finish is desired.
Notable Features
High density, good heat output when burned as firewood, contains high tannin content making it naturally resistant to decay.
