White Oak
Quercus alba · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 1,360 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to the presence of tyloses which plug the vessels, making it nearly liquid-impermeable.
Got a wood sample like this?
Identify any wood from a photo, free.
Grain Pattern
Straight, coarse grain with a medium-to-large pore structure; the sample shows a rift-to-flat sawn transition with prominent growth rings and slight natural checking/splitting along the grain lines.
Color & Appearance
Heartwood is light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast. Sapwood is near-white to light brown and is not always sharply demarcated from the heartwood. It tends to darken or yellow slightly with age and UV exposure.
Hardness (Janka)
1,360 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay due to the presence of tyloses which plug the vessels, making it nearly liquid-impermeable.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $6.00 - $10.00 per board foot depending on grade and width.
- Wood Age Estimate
- Freshly milled or recently surfaced (under 1-2 years) based on the bright color, lack of significant oxidation/graying, and sharp mechanical edge cuts.
- Sustainability Status
- Not listed on CITES Appendices or the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally considered sustainable with FSC certification common.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, boat building, barrel making (cooperage), interior trim, and heavy construction.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Generally easy to work with machine and hand tools, though it has a high shrinkage rate. Gluing, staining, and finishing are excellent, but it can react with iron (producing blue/black stains) if wet.
Finish Recommendations
Takes all finishes well including oils, polyurethane, and lacquer. Fuming with ammonia is a traditional method used to darken the wood by reacting with tannins.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'tannic' scent when worked; high tannin content; tyloses make the wood suitable for water-tight applications; ring-porous structure.
