White Oak | The Wood Database (Hardwood)

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> Hardwoods > Fagaceae > Quercus > alba

DATA SOURCE(S): 2,3,43

Common Name(s): White oak, American white oak

Scientific Name: Quercus alba

Distribution: Eastern United States

Tree Size: 65–85 ft (20–25 m) tall, 3–4 ft (1–1.2 m) trunk diameter

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC):SPECIFIC GRAVITYSpecific gravity is the ratio of a wood’s density to water (with water being 1.00). Two values are provided: basic SG (oven-dry weight & green volume) and SG at 12% MC (weight & volume at 12% moisture content).Click on the link “Specific Gravity” for more details. 0.6, 0.75

Average Dried Weight:AVERAGE DRIED WEIGHT Density is the measurement of a wood’s weight per unit volume. Here, "dried weight" specifically refers to wood at 12% moisture content, and values are given in pounds per cubic foot and kilograms per cubic meter. Also keep in mind that density commonly varies by +/- 10% from the average. Click on the link "Average Dried Weight" for more details. 47.0 lbs/ft3 (755 kg/m3) Medium WEIGHT TIERS Extremely Low: 0+ kg/m3 Very Low: 420+ kg/m3 Low: 520+ kg/m3 Medium-Low: 620+ kg/m3 Medium: 730+ kg/m3 Medium-High: 840+ kg/m3 High: 960+ kg/m3 Very High: 1,080+ kg/m3 Extremely High: 1,200+ kg/m3 Tiers are based on CSIRO provisional strength groupings (SD1-SD8) based on density.

Janka Hardness:JANKA HARDNESS This test measures a wood’s resistance to indentation, and is the pounds of force (or Newtons) required to embed a .444" (11.28 mm) diameter steel ball halfway into the wood. Values are for side grain, measured at 12% MC. Click on the link "Janka Hardness" for more details. 1,350 lbf (5,990 N) Medium-Low JANKA HARDNESS TIERS Extremely Low: 0+ N Very Low: 2,050+ N Low: 3,150+ N Medium-Low: 4,480+ N Medium: 6,280+ N Medium-High: 8,380+ N High: 11,080+ N Very High: 14,000+ N Extremely High: 17,450+ N Tiers are derived from CSIRO provisional strength classifications (SD1-SD8) in conjunction with the USDA's estimated hardness based on density.

Modulus of Rupture:MODULUS OF RUPTURE Sometimes called bending strength, this test measures a wood’s strength before breaking (i.e., rupturing). Values are given in pounds of force per square inch and megapascals, measured at 12% MC. Click on the link "Modulus of Rupture" for more details. 14,830 lbf/in2 (102.3 MPa) Medium-High MOR TIERS Extremely Low: 0+ MPa Very Low: 45+ MPa Low: 55+ MPa Medium-Low: 65+ MPa Medium: 78+ MPa Medium-High: 94+ MPa High: 110+ MPa Very High: 130+ MPa Extremely High: 150+ MPa Tiers are based on CSIRO strength classifications (SD1-SD8).

Elastic Modulus:MODULUS OF ELASTICITY This test measures the wood’s level of deformation when under a given load. Higher values indicate less deformation (i.e., stiffer). Values are given in pounds of force per square inch and gigapascals, measured at 12% MC. Click on the link "Elastic Modulus" for more details. 1,762,000 lbf/in2 (12.15 GPa) Medium-Low MOE TIERS Extremely Low: 0+ GPa Very Low: 7.9+ GPa Low: 9.1+ GPa Medium-Low: 10.5+ GPa Medium: 12.5+ GPa Medium-High: 14.0+ GPa High: 16.0+ GPa Very High: 18.5+ GPa Extremely High: 21.5+ GPa Tiers are based on CSIRO strength classifications (SD1-SD8).

Crushing Strength:CRUSHING STRENGTH Also called compression strength, this test measures the maximum stress sustained before failure. Force is applied parallel to the grain (producing stress akin to chair legs). Values are given in pounds of force per square inch and megapascals, measured at 12% MC. Click on the link "Crushing Strength" for more details. 7,370 lbf/in2 (50.8 MPa) Medium CRUSHING STRENGTH TIERS Extremely Low: 0+ MPa Very Low: 30+ MPa Low: 36+ MPa Medium-Low: 41+ MPa Medium: 47+ MPa Medium-High: 54+ MPa High: 61+ MPa Very High: 70+ MPa Extremely High: 80+ MPa Tiers are based on CSIRO strength classifications (SD1-SD8).

Shrinkage:SHRINKAGE These values represent the percentage change in radial and tangential faces of the wood—as well as the total (volumetric) shrinkage—as the moisture content goes from green (maximum) down to oven-dry (minimum), approximating the wood's stability with changes in humidity. T/R ratio helps to estimate the uniformity of the shrinkage across different wood faces. Click on the link "Shrinkage" for more details. Radial: 5.6%, Tangential: 10.5% Very High SHRINKAGE TIERS Very Low: 0%+ Low: 3.6%+ Medium: 5.1%+ High: 6.6%+ Very High: 8.1%+ Tiers are based on tangential shrinkage (green to oven-dry) from CSIRO shrinkage classifications (1-5). Volumetric: 16.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.9

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Identification

IUCN Status:Least Concern

CITES Status:Unlisted

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a light to medium brown, commonly with an olive cast. Paler sapwood is not always sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Quartersawn sections display prominent ray fleck patterns (see images below). Red oak (Quercus rubra) tends to have a slightly redder cast (as opposed to olive), but color alone isn’t always a reliable method of determining the type of oak.

Grain/Texture: Grain is straight, with a coarse, uneven texture.

Rot Resistance: Rated as very durable; frequently used in boatbuilding and tight cooperage applications.

Workability: Produces good results with hand and machine tools, though it has fairly high shrinkage values, resulting in mediocre dimensional stability, especially in flat sawn boards. Along with the related red oak (Quercus rubra), white oak scored near the very top in an assessment of the machinability of domestic hardwoods. The wood can react with iron (particularly when wet) and cause staining and discoloration. Responds well to steam-bending. Glues, stains, and finishes well.

Odor: Has a distinct smell while being worked that is common to most oaks. Most find it appealing.

Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, oak has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation, as well as asthma-like symptoms. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Abundant availability in a good range of widths and thicknesses, both as flatsawn and quartersawn lumber. Usually slightly more expensive than red oak, prices are moderate for a domestic hardwood, though thicker planks or quartersawn boards are more expensive.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.

Common Uses: Cabinetry, furniture, interior trim, flooring, boatbuilding, barrels, and veneer.

Comments: Strong, beautiful, rot-resistant, easy to work, and economical: white oak represents an exceptional value to woodworkers. It’s no wonder that the wood is so widely used in cabinet and furniture making.

In addition to the wood, white oak is also the state tree for three states (Connecticut, Illinois, and Maryland). Indeed, Connecticut’s state quarter (1999) was minted with a picture and inscription of a famous white oak, the Charter Oak. In 1687, a cavity within the tree was used as a hiding place for the Connecticut Charter of 1662 to prevent its confiscation by the British.[1]Corrigan, D. (2020, October 31). Hiding the Charter: Images of Joseph Wadsworth’s Legendary Action. Connecticut … Continue reading

Images: Drag the slider up/down to toggle between raw and finished wood.

A special thanks to Steve Earis for providing the turned photo of this wood species.

White oak with flatsawn grain White oak with quartersawn grain Old growth white oak with conspicuous long rays White oak with crotch grain

Do you have images of projects made from this wood species? You can submit them to me here.

Identification: See the article on Hardwood Anatomy for definitions of end grain features.

PorosityPOROSITY Specifies the overall pore structure (ring-porous, semi-ring-porous, or diffuse porous), and notes if annual growth rings may still be seen even for diffuse porous hardwoods. Click on the link “Porosity” for more details.: ring porous

ArrangementARRANGEMENT Describes the more individual pore arrangements found throughout the end grain surface, such as solitary, multiples, chains, clusters, etc. Click on the link “Arrangement” for more details.: exclusively solitary earlywood pores in two to four rows, latewood pores in radial/dendritic arrangement

VesselsVESSELS Describes the relative size and frequency of the pores (vessels), as well as any contents found in the pores, such as tyloses, colored mineral deposits, etc. Click on the link “Vessels” for more details.: very large in earlywood, small in latewood; tyloses abundant

ParenchymaPARENCHYMA Describes the pattern(s) of the parenchyma cells seen on the endgrain, such as vasicentric, aliform (winged or lozenge), confluent, and banded. Click on the link “Parenchyma” for more details.: diffuse-in-aggregates

RaysRAYS Describes the relative width and frequency of the rays (appearing as thin vertical lines on the endgrain), as well as a note on if these rays are visible with/without magnification. Click on the link “Rays” for more details.: rays of two distinct sizes: narrow and very wide, normal spacing; wider rays are conspicuous on end grain even without magnification.

Lookalikes/Substitutes: Besides being confused with red oak (see notes below), oak species in general are sometimes confused with other ring-porous hardwoods like chestnut (Castanea genus) and ash (Fraxinus genus). But oak species have very wide rays which make them easy to separate from most other ring-porous woods, which generally only have narrower rays.

Notes: White oak heartwood tends to have tyloses (small, bubble-like structures) that can be seen in the large earlywood pores, while species of red oak lack tyloses. Additionally, ray height, when viewed on the face grain, tends to be taller/longer  on white oak (sometimes exceeding one inch in length). See the article on distinguishing red and white oak for more details. 

> Hardwoods(Wood Type) > Fagaceae(Family) > Quercus(Genus) > alba(Species) L.(Authority)

Related Species:

Oak, white(Quercus alba)

Oak, swamp white(Quercus bicolor)

Oak, Turkey(Quercus cerris)

Oak, scarlet(Quercus coccinea)

Oak, southern red(Quercus falcata)

Oak, Oregon white(Quercus garryana)

Oak, holm(Quercus ilex)

Oak, California black(Quercus kelloggii)

Oak, laurel(Quercus laurifolia)

Oak, overcup(Quercus lyrata)

Oak, bur(Quercus macrocarpa)

Oak, swamp chestnut(Quercus michauxii)

Oak, Japanese(Quercus mongolica)

Oak, chestnut(Quercus montana)

Oak, water(Quercus nigra)

Oak, cherrybark(Quercus pagoda)

Oak, pin(Quercus palustris)

Oak, sessile(Quercus petraea)

Oak, willow(Quercus phellos)

Oak, English(Quercus robur)

Oak, red(Quercus rubra)

Oak, Shumard(Quercus shumardii)

Oak, post(Quercus stellata)

Oak, black(Quercus velutina)

Oak, live(Quercus virginiana)

Oak, bog(Quercus spp.)

Oak, brown(Quercus spp.)

Related Content:

References[+]

References

↑1	Corrigan, D. (2020, October 31). Hiding the Charter: Images of Joseph Wadsworth’s Legendary Action. Connecticut History. https://connecticuthistory.org/hiding-the-charter-images-of-joseph-wadsworths-legendary-action/

Subscribe Notify of new follow-up comments new replies to my comments I give permission to use my email address to send notifications about new comments and replies (you can unsubscribe at any time). Label {} [+] Name* Email* Current ye@r * Leave this field empty Label {} [+] Name* Email* Current ye@r * Leave this field empty 34 Comments Inline Feedbacks View all comments Gordon Mcbrearty 1 month ago

just to say you have done fantastic work and the information thats laid is really good thank you for work you have done

0 Reply Fredy 1 year ago

hello. I am from Central America, precisely in Guatemala we have very large and hard oaks in the cloud forest mountains, I attach these two images of white and red oak. I would like to send you a sample so I can analyze these two species.

1 Reply gattu marrudu 2 years ago

I am treating white oak with tung oil (Old Masters, which is thick and seems to be without additives). Most instructions advise to use 3-5 coats, but with white oak, the first coat looks still wet on the surface after a couple of hours. I also tried mixing with turpentine which seems to absorb a little more, and I spread it out with a dry brush after half hour where it dried more, but it seems like 2 coats is the most it can take, and there is quite a bit left to wipe off after the 2nd one. Anybody… Read more »

3 Reply gattu marrudu 2 years ago

I bought white oak from two different sawmills, one in Philadelphia (probably sourced locally) and one 50 miles far in rural Pennsylvania. The former was air dried and stickered for at least 4 years, the latter kiln dried – so I was told. The two look quite different. They both look like oak to me, but the hue and smell are quite distinct. The one lighter in color is the kiln-dried one. Obviously one is quarter sawn and the other flat sawn, and I can’t see the characteristic white oak flecks in the flat sawn one. Also, the lighter one… Read more »

0 Reply Eric Author Reply to gattu marrudu 2 years ago

There’s a lot of variation in oak, especially color. Some species can loose a bit of their natural color when kiln dried (such as black walnut). The upside is that they are better protected/sterilized against pests.

0 Reply gattu marrudu Reply to Eric 2 years ago

Thanks. After planing a few pieces I realized that the lighter one mus be sapwood, because the other pieces are darker and closer to the other batch.

0 Reply John Vigilante 2 years ago

Can anyone say what the cream-colored marbling effect is called in the edge of this oak board? It’s about 3/8” deep into the wood. Oxidation? Fungus?

0 Reply Eric Author Reply to John Vigilante 2 years ago

It looks like spalting to me, so basically decay fungi.

3 Reply John M. Vigilante Reply to Eric 2 years ago

Thank you.

0 Reply Deborah C Williamson 4 years ago

I’m trying to identify this wood. I’ve come into 7 ten foot boards that are 2” thick of this reclaimed wood. It is super dense and hard and wicks water easily, which sounds more like red oak with the porosity. That said, I think it looks more like white oak. Any suggestions? Here is edge grain, face grain, end grain, and an overall shot.

1 Reply Frank Reply to Deborah C Williamson 4 years ago

I am not sure what species that is, but from the side view of the board it does not look like white oak, which generally has noticeable ray flecks. It kind of looks like ash to me.

1 Reply paul hartridge Reply to Deborah C Williamson 4 years ago

it looks a bit like english Oak to me

0 Reply Phil Smith 5 years ago

I am thinking about buying some unfinished oak planks from a local wholesaler. He gets them from pipe line companies that use them to haul pipe on railcars then give them to him after one use.

I suspect it is Live Oak since that is the most abundant oak in this area. I build furniture and cabinets in my home shop. I have a jointer to finish the edges.

Of course I will select the boards that are straight but Is there anything else I should consider or be cautious about?

8 Reply Rafael 6 years ago

Hi, is this queréis alba the best wood for barrels for aging rum or bourbon?? It’s there a place where I can bay already cut this wood for barrels. Thanks.

4 Reply Ja Reply to Rafael 6 years ago

It’s the ONLY wood for bourbon, by definition.

6 Reply Idrinka Dabourbon Reply to Ja 4 years ago

I must respectfully correct this. White Oak is the most commonly used for bourbon barrels, but the rules state bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. The type of oak is irrelevant. Also, be careful making your own spirits; if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can end up blind or dead.

Cheers. ?

0 Reply Mike Mike Reply to Idrinka Dabourbon 3 years ago

But… who would use anything but white oak? Red oak, e.g., barrels would soak through in months.

1 Reply Scooter 6 years ago

Hi there, we recently bought a 1920 farmhouse in MD. The house itself needs to be completely renovated and updated. This is going to require multiple structural changes. There have been various pieces of the structural elements that have been confirmed to be white oak. Can someone tell me how strong a 5.5”x 5.5” beam would be? What find if load can white oak carry?

1 Reply Michael Reply to Scooter 6 years ago

Lumber span tables are commonly available on the internet with a simple Google search. The span tables will give you all of the essential load data you need.

0 Reply Dillon Fitzgerald Reply to Scooter 6 years ago

You will need a knowledgeable structural engineer to tell you the strength of your beam. The member can be grade in-situ to provide a better representation of strength. It also depends how the beam is installed and its connections.

I can help you with that or you can find another professional to help you out.

4 Reply Sam edens 6 years ago

I’m refinishing a rocking chair( white oak) frame.is there another wood that will match up with a clear coat . need to replace some slats on seat.

0 Reply Eric Author Reply to Sam edens 6 years ago

Is there a reason why you just wouldn’t use more white oak? It’s fairly abundant and reasonably priced.

1 Reply Amy Phelps 7 years ago

Hello. I’ve recently acquired this beautiful side board (dated approximately 1910-1915). I’m going to bring it back to life and I’m wondering what type of wood it is. Oak, Cherry? Also, what stain would you recommend for restaining the top and mirror area. Thank you.

4 Reply Amanda Berger 7 years ago

I am trying to find out what kind of wood my headboard is.. Any help would be appreciated.

-1 Reply Eric Author Reply to Amanda Berger 7 years ago

Can’t tell from that picture, sorry!

-2 Reply Jason Reply to Amanda Berger 7 years ago

From what I can tell from this picture it looks like walnut

1 Reply Donna Smolinski 8 years ago

I am thinking of using White Oak in lieu of Cypress for rebuilding my exterior porch railing. I know that White Oak can be stained, but can it be painted to a nice smooth finish?

0 Reply Silas Jura Reply to Donna Smolinski 8 years ago

Cypress has excellent rot resistance and will hold up much better in exterior conditions but to answer your question: Oak in general is not a very friendly wood to paint if you are looking for a smooth surface. The grains are very open and porous so you will still see the graining even after being painted. Hard Maple is a much better wood if you are looking for a smooth finish paint job and it is just as strong as White Oak. Make sure it is Hard Maple as there are soft maple woods as well. The other option if… Read more »

2 Reply ORO Woodworks Reply to Silas Jura 7 years ago

White oak is not difficult to paint to a smooth finish, so long as it is well sanded. It doesn’t absorb the paint nearly as much as red oak, as its grain is MUCH tighter. But, that said, I would suggest not painting high quality expensive hardwoods in general — you’re covering up half of what you are paying for. Softwoods actually tend to expand less than hardwoods due to moisture exchange, which is one of the reasons they are used often in exterior builds. Plus, they tend to be less expensive, and paint easily. You’ll likely pay $5.50+ per… Read more »

1 Reply Rickey Bryan 8 years ago

How stable would true American white oak be in instruments, such as guitar body’s? It seem to have a high shrinkage rate, but if it is quarter swan would or will that apply assuming that it has been properly dried?

0 Reply jody frenzel 9 years ago

Fantastic writing ! Apropos , if your business requires a IRS 4868 , my business partner filled out a sample version here https://goo.gl/jyjFyS.

-2 Reply Mario Cargol 10 years ago

I always found the same but i think is just because the grain sometimes has ondulations. If you peel the bark of a holm oak(quercus ilex) you will see it more clearly. Those parts seem to have bad grain but they never gave problems to me when doing steam bending of kayak ribs ;)

0 Reply D 12 years ago

So…. Isn’t “Quercus Alba” actually the Japanese white oak? This articles says its from the US. Is all white oak lumped into a generalized category?

0 Reply ejmeier Author Reply to D 12 years ago

Quercus alba is definitely a Stars ‘n Stripes native. The term White Oak can be a more generalized term, but Quercus alba is very specific, and it’s native to eastern sections of North America.

Maybe the tree has been subsequently planted in Japan too?

1 Reply

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