Alder vs maple
Red alder and the maples are all pale, even-textured cabinet woods. Alder is the softest and lightest and moves the least; hard maple is the hardest and moves the most.
- Red maple is about 61% harder than red alder.
- Red maple is about 32% heavier than red alder.
- Red maple has about 13% more movement across a flatsawn board than red alder.
- Sugar maple is about 146% harder than red alder.
- Sugar maple is about 54% heavier than red alder.
- Sugar maple has about 38% more movement across a flatsawn board than red alder.
Each column is the species its page leads with: red maple for soft maple, sugar maple for hard maple.
Side by side
| Property | Red alder | Soft maple | Hard maple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janka hardness, 12% MC | 590 lbf | 950 lbf | 1,450 lbf |
| Weight, 12% MC | 28.7 lb/ft³ (459 kg/m³) | 37.8 lb/ft³ (605 kg/m³) | 44.1 lb/ft³ (706 kg/m³) |
| Specific gravity, 12% MC | 0.41 | 0.54 | 0.63 |
| Tangential shrinkage | 7.3% | 8.2% | 9.9% |
| Radial shrinkage | 4.4% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| 12 in flatsawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.184 in | 0.208 in | 0.254 in |
| 12 in quartersawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.109 in | 0.099 in | 0.119 in |
| Bending strength (MOR), 12% MC | 9,800 psi | 13,400 psi | 15,800 psi |
| Stiffness (MOE), 12% MC | 1.38 million psi | 1.64 million psi | 1.83 million psi |
| Crushing strength, 12% MC | 5,820 psi | 6,540 psi | 7,830 psi |
One source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, the authority for species properties it measured
Wood Handbook Tables 5-3b, 4-3 and 13-5; weight and movement worked with its Eqs. 4-14 and 13-3. A dash means the Handbook prints no value.
What sets them apart
- Color
- Red alder is almost white to pale pinkish brown. Maple heartwood is usually light reddish brown, with white sapwood. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-3 and 2-8)
- Shrinkage
- Red alder shrinks relatively little. Hard maple has high shrinkage; soft maple resembles it but is not as heavy, hard or strong. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-3 and 2-8 to 2-9)
- Uses
- Red alder goes mostly into furniture and door panel stock. Soft maple goes into furniture, veneer and wooden ware; hard maple into flooring, furniture, cabinets and cutting boards. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-3 and 2-8 to 2-9)
For any other pair, open each species page from the wood hub; every page uses the same layout and the same sources.