Beech vs birch
American beech and yellow birch are close in hardness and weight, both fine-textured. Flatsawn, beech moves noticeably more; quartersawn, birch does.
- American beech is about 3% harder than yellow birch.
- American beech is about 3% heavier than yellow birch.
- American beech has about 28% more movement across a flatsawn board than yellow birch.
Each column is the species its page leads with: American beech for beech, yellow birch for birch.
Side by side
| Property | Beech | Birch |
|---|---|---|
| Janka hardness, 12% MC | 1,300 lbf | 1,260 lbf |
| Weight, 12% MC | 44.7 lb/ft³ (717 kg/m³) | 43.4 lb/ft³ (694 kg/m³) |
| Specific gravity, 12% MC | 0.64 | 0.62 |
| Tangential shrinkage | 11.9% | 9.5% |
| Radial shrinkage | 5.5% | 7.3% |
| 12 in flatsawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.31 in | 0.243 in |
| 12 in quartersawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.137 in | 0.184 in |
| Bending strength (MOR), 12% MC | 14,900 psi | 16,600 psi |
| Stiffness (MOE), 12% MC | 1.72 million psi | 2.01 million psi |
| Crushing strength, 12% MC | 7,300 psi | 8,170 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
- Shrinkage
- Beech has the larger tangential shrinkage in Table 4-3, 11.9% from green to oven-dry against yellow birch’s 9.5%, and the Handbook says it needs careful drying. Birch shrinks considerably too. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-5 and 4-8)
- Texture
- Beech has a close, uniform texture with little figure; birch is fine and uniform. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-5)
- Working
- Beech is very good for steam bending, machines smoothly and turns well. Yellow and sweet birch are heavy, hard, strong and tough. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-5)
- Uses
- Beech goes into flooring, furniture, brush blocks, handles, veneer and wooden ware. Birch goes into furniture, interior woodwork, doors and veneer plywood for cabinets and paneling. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-5)
For any other pair, open each species page from the wood hub; every page uses the same layout and the same sources.