If a species is not footnoted with a number (1-18), then the specific gravity for that species has not been verified by Wagner. In most cases, with unverified species, these species have the same botanical name as the verified version but just a different common name. Many species (botanical name) in the world have many different common names. The footnote descriptions are shown at the bottom of the page.*

Wood Species Types in Alphabetical Order

To obtain the most accurate moisture content measurements with your Wagner moisture meter, you must set the meter for the correct species settings value for the species you are going to measure. For our customers' convenience, we have calibrated our meter's species settings in terms of specific gravity.*

For those instances where you need to measure moisture in a wood species that is not shown in your User’s Manual, Wagner has compiled this extensive database of wood species with their associated specific gravity values.

The sources for our database include the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory.

The published specific gravity values are the average for each species. There can and will be some variability of the specific gravity (density) within any species of wood, but the average specific gravity value (again, from the most valid published sources) will provide the best settings for your Wagner moisture meter.

Common NameBotanical NameSpecific GravityVerified
DaanAlbizia procera0.55
DabaPeltogyne venosa0.69
DabemaPiptadeniastrum africanum0.63
DagangAnisoptera curtisii0.52
Pometia pinnata0.60
DagumAnisoptera curtisii0.52
DahomaPiptadeniastrum africanum0.63
Pometia pinnata0.60
DakainMelia azedarach0.51
Dakua makadreAgathis borneensis0.41
Dakua makadreAgathis philippinensis0.33
Dakua salusaluDecussocarpus vitiensis0.34
DalchiniCinnamomum camphora0.38
DalliCedrela serrata0.52
DalliVirola surinamensis0.51
DallieVirola surinamensis0.51
DalraCedrela serrata0.52
DamanuCalophyllum inophyllum0.55
DamanuCalophyllum tomentosum0.59
Damar batuPinus merkusii0.59
Damar bungaPinus merkusii0.59
Damar kelasiAnisoptera costata0.52
Damar ketimpunAnisoptera costata0.52
Damar lilinAnisoptera costata0.52
Damar mata kuchingAnisoptera costata0.52
Damar miharoAnisoptera costata0.52
Damar minyakAgathis borneensis0.41
Damar minyakAgathis philippinensis0.33
Damar poetihHopea odorata0.63
Damar tingkisAnisoptera costata0.52
DamoniDracontomelon edule0.44
DandadPiptadeniastrum africanum0.63
DanePiptadeniastrum africanum0.63
DangilaKoordersiodendron pinnatum0.71
DanielliaDaniella oliveri0.49
DanielliaDaniella thurifera0.46
Shorea negrosensis0.59
Danish beechFagus sylvatica0.6713
Pinus sylvestris0.45
Pinus sylvestris0.45
DaoDracontomelon edule0.44
DaoDracontomelum dao0.66
DarachikMelia azedarach0.51
DarachkMelia azedarach0.51
Darah darahMyristica buchneriana0.41
Darah darahMyristica chartacea0.48
Darah darahMyristica hypargyraea0.44
Darah darahMyristica sp.0.54
Terminalia superba0.40
Terminalia superba0.40
Dark red lauanShorea negrosensis0.594
Dark red merantiShorea negrosensis0.594
Shorea negrosensis0.59
Dark red serayaShorea negrosensis0.594
DarliCedrela serrata0.52
Fraxinus pennsylvanica0.56
DarloiCedrela serrata0.52
DarluCedrela serrata0.52
Dasal lanangHopea odorata0.63
DastanPeltogyne porphyrocardia0.69
DastanPeltogyne venosa0.69
DauDipterocarpus basilanicus0.54
DauDipterocarpus grandiflorus0.68
DauDipterocarpus warburgii0.53
Dau heoGaruga pinnata0.51
DauengAglaia gigantea0.54
DauriCedrela serrata0.52
Dead treeGymnocladus dioicus0.40
DediraIntsia bijuga0.65
DegameCalycophyllum candidissimum0.72
2
DeknoiMelia azedarach0.51
Populus deltoides0.40
DenkanMelia azedarach0.51
DeodarCupressus torulosa0.47
De-orhTarrietia utilis0.54
DerekanAleurites moluccana0.14
Chamaecyparis thyoides0.32
DetermaOcotea rubra0.552
Prunus serotina0.50
DevagarigeDysoxylum malabaricum0.62
DevdariCedrela toona0.47
DevidiyarCupressus torulosa0.47
DhamanGrewia elastica0.63
DhammaGrewia elastica0.63
DhundulCarapa molluccensis0.71
DhupiCupressus torulosa0.47
DibetouLovoa trichiliodes0.46
Dibiue mutshi ditokeIrvingia gabonensis0.76
Dieng dohBucklandia populnea0.56
Dieng myntatBucklandia populnea0.56
Dieng-dohBucklandia populnea0.56
Dieng-ngaiMesua ferrea0.92
Dieng-soh-langhri-thatGrewia elastica0.63
Dieng-soh-ryndohBucklandia populnea0.56
Dieng-tha-ballichGrewia elastica0.63
DifouMorus mesozygia0.71
DikaIrvingia gabonensis0.76
Dika-bread treeIrvingia gabonensis0.76
Dika-nut treeIrvingia gabonensis0.76
DikelaMillettia laurentii0.8114
Dilang butikiPodocarpus guatemalensis0.54
Dilang butikiPodocarpus neriifolia0.48
DilleniaDillenia luzoniensis0.65
DilleniaDillenia pentagyna0.55
DillyManilkara zapota0.71
DimoriTieghemella heckelii0.60
DimpapiTieghemella heckelii0.60
DingdahBucklandia populnea0.56
DinglasLagerstroemia piriformis0.67
DingsaPinus insularis0.50
Astronium graveolens0.89
Astronium graveolens0.80
Hymenaea courbaril0.83
Hymenaea courbaril0.83
Liquidambar styraciflua0.52
DisengMusanga cecropioides0.23
Diuka mahoganyIrvingia gabonensis0.76
DiutuTieghemella heckelii0.60
DjamudjuPodocarpus guatemalensis0.54
DjamudjuPodocarpus neriifolia0.48
DjempinaHopea odorata0.63
DjimboMammea africana0.69
Terminalia superba0.40
DjuniaMusanga cecropioides0.23
Djuru-tuTieghemella heckelii0.60
DoaandoBridelia aubrevillei0.59
DoddaBassia latifolia0.82
DoeMusanga cecropioides0.23
DoekaliballiBrosimum rubescens0.63
Cornus florida0.72
DohngCampnosperma brevipetiolata0.33
DoiAlphitonia zizyphoides0.43
DokaAnisoptera costata0.52
DokaIsoberlinia doka0.63
Pometia pinnata0.60
DollywoodVirola surinamensis0.51
Dominican mahoganySickingia salvadorense0.65
Dominican mahoganySwietenia mahagoni0.57
DoncellaByrsonima coriacea0.68
DongMitragyna stipulosa0.53
DoreaDracontomelon edule0.44
DormilonVochysia lehmanni0.52
DormilonVochysia tomentosa0.52
DortIntsia bijuga0.65
DotialCupressus torulosa0.47
Pseudotsuga menziesii0.48
Pseudotsuga menziesii0.48
Douglas-firPseudotsuga menziesii0.485
Pseudotsuga menziesii0.48
DoukaTieghemella heckelii0.60
DoussieAfzelia bipindensis0.62
DoussieAfzelia pachyloba0.62
DoussieAfzelia quanzensis0.62
DoworaIntsia bijuga0.65
DragoPterocarpus vernalis0.63
DrawiCedrela serrata0.52
DrawiCedrela toona0.47
DrekMelia azedarach0.51
Acer rubrum0.54
Turraeanthus africanus0.51
DualiAnisoptera curtisii0.52
DubimaPiptadeniastrum africanum0.63
Dubin biriLovoa trichiliodes0.46
Dud phrasPopulus ciliata0.37
Dudley willowSalix alba0.38
Salix nigra0.39
DuforokotoMammea africana0.69
DuguanMyristica buchneriana0.41
DuguanMyristica chartacea0.48
DuguanMyristica hypargyraea0.44
DuguanMyristica sp.0.54
DuikaIrvingia gabonensis0.76
Platymiscium pinnatum0.87
DuklapPygeum turnerianum0.44
DumateLagerstroemia piriformis0.67
Diospyros ebenum0.94
DumizuluPygeum africanum0.61
DumoneTieghemella heckelii0.60
DumoriTieghemella heckelii0.60
Ilex opaca0.55
DungonHeritiera javanica0.65
DungonTarrietia sylvatica0.82
DungunHeritiera javanica0.65
Dungun gungungHeritiera javanica0.65
Dungun-dungunHeritiera javanica0.65
Duong-lieuCasuarina equisetifolia0.87
DupdupanDiplodiscus paniculatus0.62
DurianDurio carinatus Masters0.6318
DurianDurio zibethinus Murray0.6118
DurianNeesia altissima0.4418
DurlaCedrela serrata0.52
DurmastQuercus petraea0.65
Durmast oakQuercus petraea0.65
Dutch elmUlmus hollandica0.53
DwemaMusanga cecropioides0.23
DwiniMorus mesozygia0.71
DzamaMusanga cecropioides0.23
DzogbedodoTerminalia ivorensis0.54

Footnotes:

1Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook @ 12% MC values
2Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook Calculated from Green MC values by Wagner
3Forest Products Laboratory Techsheets Calculated from Green MC values by Wagner
4WoodWorkersSource Wood Library Calculated from Green MC values by Wagner
5We included Douglas-fir(Pseudotsuga menziesii) Coast (.48)*, Interior West (.50)*, Interior North (.48)*, Interior South (.46)* to come up with an average SG of (.48)* *“Coast type Douglas-fir is defined as Douglas-fir growing in the States of Oregon and Washington west of the summit of the Cascade Mountains. Interior West includes the State of California and all counties in Oregon and Washington east of but adjacent to the Cascade summit. Interior North includes the remainder of Oregon and Washington and the States of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.” Specific Gravity resources: * Wood Handbook page 5-7
6According to USDA Forest Service, Forest Product Laboratory, Wood Handbook 2-8, Hard maple includes sugar maple (Acer saccharum) (.63)* and black maple (A. nigrum) (.57)*.
7According to USDA Forest Service, Forest Product Laboratory, Techsheets, Red Ash includes these three subspecies Fraxinus americana (.60)*, Fraxinus pennsylvanica (.56)*, Fraxinus profunda (.51)*
8According to USDA Forest Service, Forest Product Laboratory, Wood Handbook page 2-8, Soft maple includes silver maple (Acer saccharinum) (.47)*, red maple (A. rubrum) (.54)*, bigleaf maple (A.macrophyllum) (.48)*, and boxelder (A. negundo) (.45)** Specific Gravity resources:
* Wood Handbook page 5-5
** Forest Product Laboratory Techsheet
9According to the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau (SPIB) the four main subspecies that make up the SYP category are: Longleaf, Shortleaf, Loblolly and Slash pines. The SYP mix setting (.56) was determined by taking the average of Longleaf (.59)*, Shortleaf (.51)*, Loblolly (.51)* and Slash pines (.59)* Specific Gravity resources: * Wood Handbook page 5-7 & page 5-8
10 Forest Products Laboratory Techsheets Calculated from Green MC values by Wagner applying an acceptable volumetric shrinkage approximation per USDA GTR FPL-GTL-76
11 According to Forest Products Laboratory Techsheets Guatambu grown in *Brazil has a higher specific gravity then for **Argentinean material. *Guatambu (Brazil) (Balfourodendron riedelianum)(.79) Calculated from Green MC values by Wagner. **Guatambu (Argentinean) (Balfourodendron riedelianum)(.70) Calculated from Green MC values by Wagner.
12Forest Products Laboratory Techsheets Calculated from Dry (0%) MC values by Wagner applying an acceptable volumetric shrinkage approximation per USDA GTR FPL-GTL-76
13WoodWorkersSource Wood Library Calculated from Dry (0%) MC values by Wagner applying an acceptable volumetric shrinkage approximation per USDA GTR FPL-GTL-76
14WoodWorkersSource Wood Library Calculated from Green MC values by Wagner applying an acceptable volumetric shrinkage approximation per USDA GTR FPL-GTL-76
15WoodWorkersSource Wood Library Calculated from Dry (0%) MC values by Wagner
16The Wood Database Calculated from Green MC values by Wagner
17The Wood Database Calculated from Green MC values by Wagner applying an acceptable volumetric shrinkage approximation per USDA GTR FPL-GTL-76
18Tropicaltimber Calculated from Green MC values by Wagner applying an acceptable volumetric shrinkage approximation per USDA GTR FPL-GTL-76
19According to Forest Products Laboratory Techsheets Goncalo Alves grown in *Honduras and Venezuela has a higher specific gravity then for **Brazil and Colombia material. *Goncalo Alves (Honduras and Venezuela) (Astronium graveolens)(.89) Calculated from Green MC values by Wagner. **Goncalo Alves (Brazil and Colombian) (Astronium graveolens)(.80) Calculated from Green MC values by Wagner.
 
 
* Legal disclaimer:

Wagner has compiled species’ average specific gravity (SG) values (wood volume at 12% moisture content (MC) and oven-dry weight) from industry-accepted 3rd-party sources (USDA Forest Products Laboratory as an example) and provides this list for free with no implied warranty. Where an SG value listed in Wagner Meters’ manuals or website has been verified by Wagner, this is indicated as such, and not indicated as verified if a verification process has not been completed by Wagner for that species. Wagner is not responsible for any 3rd-party oversights or errors in their (the 3rd-parties) published SG values.

Where no published average SG value could be found for a species for the wood volume at 12% MC and oven-dry weight basis, Wagner has derived the proper SG value through a robust algorithm (see detailed explanation below under the heading ‘Specific Gravity (SG) Values of Wood and Their Referenced Moisture Content’).
 


 
Specific Gravity (SG) Values of Wood and Their Referenced Moisture Content

 

Wagner Meters’ moisture meters’ species settings are calibrated to wood samples that are at a nominal 12% moisture content (MC). It should also be recognized that the measurement accuracy of non-pin wood moisture meters is almost solely dependent on wood density; that is because wood species that have differing wood density but the same absolute amount of water will have different MC values because the definition of MC is the ratio of water weight to wood weight. Some online and other technical references that cite specific gravity (SG) values for different wood species list the SG when the wood is a different MC other than 12%. For example, some SG values listed are the values when the wood is dried all the way down to where the MC is actually zero. Other listed values are when the wood is “green” at perhaps 80% MC or even higher.

The reason that it matters what the MC was when the SG was determined is that the volume of a wood sample will shrink when it is dried down from high MC values to lower MC values. So as the volume of the wood sample shrinks, the density (SG) of the wood increases because the formula for the wood density is the weight of the wood sample divided by the volume of the wood sample, or more simply the ratio of the weight of the wood to its volume. As the weight stays the same during shrinkage, the volume decreases. Online and other references will not only provide SG values at some specific MC but also their “shrinkage ratio”. The shrinkage ratio is defined to be the percent of the volume of the wood that shrinks per decrease in MC value. For instance, one might see a 2% shrinkage ratio which means that for every 1% drop in MC the wood will shrink by 2% of its volume.

Wagner chose to calibrate its meters at a nominal 12% MC because this is close to where most wood will be in service and will be measured by our meters. Therefore we publish SG values for wood species to be used by our meters that correlate to a 12% MC value. Since online and other references publish SG values at sometimes 0% MC or “green” MC, you will often see different values online than what we publish. We correct these published values by applying correction factors based on MC at referenced SG values and shrinkage ratio published values. It should be noted that a wood sample will not begin shrinking significantly until the MC drops below fiber saturation point, which is generally between 28% and 32%, so we use 30% as the average fiber saturation point.

As an example, let’s say we have a published SG value of 0.50 referenced to 0% MC with a shrinkage ratio of 0.1% of volume per percent MC. We want to convert to an SG value referenced to 12% MC. A sample at 12 % MC will be 1.2% larger in volume (swells 12 * 0.1%). Since 0.50 equals the weight of the sample divided by volume, we now know the volume will actually be 1.2% larger, so the SG should be adjusted by a factor of 1 divided by (1 + 1.2%) or 1 divided by (1.012) = 0.50/1.012 = 0.49). So, in this specific case, the 12 % MC referenced SG value will be slightly less than the published value referenced at 0% MC.