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
NacastilloTerminalia amazonica0.76
NagaBrachystegia laurentii0.57
NagachambagamMesua ferrea0.92
NagachampaMesua ferrea0.92
NagaedDalbergia stevensonii0.88
NagakesaraMesua ferrea0.92
NagasampigeMesua ferrea0.92
NagearMesua ferrea0.92
NageshvaroMesua ferrea0.92
NagkesarMesua ferrea0.92
NahorMesua ferrea0.92
NakuMesua ferrea0.92
Diospyros ebenum0.94
Diospyros ebenum0.94
NambarPlatymiscium pinnatum0.874
Platymiscium pinnatum0.87
Namijin-KadaiLophira alata0.94
NanceByrsonima coriacea0.68
NancheByrsonima coriacea0.68
NancioHyeronyma laxiflora0.58
NancitoHieronyma alchorneoides0.58
NancitonHieronyma alchorneoides0.58
NangalMesua ferrea0.92
NangossitiTerminalia amazonia0.76
NanguMesua ferrea0.92
NapanCampnosperma brevipetiolata0.33
Pterocarpus indicus0.57
NaranjilloGossypiospermum praecox0.77
NaranjoTerminalia amazonia0.76
NaranjoTerminalia guyanensis0.60
Naranjo ChinoMaclura pomifera0.72
NarekBalanocarpus heimii0.78
NargustaTerminalia amazonia0.76
NargustaTerminalia amazonica0.76
NargustaTerminalia guyanensis0.60
NarraPterocarpus indicus0.573
Pterocarpus indicus0.57
NaseberryManilkara zapota0.71
NatoMora excelsa0.89
Nato RojoMora excelsa0.89
Pometia pinnata0.60
Nave ElmUlmus campestris0.5213
Nave ElmUlmus procera0.5313
Hymenaea courbaril0.83
NazarenoPeltogyne porphyrocardia0.69
NazarenoPeltogyne venosa0.69
N'dagobrohiaTerminalia ivorensis0.54
NdagulaBrachystegia spiciformis0.70
N'demoBombax chevalieri0.51
Terminalia superba0.40
Pterocarpus soyauxii0.64
Pterocarpus angolensis0.59
NdukaTieghemella heckelii0.60
N'dukaTieghemella heckelii0.60
Populus deltoides0.40
NedunarPolyalthia fragans0.46
NeedlewoodSchima wallichii0.62
NeesberryManilkara zapota0.71
NemesuShorea negrosensis0.594
NenaAleurites moluccana0.14
NengkongAnisoptera curtisii0.52
Nepal alderAlnus nepalensis0.26
Hymenaea courbaril0.83
NetHopea odorata0.63
Celtis occidentalis0.53
Celtis occidentalis0.53
NeutiZelkova serrata0.60
New Brunswick SprucePicea glauca0.363
Prunus serotina0.50
New Guinea MersawaAnisoptera thurifera0.52
New Guinea OakCastanopsis acuminatissima0.56
Pterocarpus indicus0.57
New Guinea SilkwoodFlindersia pimenteliana0.51
New Guinea SilkwoodFlindersia pubescens0.60
New Guinea SterculiaSterculia conwentzii0.26
New Guinea TeakVitex cofassus0.67
New Guinea VitexVitex cofassus0.67
New Guinea WalnutDracontomelon edule0.44
New Guinea WalnutDracontomelum mangiferum0.66
New Guinea WattleAcacia crassicarpa0.50
NewnAlnus nepalensis0.26
NgaPiptadeniastrum africanum0.63
Pometia pinnata0.60
Pometia pinnata0.60
Ngai-ChingMesua ferrea0.92
NgalePoga oleosa0.39
Ngap-Set-TingMorus alba0.60
NgelakPometia pinnata0.604
NgerisKoompassia malaccensis0.76
Ngeris AbangKoompassia malaccensis0.76
NggirHopea odorata0.63
Ngirik-NgirikErythrophloeum densiflorum0.68
N-GoPiptadeniastrum africanum0.63
NgoghoMusanga cecropioides0.23
Ngohou IbengaLophira alata0.94
NgokeleLophira alata0.94
Pterocarpus soyauxii0.64
Millettia laurentii0.81
NgotePygeum africanum0.61
N'gouleLophira alata0.94
N'govogeMusanga cecropioides0.23
NgovuiMusanga cecropioides0.23
NgronTestulea gabonensis0.76
NguBrachystegia laurentii0.57
NgulaPterocarpus soyauxii0.64
Pterocarpus soyauxii0.64
NgwabuzitoPygeum africanum0.61
N'GwakiTestulea gabonensis0.76
NiAlnus nepalensis0.26
NiCedrela toona0.47
Pometia pinnata0.60
NiangonTarrietia utilis0.54
Cedrela odorata0.39
Nicaraguan PinePinus caribaea0.70
Nigerian Golden WalnutLovoa trichiliodes0.46
Nigerian WalnutLovoa trichiliodes0.46
Liquidambar styraciflua0.52
Nim WoodMelia azedarach0.51
NioveStaudtia stipitata0.79
Nir-KkadambuMitragyna parvifolia0.59
NirkadampaMitragyna parvifolia0.59
NisberryManilkara zapota0.71
NisperilloManilkara zapota0.71
NisperoManilkara bidentata0.95
NisperoManilkara zapota0.71
Nispero de MontanaManilkara zapota0.71
Nispero de MonteManilkara zapota0.71
Nispero QuitenseManilkara zapota0.71
Nispero TiernoManilkara zapota0.71
Liquidambar styraciflua0.52
Nitens GumEucalyptus nitens0.59
NityanmisIntsia bijuga0.65
NiveroLovoa trichiliodes0.46
NjariKoompassia malaccensis0.76
NjolePoga oleosa0.39
NjovePoga oleosa0.39
NkafiStaudtia stipitata0.79
NkalateAningeria altissima0.42
NkalatiAningeria altissima0.42
N'kaliAningeria altissima0.42
N'kaliAningeria dombeyi0.39
N'kaliAningeria robusta0.42
N'kokongoAfzelia bipindensis0.62
N'kokongoAfzelia pachyloba0.62
Triplochiton scleroxylon0.32
Terminalia superba0.40
NkombeTerminalia ivorensis0.54
N'komiTestulea gabonensis0.76
NkondiTerminalia ivorensis0.54
NkonengiiBeilschmiedia mannii0.62
NkonenguBeilschmiedia mannii0.62
NkoulMansonia altissima0.55
Pterocarpus soyauxii0.64
Terminalia superba0.40
Noble FirAbies procera0.391
NogaedDalbergia stevensonii0.88
Nogaed WoodDalbergia stevensonii0.88
NogalAleurites moluccana0.14
Juglans cinerea0.38
Juglans nigra0.55
Nogal BlancoCordia alliodora0.51
Juglans cinerea0.38
Juglans nigra0.55
Nogal CedrilloHuertea cubensis0.34
Nogal de la IndiaAleurites moluccana0.14
Nogal FalsoDipterocarpus basilanicus0.54
Nogal FalsoDipterocarpus grandiflorus0.68
Nogal FalsoDipterocarpus warburgii0.53
Nogal FalsoPterocarpus marsupium0.714
Nogal FalsoPterocarpus vernalis0.63
Carya illinoensis0.66
Nogal PrietoAleurites moluccana0.14
Juglans cinerea0.38
Juglans nigra0.55
NogeCedrela toona0.47
NogueiraAleurites moluccana0.14
Nogueira de BanculAleurites moluccana0.14
Nogueira de IguapeAleurites moluccana0.14
NoharMesua ferrea0.92
Tabebuia serratifolia0.99
NokueLophira alata0.94
Pterocarpus indicus0.57
Pometia pinnata0.60
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis0.44
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis0.44
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis0.44
Norfolk Island PineAraucaria cunninghamii0.443
Buxus sempervirens0.83
Pinus taeda0.51
Northern CatalpaCatalpa speciosa0.37
Thuja occidentalis0.31
Northern Red OakQuercus rubra0.631
Pinus banksiana0.43
Northern Silver AshFlindersia pubescens0.60
Northern SprucePicea glauca0.363
Northern Territory WattleAcacia crassicarpa0.50
Northern White CedarThuja occidentalis0.311
Pinus strobus0.35
Thuja occidentalis0.31
Northern WhitewoodPicea abies0.43
Northern Yellow BoxwoodPlanchonella euphlebia0.89
Norway FirPinus sylvestris0.4514
Norway MapleAcer platanus0.54
Pinus resinosa0.46
Norway SprucePicea abies0.43
Hymenaea courbaril0.83
Nox da IndiaAleurites moluccana0.14
NoyLovoa trichiliodes0.46
Terminalia superba0.40
NoyerZanthoxylum rhetsa0.56
Noyer des IndesAleurites moluccana0.14
Terminalia superba0.40
Terminalia superba0.40
No-YumnaManilkara zapota0.71
NsanChlorophora excelsa0.70
N'sengaMusanga cecropioides0.23
N'sheneAfzelia quanzensis0.62
NsingIrvingia gabonensis0.76
N'singaPiptadeniastrum africanum0.63
Millettia laurentii0.81
NsouDaniella thurifera0.46
Millettia laurentii0.81
N'tamaMorus mesozygia0.71
NtasesaPygeum africanum0.61
N'tnuduBrachystegia spiciformis0.70
Millettia laurentii0.81
Millettia laurentii0.81
NtongChlorophora excelsa0.70
N'tovalMitragyna ciliata0.52
N'towoMitragyna ciliata0.52
NuanamoVirola surinamensis0.51
Carya illinoensis0.66
Juglans cinerea0.38
Juglans nigra0.55
Hura crepitans0.40
NunuraGonystylus macrophyllum0.54
NutletVirola surinamensis0.51
NutmegMyristica buchneriana0.41
NutmegMyristica sp.0.54
Nutmeg HickoryCarya myristiciformis0.601
Pterocarpus soyauxii0.64
NyankomTarrietia utilis0.54
NyarePoga oleosa0.39
NyaretiDiospyros ebenaster0.614
NyaretiDiospyros mindanaensis0.7814
NyariKoompassia malaccensis0.76
Khaya nyassica0.44
NyatohDichopsis elliptica0.56
NyatohPlanchonella euphlebia0.89
NyengaAleurites moluccana0.14
Nyireh BatuCarapa molluccensis0.71
NyolonPouteria izabalensis0.64
NyorePoga oleosa0.39
NzangBrachystegia laurentii0.57
NzinguMitragyna ciliata0.52
NzinguMitragyna stipulosa0.53

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.