Softwood · Western North America

Douglas Fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii

Orange-brown with pronounced growth rings.

Janka hardness620 lbf

Density (12% MC)32.0 lb/ft³

Weight per board foot2.7 lb

Rot resistanceModerate

Workability3/5

Price$

Hardness compared

White pine Yellow Poplar Douglas Fir Black Cherry Red Oak Hard Maple Shagbark Hickory Jatoba

Strong for its weight. Splinters easily — sharp tools and backer boards help.

Typical uses: Framing, workbenches, doors, beams.

Tangential coefficient (flatsawn)	0.00267 per 1% MC
Radial coefficient (quartersawn)	0.00165 per 1% MC
T/R ratio	1.62 (stays flat well)
12" flatsawn board, 6% → 11% MC	0.160" (≈ 4.1 mm)

Project Plans Beginner

3 min readOct 17, 2026