Black spruce
Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P. · Softwood · North America
Properties
| Janka hardness | 530 lbf (2,357 N) |
|---|---|
| Average dried weight (est.) | 26 lb/ft³ (420 kg/m³) |
| Specific gravity | 0.42 |
| Modulus of rupture | 10,800 psi (74.5 MPa) |
| Modulus of elasticity | 1.61 million psi (11.10 GPa) |
| Crushing strength | 5,960 psi (41.1 MPa) |
| Shrinkage — radial | 4.1% |
| Shrinkage — tangential | 6.8% |
| Shrinkage — volumetric | 11.3% |
| Shrinkage T/R ratio | 1.7 |
Values at 12% moisture content, clear-wood averages. Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021), Table 5-3 p. 5-13; shrinkage Table 4-3 p. 4-8.
Black spruce is sold with red and white spruce as eastern spruce; the three are not distinguished in commerce and have about the same properties. Its greatest use is pulpwood, and its lumber goes to framing and general millwork.
Appearance & grain
Eastern spruce wood is light in color, with little difference between heartwood and sapwood.
Workability
The wood dries easily and is stable after drying. It is moderately lightweight and easily worked, with moderate shrinkage, and is moderately strong, stiff, tough, and hard.
Common uses
- Pulpwood
- Framing lumber
- General millwork
- Boxes and crates
- Piano sounding boards
Conservation: IUCN Red List: Least Concern (checked 2026-10-24).
Work with Black spruce
Similar woods
Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)
Property data: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook — Wood as an Engineering Material, FPL-GTR-282 (2021).