Lodgepole pine
Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. · Softwood · North America
Properties
| Janka hardness | 480 lbf (2,135 N) |
|---|---|
| Average dried weight (est.) | 26 lb/ft³ (410 kg/m³) |
| Specific gravity | 0.41 |
| Modulus of rupture | 9,400 psi (64.8 MPa) |
| Modulus of elasticity | 1.34 million psi (9.24 GPa) |
| Crushing strength | 5,370 psi (37.0 MPa) |
| Shrinkage — radial | 4.3% |
| Shrinkage — tangential | 6.7% |
| Shrinkage — volumetric | 11.1% |
| Shrinkage T/R ratio | 1.6 |
Values at 12% moisture content, clear-wood averages. Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021), Table 5-3 p. 5-12; shrinkage Table 4-3 p. 4-8.
Lodgepole pine is a moderately lightweight western pine (specific gravity 0.41, Janka hardness 480 lbf), generally straight grained with narrow growth rings. It supplies lumber, mine timbers, crossties, and poles, and is increasingly used for structural lumber and engineered wood composites.
Appearance & grain
The heartwood is light yellow to light yellow-brown. The sapwood is yellow or nearly white. The grain is generally straight and the growth rings narrow.
Workability
The Handbook calls lodgepole pine fairly easy to work, though its shrinkage is moderately high. It rates moderately low in strength, and the wood is moderately soft and moderately stiff.
Common uses
- Lumber
- Mine timbers
- Railroad crossties
- Poles
- Posts
- Fuel
- Structural lumber
- Millwork
- Engineered wood composites
Conservation: IUCN Red List: Least Concern (checked 2026-10-24).
Work with Lodgepole pine
Similar woods
Photo: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region · Public domain (source)
Property data: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook — Wood as an Engineering Material, FPL-GTR-282 (2021).