White Fir
Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. ex Hildebr. · Softwood · North America
Properties
| Janka hardness | 480 lbf (2,135 N) |
|---|---|
| Average dried weight (est.) | 24 lb/ft³ (390 kg/m³) |
| Specific gravity | 0.39 |
| Modulus of rupture | 9,800 psi (67.6 MPa) |
| Modulus of elasticity | 1.50 million psi (10.34 GPa) |
| Crushing strength | 5,800 psi (40.0 MPa) |
| Shrinkage — radial | 3.3% |
| Shrinkage — tangential | 7.0% |
| Shrinkage — volumetric | 9.8% |
| Shrinkage T/R ratio | 2.1 |
Values at 12% moisture content, clear-wood averages. Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021), Table 5–3b p. 5–12; shrinkage Table 4–3 p. 4–8.
White fir is a light western true fir (specific gravity 0.39, Janka hardness 480 lbf) produced with the other true firs for construction lumber and millwork. It is a general-purpose framing and box wood rather than a finish species.
Appearance & grain
White fir is one of the western true firs, whose wood runs creamy white to pale brown. Heartwood and sapwood are generally indistinguishable from each other.
Workability
The Handbook groups white fir with the western true firs: light in weight, with shrinkage ranging from low to moderately high depending on the species. No species-specific machining statement is given.
Common uses
- Building construction framing
- Subflooring
- Sheathing
- Boxes and crates
- Planing-mill products
- Sashes
- Doors
- General millwork
Conservation: IUCN Red List: Least Concern (checked 2026-10-24).
