What are typical thermal conductivity units for wood?

This page reports wood thermal conductivity in W·m⁻1·K⁻1 and, in parentheses, Btu·in·h⁻1·ft⁻2·°F⁻1.

Why are there values for ovendry and 12% moisture content?

Moisture increases thermal conductivity. We provide values at ovendry and at 12% moisture content (a common air-dry condition) for practical design use.

How accurate are the values?

Values are approximate and can vary by species, growth conditions, and measurement method. As noted below the table, actual conductivities may vary by as much as 20%.

Where can I find related wood properties?

See the internal links at the bottom for Density of Wood, Moisture Content of Green Wood, and Thermal Resistivity of Wood.

AMESWEB

Thermal Conductivity of Hardwoods and Softwoods

The table below lists representative room-temperature thermal conductivity values for common hardwood and softwood species, alongside specific gravity. Two conductivity conditions are provided: ovendry and 12% moisture content (MC). Values are shown in SI (W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹) and, in parentheses, in U.S. customary units (Btu·in·h⁻¹·ft⁻²·°F⁻¹).

Filter by species

Species	Specific gravity	Conductivity (W·m^-1·K^-1 (Btu·in·h^-1·ft^-2·°F^-1))
Species	Specific gravity	Ovendry	12% MC
Hardwoods
Ash, black	0.53	0.12 (0.84)	0.15 (1.0)
Ash, white	0.63	0.14 (0.98)	0.17 (1.2)
Aspen, Big tooth	0.41	0.10 (0.68)	0.12 (0.82)
Aspen, Quaking	0.40	0.10 (0.67)	0.12 (0.80)
Basswood, American	0.38	0.092 (0.64)	0.11 (0.77)
Beech, American	0.68	0.15 (1.0)	0.18 (1.3)
Birch, sweet	0.71	0.16 (1.1)	0.19 (1.3)
Birch, yellow	0.66	0.15 (1.0)	0.18 (1.2)
Cherry, black	0.53	0.12 (0.84)	0.15 (1.0)
Chestnut, American	0.45	0.11 (0.73)	0.13 (0.89)
Cottonwood, Black	0.35	0.087 (0.060)	0.10 (0.72)
Cottonwood, Eastern	0.43	0.10 (0.71)	0.12 (0.85)
Elm, American	0.54	0.12 (0.86)	0.15 (1.0)
Elm, rock	0.67	0.15 (1.0)	0.18 (1.3)
Elm, Slippery	0.56	0.13 (0.88)	0.15 (1.1)
Hackberry	0.57	0.13 (0.90)	0.16 (1.1)
Hickory, pecan	0.69	0.15 (1.1)	0.19 (1.3)
Hickory, mockernut	0.78	0.17 (1.2)	0.21 (1.4)
Hickory, shagbark	0.77	0.17 (1.2)	0.21 (1.4)
Magnolia, southern	0.52	0.12 (0.83)	0.14 (1.0)
Maple, Black	0.60	0.14 (0.94)	0.16 (1.1)
Maple, Red	0.56	0.13 (0.88)	0.15 (1.1)
Maple, Silver	0.50	0.12 (0.80)	0.14 (0.97)
Maple, Sugar	0.66	0.15 (1.0)	0.18 (1.2)
Oak, Northern red	0.65	0.14 (1.0)	0.18 (1.2)
Oak, Southern red	0.62	0.14 (0.96)	0.17 (1.2)
Oak, white	0.72	0.16 (1.1)	0.19 (1.3)
Sweetgum	0.55	0.13 (0.87)	0.15 (1.1)
Tupelo, black	0.54	0.12 (0.86)	0.15 (1.0)
Tupelo, water	0.53	0.12 (0.84)	0.15 (1.0)
Yellow-poplar	0.46	0.11 (0.75)	0.13 (0.90)
Softwoods
Baldcypress	0.47	0.11 (0.76)	0.13 (0.92)
Cedar Atlantic white	0.34	0.085 (0.59)	0.10 (0.70)
Cedar Eastern red	0.48	0.11 (0.77)	0.14 (0.94)
Cedar Northern white	0.31	0.079 (0.55)	0.094 (0.65)
Cedar Port-Orford	0.43	0.10 (0.71)	0.12 (0.85)
Cedar Western Red	0.33	0.083 (0.57)	0.10 (0.68)
Cedar Yellow	0.46	0.11 (0.75)	0.13 (0.90)
Douglas-fir Coast	0.51	0.12 (0.82)	0.14 (0.99)
Douglas Interior north	0.50	0.12 (0.80)	0.14 (0.97)
Douglas Interior west	0.52	0.12 (0.83)	0.14 (1.0)
Fir Balsam	0.37	0.090 (0.63)	0.11 (0.75)
Fir White	0.41	0.10 (0.68)	0.12 (0.82)
Hemlock Eastern	0.42	0.10 (0.69)	0.12 (0.84)
Hemlock Western	0.48	0.11 (0.77)	0.14 (0.94)
Larch, western	0.56	0.13 (0.88)	0.15 (1.1)
Pine Eastern white	0.37	0.090 (0.63)	0.11 (0.75)
Pine Jack	0.45	0.11 (0.73)	0.13 (0.89)
Pine Loblolly	0.54	0.12 (0.86)	0.15 (1.0)
Pine Lodgepole	0.43	0.10 (0.71)	0.12 (0.85)
Pine Longleaf	0.62	0.14 (0.96)	0.17 (1.2)
Pine Pitch	0.53	0.12 (0.84)	0.15 (1.0)
Pine Ponderosa	0.42	0.10 (0.69)	0.12 (0.84)
Pine Red	0.46	0.11 (0.75)	0.13 (0.90)
Pine Shortleaf	0.54	0.12 (0.86)	0.15 (1.0)
Pine Slash	0.61	0.14 (0.95)	0.17 (1.2)
Pine Sugar	0.37	0.090 (0.63)	0.11 (0.75)
Pine Western white	0.40	0.10 (0.67)	0.12 (0.80)
Redwood Old growth	0.41	0.10 (0.68)	0.12 (0.82)
Redwood Young growth	0.37	0.090 (0.63)	0.11 (0.75)
Spruce Black	0.43	0.10 (0.71)	0.12 (0.85)
Spruce Engelmann	0.37	0.090 (0.63)	0.11 (0.75)

Note: Values are approximate and should be used with caution; actual conductivities may vary by as much as 20%. The specific gravities listed may not represent species-wide averages.

Material Properties of Wood:

Frequently Asked Questions

What units are used for thermal conductivity?

We provide SI units (W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹) and, in parentheses, U.S. customary units (Btu·in·h⁻¹·ft⁻²·°F⁻¹).

Why list both ovendry and 12% MC values?

Moisture content increases conductivity. Ovendry represents a baseline, while 12% MC approximates typical air-dry service conditions.

How reliable are these numbers?

They are representative values; species, growth conditions, and measurement methods introduce variation (often up to ±20%).

Reference:

Wood Handbook - Wood as an Engineering Material (2010) - Forest Products Laboratory, United States Forest Service.