WOOD SPECIES · Hardwood
Teak: density, weight and properties
Tectona grandis
Teak (Tectona grandis) averages 670 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content, according to CIRAD’s Tropix database. The figures below are averages for clear, mature wood; individual boards vary with origin, growth and moisture.
Key figures
- Density at 12% moisture
- 670 kg/m³Average for mature wood; varies with origin and growth
- Monnin hardness at 12%
- 4.2French surface-hardness index; not convertible to Janka
- Bending strength (modulus of rupture)
- 98 MPa
- Stiffness (modulus of elasticity)
- 13,740 MPa
- Compression parallel to grain
- 56 MPa
- Tangential shrinkage, green to oven-dry
- 4.7%
- Radial shrinkage, green to oven-dry
- 2.6%
- Fibre saturation point
- 24%
Weight at 12% moisture content
Volume × 670 kg/m³, the same calculation as the weight calculator. Green or wet wood weighs considerably more.
| Piece | Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cubic metre | 1,000 × 1,000 × 1,000 mm | 670 kg |
| 1 board foot | 12 × 12 × 1 in | 1.58 kg |
| 1×4 board, 8 ft | 3/4 × 3 1/2 in actual × 8 ft | 2.77 kg |
| 1×6 board, 8 ft | 3/4 × 5 1/2 in actual × 8 ft | 4.35 kg |
| 2×4 board, 8 ft | 1 1/2 × 3 1/2 in actual × 8 ft | 5.53 kg |
| 2×6 board, 10 ft | 1 1/2 × 5 1/2 in actual × 10 ft | 10.9 kg |
Movement across the width
How much a board 11 1/4 in (286 mm) wide changes when its moisture content moves by a few percentage points. The estimate uses the total shrinkage above and a linear relation below the fibre saturation point of 24% (Wood Handbook Eq. 4-9). Flat-sawn boards move with tangential shrinkage, quartersawn boards with radial shrinkage.
| Moisture change | Flat-sawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 3 percentage points | 1.7 mm (0.066 in) | 0.9 mm (0.037 in) |
| 6 percentage points | 3.4 mm (0.132 in) | 1.9 mm (0.073 in) |
Wood movement across the grain · Moisture content and acclimatising wood
Natural durability
Durability of the heartwood against wood-decay fungi: class 1–3 on the EN 350 scale from 1 (very durable) to 5 (not durable), as reported by Tropix. The rating applies to heartwood only.
Working and finishing
Variable silica content blunts tools and the dust can irritate skin. Pilot holes are advised because it splits slightly when nailed, and glue works best on surfaces planed or sanded just before gluing, because the wood contains oleoresins. Durability depends on origin and on the age of the plantation (Tropix).
Typical uses
- Boatbuilding
- Decking
- Fine furniture and cabinetmaking
- Exterior joinery (windows and doors)
- Flooring
- Sliced veneer
Calculate with this material
Species with similar density
- White ash 672 kg/m³
- Slash pine (Pinus elliottii) 660.8 kg/m³
- European ash 680 kg/m³
Sources & references
Uses and working notes summarise the cited source. Check the moisture content, grade and origin of the wood you actually buy.