Black Cherry
Prunus serotina · hardwood · Eastern North America · moderate movement
- Janka hardness 950 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 35 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.5 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 7.1%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 3.7%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.9 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes The American furniture classic — machines cleanly, ages from salmon to deep red-brown, and moves moderately and predictably. Prone to burn marks; feed steadily.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for black cherry across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 3/32″ (0.091″) | 1/16″ (0.048″) |
| 12″ | 3/16″ (0.183″) | 3/32″ (0.095″) |
| 24″ | 3/8″ (0.365″) | 3/16″ (0.190″) |
| 36″ | 9/16″ (0.548″) | 9/32″ (0.285″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to black cherry:
Typical swings:
Black Cherry questions
How much does black cherry move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn black cherry board moves about 3/16″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 3/32″. Its tangential shrinkage is 7.1% and radial 3.7% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.
How hard is black cherry?
Black Cherry rates about 950 lbf on the Janka scale — softer than red oak but sturdy (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 35 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is black cherry good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.9:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is moderate. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Red Maple · Paper Birch · Black Walnut · Hackberry · Southern Magnolia · Water Tupelo
Shrinkage, specific gravity, and hardness from the Wood Handbook, FPL-GTR-282 (2021 edition), USDA Forest Products Laboratory (public domain). Values are species averages — individual boards vary with growth conditions and how they were dried.