Engelmann Spruce
Picea engelmannii · softwood · Rocky Mountains · moderate movement
- Janka hardness 390 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 24 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.35 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 7.1%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 3.8%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.9 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes High-altitude, fine-ringed, and light — soundboard stock when clear, framing when not.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for engelmann spruce 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″ (0.049″) |
| 12″ | 3/16″ (0.183″) | 3/32″ (0.098″) |
| 24″ | 3/8″ (0.365″) | 3/16″ (0.195″) |
| 36″ | 9/16″ (0.548″) | 9/32″ (0.293″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to engelmann spruce:
Typical swings:
Engelmann Spruce questions
How much does engelmann spruce move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn engelmann spruce 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 3.8% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.
How hard is engelmann spruce?
Engelmann Spruce rates about 390 lbf on the Janka scale — soft enough to dent in daily use (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 24 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is engelmann spruce 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
Balsam Fir · Eastern White Pine · Sugar Pine · Noble Fir · Western White Pine · Atlantic White-Cedar
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.