Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis · hardwood · Eastern North America · moderate movement
- Janka hardness 880 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 37 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.53 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 8.9%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 4.8%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.9 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes Elm-family grain at a budget price, often with gray-blue sap stain. Bends and machines decently; keep it dry to avoid fungal graying.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for hackberry across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 1/8″ (0.114″) | 1/16″ (0.062″) |
| 12″ | 7/32″ (0.229″) | 1/8″ (0.123″) |
| 24″ | 15/32″ (0.458″) | 1/4″ (0.247″) |
| 36″ | 11/16″ (0.687″) | 3/8″ (0.370″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to hackberry:
Typical swings:
Hackberry questions
How much does hackberry move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn hackberry board moves about 7/32″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 1/8″. Its tangential shrinkage is 8.9% and radial 4.8% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.
How hard is hackberry?
Hackberry rates about 880 lbf on the Janka scale — softer than red oak but sturdy (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 37 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is hackberry 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
Water Tupelo · Slippery Elm · Black Ash · Paper Birch · Bigleaf Maple · Sweetgum
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.