Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera · hardwood · North America · moderate movement
- Janka hardness 910 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 38 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.55 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 8.6%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 6.3%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.4 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes Softer than yellow birch, with the same tight cream-colored grain. Turns and machines well; the classic spoon and dowel wood.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for paper birch 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″ (0.111″) | 3/32″ (0.081″) |
| 12″ | 7/32″ (0.221″) | 5/32″ (0.162″) |
| 24″ | 7/16″ (0.442″) | 5/16″ (0.324″) |
| 36″ | 21/32″ (0.663″) | 1/2″ (0.486″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to paper birch:
Typical swings:
Paper Birch questions
How much does paper birch move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn paper birch board moves about 7/32″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 5/32″. Its tangential shrinkage is 8.6% and radial 6.3% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.
How hard is paper birch?
Paper Birch rates about 910 lbf on the Janka scale — softer than red oak but sturdy (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 38 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is paper birch good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.4:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is unusually balanced, so panels stay flatter than most. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Hackberry · Water Tupelo · Black Cherry · Red Maple · Slippery Elm · Black Ash
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.