CutMath

Pecan (Hickory)

Carya illinoinensis · hardwood · Eastern North America · moderate movement

Field data
  • Janka hardness 1,820 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
  • Density ≈ 46 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.66 at 12% MC
  • Shrinkage — tangential 8.9%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
  • Shrinkage — radial 4.9%quartersawn width
  • T/R ratio 1.8 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock

Shop notes Slightly milder than the true hickories but still punishing on edges. Flooring and tool-handle territory; pre-drill everything.

Seasonal movement at a glance

Width change for pecan (hickory) across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:

Board widthFlatsawnQuartersawn
6″ 1/8″ (0.114″) 1/16″ (0.063″)
12″ 7/32″ (0.229″) 1/8″ (0.126″)
24″ 15/32″ (0.458″) 1/4″ (0.252″)
36″ 11/16″ (0.687″) 3/8″ (0.378″)

Run your own numbers

Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to pecan (hickory):

Board & conditions
Grain
Conditions given as

Typical swings:

Movement estimate
    Estimate Figures use species-average shrinkage from the USDA Wood Handbook and the standard shop movement formula. Individual boards vary — leave margin, especially with flatsawn stock.

    Pecan (Hickory) questions

    How much does pecan (hickory) move with the seasons?

    A 12″-wide flatsawn pecan (hickory) 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 4.9% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.

    How hard is pecan (hickory)?

    Pecan (Hickory) rates about 1,820 lbf on the Janka scale — noticeably harder than red oak (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 46 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.

    Is pecan (hickory) good for wide panels and tabletops?

    Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.8:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is moderate. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.

    Similar species

    Shagbark Hickory · Wenge · Black Locust · African Padauk · Honeylocust · Afrormosia

    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.