Spruce is a cream to white to yellow wood with even texture and straight wood grain. it is commonly used for the construction of foundations, beams, crates, joists and to generate energy. When it comes to woodworking, I was surprised by its great qualities. I was curious to know, Is Spruce a hardwood?
I decided to look more into it, and discovered:
Spruce is not hardwood. Spruce is a softwood. Spruce wood has a hardness rating of 510 lbf (2,268 N) which is relatively lower than most of the woods. It comes from a coniferous tree. Even though Spruce is considered as softwood, it has superior strength to weight ratio.
But there’s a lot more to know about the hardness of Spruce wood with its qualities.
So, in this article, we’ll explore is Spruce a hardwood, how hard is Spruce with its characteristics, pros, and cons of Spruce wood and its uses.
Furthermore, I’ll answer some frequently asked questions about the hardness of Spruce compared to other wood types as well.
So, let’s jump in!
you can use Spruce wood in your interior decoration , look at the grain of it and the specification of it in the photo which is attachment
— manal raslan (@manal_raslan) February 1, 2018
Spruce wood : it is soft wood
Scientific name: Picea
Class: Pinopsida
Kingdom: Plantae
Higher classification: Pinaceae
Rank: Genus, pic.twitter.com/QDUxmVLSMe
How Hard Is Spruce?
Spruce is softer than hardwoods and most of the softwoods as well. According to the Janka hardness ratings, Spruce has a hardness rating of 510 lbf (2,268 N) which is relatively lower than many other kinds of wood.
There’re different species of Spruce which has nearly similar kind of properties and similar hardness values. Here’re the Spruce wood species with their hardness ratings.
- Sitka Spruce with a hardness rating of 510 lbf (2,268 N)
- White Spruce with a hardness rating of 480 lbf (2,135 N)
- Black Spruce with a hardness rating of 520 lbf 2,313 N)
- Engelmann Spruce with a hardness rating of 390 lbf (1,734 N)
- Red Spruce with a hardness rating of 490 lbf (2,135 N)
As you can see Spruce wood has different varieties with different colors. But when it comes to the hardness, all are nearly the same. All the Spruce species have lower hardness, and all are considered as softwoods.
When we look at the fiber structure of Spruce wood, it is lacking in pores and has small scarce resin canals. Spruce has a closed pore structure. Those resin canals inside Spruce heal wounds and once cut those resin canals stiffen the lumber. These hardened resin canals are very stiff and lightweight. Therefore, even though Spruce is considered as a softwood, it has a good density with superior qualities which surpass the properties of hardwoods as well.
Spruce comes from gymnosperm trees which are evergreen conifers. They have needles and cones. When are investigated under a microscope mostly there are no visible pores in the structure. In terms of density, Spruce is a low dese wood than most of the hardwoods. The density of Spruce wood is around 400 kg/m3.
Local Spruce round trestle dining table 🌿👌🏼 #woodworking #ottawalocal #handmade #customfurniture #reclaimedwood pic.twitter.com/xt79iPIIM3
— HALFCUT CUSTOMS (@halfcutcustoms) September 17, 2015
So, let’s have a look at the hardness of Spruce according to the Janka hardness scale.
Tip: Janka hardness test is the standard method to measure the hardness of any wood according to its resistance to wear and dent. Woods with high wear and dent resistance score higher values in Janka hardness ratings.
According to the Janka hardness ratings, Spruce has a hardness rating of around 490 lbf (2,135 N) – 520 lbf (2,313 N). here’re the hardness ratings of other popular wood types to get an idea about how hard Spruce is when compared to other wood types.
| Wood species | Hardness value |
| Brazilian Walnut | 3,684 lbf (16,390 N) |
| Red Mahogany, Turpentine | 2,697 lbf (12,000 N) |
| Brazilian Cherry, Jatoba | 2,350 lbf (10,500 N) |
| Golden Teak | 2,330 lbf (10,400 N) |
| Hickory, Pecan, Satinwood | 1,820 lbf (8,100 N) |
| Hard Maple, Sugar Maple | 1,450 lbf (6,400 N) |
| White Oak | 1,360 lbf (6,000 N) |
| Ash (White) | 1,320 lbf (5,900 N) |
| American Beech | 1,300 lbf (5,800 N) |
| Red Oak (Northern) | 1,290 lbf (5,700 N) |
| Yellow Birch / Baltic birch | 1,260 lbf (5,600 N) |
| Teak | 1,155 lbf (5,140 N) |
| Black Walnut, North American Walnut | 1,010 lbf (4,500 N) |
| Cherry | 995 lbf (4,430 N) |
| Black Cherry, Imbuia | 950 lbf (4,200 N) |
| Red Maple | 950 lbf (4,200 N) |
| Douglas Fir | 710 lbf (3,158 N) |
| Silver Maple | 700 lbf (3,100 N) |
| Hemlock | 540 lbf (2,402 N) |
| Black Spruce | 520 lbf (2,313 N) |
| Sitka Spruce | 510 lbf (2,268 N) |
| Red Spruce | 490 lbf (2,180 N) |
| White Spruce | 480 lbf (2,135 N) |
| Redwood | 420 lbf (1,868 N) |
| Engelmann Spruce | 390 lbf (1,735 N) |
| Sugar Pine | 380 lbf (1,690 N) |
As you can see, Spruce is a softwood, and its hardness is significantly lower than most of the woods that we use regularly.
So, let’s find out what are the characteristic qualities of Spruce overcome the lower hardness of Spruce to become one of the most superior wood types on the planet.
It was a fun project, and while it is far from perfect, it was a good start to a pandemic hobby of woodworking. Made two end tables out of slabs I cut using a chainsaw from the trunk of a Norwood Spruce we had cut down in the yard. Sanding, polyurethane, and some drilling. pic.twitter.com/VIJCVpDAym
— Luke Reasoner (@lukereasoner) May 28, 2020
Spruce Wood Characteristics
Spruce wood is a cream white to yellow color softwood with a uniform texture and straight wood grain. the medium-sized resin canals are distributed variably or tangled to latewood.
In terms of its resistance, Spruce isn’t resistant to decay.
The workability of Spruce is significantly high. But you need to make sure the wood is free from knots. Otherwise working with Spruce won’t be easy.
Even a beginner in woodworking can use Spruce to learn woodworking techniques because of its user-friendliness. Spruce glues and finishes well. It takes stain well. Therefore you can easily give extra protection to the Spruce wood wok especially if you’re working on an outdoor woodworking application.
Spruce is non-toxic and able to use for any woodworking product, including kitchen utensils and children’s toys.
As a summary, here’re the most significant qualities of Spruce. They are,
- Lightweight
- Light in color
- Softwood
- High workability
- Poor weather resistance
- Low hardness and density
- Great strength to weight ratio
The above qualities of Spruce are important to get an idea about its woodworking applications.
Here’re the main characteristic features of Spruce wood.
| Color | Cream white to yellow |
| Density | 400 kg/m3 – 700 kg/m3 |
| Hardness | 490 lbf (2,135 N) – 520 lbf (2,313 N) |
| Stiffness | 1.57 Mpsi |
| Wood Type | North American Softwood |
| Applications | Construction, millwork, musical instruments |
Christmas gift to myself!
— Jerry Braden (@Jerrybraden92) December 26, 2021
Played Thank You For Loving Me on this as I was deciding & thought it sounded absolutely beautiful, so had to treat myself. 🙂
Beautiful spruce wood top with a really bright sound! pic.twitter.com/klDyxRYatK
So, let’s find out what are the uses of Spruce that applicable to softwoods.
What Is Spruce Used For?
The uses of Spruce wood are listed as follows.
- Construction lumber
- Papermaking
- Musical instruments making
- Millwork
- Crates
- Boxes
- Boatbuilding
Spruce is useable for any kind of woodworking project because of its ideal strength to body ratio.
But generally, Spruce don’t use for furniture making because of its poor hardness and density. The durability of Spruce is also less than hardwoods.
If you wish Spruce woodwork to keep outside, you should apply proper wood finisher first with proper sanding. Usually, Spruce takes stain well and finishing won’t be a huge task because it’s softwood. but make sure to avoid getting a blotchy surface when finishing. Surface blotchiness will eventually ruin your beautiful woodwork.
Staining and finishing are useful because Spruce has no resistance against decaying and rotting. The top finishing coat will prevent water droplets from penetrating inside of the wood.
Allan Holdsworth's spruce body Charvel.
— Totally Sick Guitars (@sickguitars) February 12, 2020
In a 1982 interview in Guitar Player, Holdsworth said he wanted lighter guitars with different tonal options, wider string spacing than Strats.
Grover Jackson built him guitars from spruce, basswood, and jelutong, a soft Indonesian wood. pic.twitter.com/0bbHdUTgUI
How Strong Is Spruce?
Spruce has ideal strength to weight ratio. The compressive strength and bending strength of Spruce wood are significantly high. The straight grain structure of Spruce help to increase its strength. Because of having excellent strength to weight ratio, Spruce is one of the best woods for musical instruments without any doubt.
The compressive strength and bending strengths of Spruce wood are listed as follows.
- The compressive strength of Spruce is 5,610 psi
- The bending strength of Spruce is 10,200 psi
The compressive strength and bending strength of all the Spruce wood species are pretty much the same.
As you can see even though Spruce is considered as a softwood, its strength is pretty good and probably better than most of the hardwoods as well.
Great strength and excellent flexibility are the key factors of Spruce, that make it popular in the woodworking world.
Pros and Cons of Spruce Wood As a Softwood
| Pros | Cons |
| Lightweight | Poor decay resistance |
| Excellent compressive and bending strength | Poor hardness and density |
| High flexibility | Less durability |
| Attractive uniform texture | Low weather resistance |
| High workability | Easily get damaged by insect attacks |
| Straight grained wood | |
| Easy to finish | |
| Affordable | |
| Excellent strength to weight ratio |
As you can see, the advantages of Spruce are unique and useable for many woodworking applications. This is why Spruce is a construction material.
Beautiful clear finish on spruce bar top for a custom kitchen.
— Mari (@juneaucabinets) December 2, 2018
🍁🍂🍃🌿🍁🍂🍃🌿🍁🍂🌨#woodworking #juneau #spruce #remodel #highend #alaska #veneer #customcabinets #interiordesign #customcabinetsmaker #cnc #liveedge #sitkaspruce #localwoods #bartop #paintedcabinets pic.twitter.com/HFEKevOWyO
So, let’s answer some frequently asked questions about is Spruce a hardwood compared to other wood types.
Is Spruce Harder Than Pine?
Spruce is harder than Pine. Most all the species of Spruce are harder than Pine. Therefore, Pine wood can easily be replaced with Spruce.
According to the Janka hardness ratings, the hardness of Spruce and Pine are as follows,
| Wood Type | Hardness |
| Black Spruce | 520 lbf (2,313 N) |
| Sitka Spruce | 510 lbf (2,268 N) |
| Red Spruce | 490 lbf (2,180 N) |
| White Spruce | 480 lbf (2,135 N) |
| White Pine | 420 lbf (1,868 N) |
| Engelmann Spruce | 390 lbf (1,735 N) |
| Sugar Pine | 380 lbf (1,690 N) |
As you can see most of the species of Spruce are slightly harder than both white Pine and Sugar Pine.
Read: Is Pine Wood Strong? With Pros and Cons
Is Spruce Harder Than Oak?
Oak is significantly harder than Spruce. Oak is hardwood and Spruce is softwood. the hardness of Oakwood is far above the hardness of Spruce.
According to the Janka hardness ratings, the hardness of Spruce and Oak are as follows,
| Wood Type | Hardness |
| White Oak | 1,360 lbf (6,050 N) |
| Red Oak | 1,290 lbf (5,738 N) |
| Black Spruce | 520 lbf (2,313 N) |
| Sitka Spruce | 510 lbf (2,268 N) |
| Red Spruce | 490 lbf (2,180 N) |
| White Spruce | 480 lbf (2,135 N) |
| Engelmann Spruce | 390 lbf (1,735 N) |
Is Spruce Harder Than Cedar?
Red Cedar is harder than Spruce, but white Cedar is slightly softer than Spruce. There’re is a significant difference in hardness between red Cedar and White Cedar.
According to the Janka hardness ratings,
| Wood Type | Hardness |
| Red Cedar | 900 lbf (4,003 N) |
| Black Spruce | 520 lbf (2,313 N) |
| Sitka Spruce | 510 lbf (2,268 N) |
| Red Spruce | 490 lbf (2,180 N) |
| White Spruce | 480 lbf (2,135 N) |
| Engelmann Spruce | 390 lbf (1,735 N) |
| White Cedar | 320 lbf (1,423 N) |
Is Spruce Harder Than Douglas Fir?
Douglas Fir is harder than Spruce. According to the Janka hardness ratings, the hardness of Spruce and Douglas Fir are as follows,
| Wood Type | Hardness |
| Douglas Fir | 710 lbf (3,158 N) |
| Black Spruce | 520 lbf (2,313 N) |
| Sitka Spruce | 510 lbf (2,268 N) |
| Red Spruce | 490 lbf (2,180 N) |
| White Spruce | 480 lbf (2,135 N) |
| Engelmann Spruce | 390 lbf (1,735 N) |
Did I cover all you wanted to know about: Is Spruce a Hardwood?
In this article, we’ve deeply discussed is Spruce a hardwood and how hard it is.
The characteristic qualities of Spruce wood are discussed with pros and cons. The strength of Spruce wood species is identified and described as what makes Spruce so special in woodworking.
Spruce is softwood with excellent physical properties. Even though it has less hardness and density, the strength of Spruce is outstanding.
Furthermore, I’ve answered frequently asked questions about is Spruce a hardwood compared to other popular wood types like Cedar, Oak, Pine, and Douglas Fir.
Hope you have gained good knowledge about the qualities of Spruce and how hard it is. So, let’s jump into your next woodworking project with beautiful Spruce wood. Have fun in woodworking!