Species guide
White Oak: what the numbers tell you.
What one lab study can tell you about White Oak—and what it cannot.
Direct answer
In one lab test, White Oak averaged 6.3 kN. Its test range overlapped Red Oak’s. The name alone cannot tell us which board is harder. It cannot promise water or wear.
See the wood, then read the numbers
A photo can show character. It cannot prove the species.
Use the measured record below to compare the named wood. Then compare real samples in the room where the floor will live.
How to read these figures
White Oak had a higher average Janka result in this one study. But the test ranges overlapped. The study tested clear wood, not finished floors in homes.
Sources & methodology Peer-reviewed measurements and study context
These figures come from clear-wood laboratory data in the cited peer-reviewed study. They help you compare species; your own floor’s construction, finish history, and condition still matter.
| Metric | Reported value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 756 kg/m³ mean | Study range: 599–887 kg/m³ across sampled boards. |
| Specific gravity at 12% moisture content | 0.71 mean | Study range: 0.55–0.83. |
| Averaged Janka hardness | 6.3 kN mean | Study range: 2.9–10.4 kN across radial/tangential test results. |
| Static bending MOE | 11,300 MPa mean | A clear-wood stiffness measurement, not an installed-floor performance guarantee. |
| Static bending MOR | 113 MPa mean | A clear-wood bending-strength measurement, not a service-life prediction. |
Reviewed October 6, 2026. The paper measures clear wood in a lab. At your visit, we look at the real floor, room, and project plan.