WoodwoodSoftwood

Larch

The densest of the common softwoods, with better natural durability than most conifers. Used for cladding, decking and fence posts where treated timber is not wanted.

Stock forms — Board section and side elevation, end grain showingannual ringsend graintwLside elevation
Larch — stock formsSymbols only — no stock sizes are published

Properties

Family
Wood
Category
wood
Species
Larix spp.
Density
0.58 g/cm³ · 580 kg/m³

Densityhow larch compares

Density of Larch — 0.58 g/cm³Larch0.58Water1.00Aluminium2.700369g/cm³
0.58 g/cm³ — 580 kg/m³Water 1.00 · Aluminium 2.70

Applicationswhere larch is normally specified

CladdingDeckingFence postsOutdoor structures

Practical notes

  • Density is for air-dried stock at about 12% moisture content
  • Denser and harder than pine — pre-drill near board ends
  • Naturally durable but not in permanent ground contact

Lumber sizeswhat larch weighs in each nominal size

Lumber size database

Dressed sizes are the same for every species — a 2x4 is 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 in in oak as much as in spruce. What changes is the weight, and that is derived here from larch's density of 0.58 g/cm³.

2x4 dimensions2x4x8 weight2x6 dimensions4x4 dimensions

Tools used on itmatched on the wood family, not on this page

All tools
Circular SawCountersinkDrillHole SawImpact DriverJigsawMitre SawRandom Orbit SanderRouterTwist Drill Bits

Which tools work a material is a property of the family (Wood), not of the individual species — so this list is the same on every wood page, and changes when the tool data changes rather than when this paragraph does.

Used in these projectsbuilds whose bill of materials calls for it

All projects
Post and Rail Fence

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Weight calculatorAll materials