What is the density of balsa wood?
Typical balsa density is about 100 to 200 kg/m³ (0.10 to 0.20 g/cm³), with a full range from about 60 to 250. What it means for weight and strength.
Updated · 1 min read
Short answer: hobby balsa is typically about 100 to 200 kg/m³ (0.10 to 0.20 g/cm³, or about 6 to 12 lb/ft³) when air-dried. Across all balsa the range is wider, roughly 60 to 250 kg/m³, depending on the tree and the cut.
Hobby grades
| Grade | kg/m³ | lb/ft³ |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra light | 64 to 87 | 4 to 5.4 |
| Light | 88 to 96 | 5.5 to 6.0 |
| Light-medium | 98 to 120 | 6.1 to 7.5 |
| Medium | 122 to 152 | 7.6 to 9.5 |
| Medium-hard | 154 to 192 | 9.6 to 12 |
| Hard | 224 and up | 14 and up |
For comparison, water is 1,000 kg/m³, so balsa at 150 kg/m³ is 0.15 times as dense as water.
Why it matters
- Weight. Stick weight is volume times density. See calculating stick weight.
- Strength and stiffness. Both rise roughly in proportion to density, with a lot of scatter. See how strong balsa is.
- Moisture. Density depends on moisture content. See humidity.
Measure your own
Weigh a stick, measure its length, width and thickness, and divide mass by volume. See choosing sticks.