Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
Hardness
On the soft side; easy to work, but marks with hard use.
Overview
A pale, ash-like wood that bends well and costs little. Spalts readily, which turners love. Not rot-resistant, so keep it indoors.
Commonly built
- Bent furniture
- Spalted bowls
- Utility furniture
Appearance
Pale yellowish-grey to light brown, with a coarse, ring-porous grain much like ash. Often shows attractive spalting.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Works much like ash, good with sharp tools, steam-bends well. Prone to spalting and decay, so dry and store carefully. Glues and finishes well.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn hackberry panel moves roughly 0.49 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content). Use the wood movement calculator to run your own board size and moisture range.
How much does Hackberry move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Hackberry?
Hackberry has a Janka hardness of 880 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Hackberry suitable for outdoor use?
Hackberry is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is Hackberry to work with?
Hackberry has Good workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Hackberry move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn hackberry panel moves roughly 0.49 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Finishing notes
Pale, even-textured wood that takes stain very readily and evenly, and is frequently stained to imitate ash or other ring-porous woods. Open grain benefits from filler for a smooth film finish. Prone to gray fungal staining if not dried promptly, but properly dried stock finishes cleanly and predictably. A cooperative, forgiving wood to finish.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used hackberry, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.