Glulam vs LVL
Natural Material · grade comparison
Glulam and LVL are both natural material grades. LVL is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 42 MPa (6.09 ksi) against 19 MPa (2.78 ksi) for Glulam, about 119% more. Glulam is lighter (0.47 g/cm³ vs 0.55 g/cm³ for LVL) and LVL is stiffer (13.8 GPa vs 11.5 GPa). On the shop floor, LVL sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than Glulam (standard, $$).
GlulamChoose it when weight is the constraint.
LVLChoose it when strength drives the design, or when cost is the deciding factor.
Glulam vs LVL: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Mohs
Same in both: Elongation at Break 0.8%
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 0.13 W/m·K0.08 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Specific Heat Capacity 1,600 J/kg·K0.38 BTU/lb·°F · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 50°C122 °F · Min Service Temperature -50°C-58 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Dielectric Strength
Same in both: Electrical Resistivity 1×10¹⁰ Ω·m3.94×10¹⁷ µΩ·in
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Glulam | LVL |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $ Budget |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Glulam vs LVL — frequently asked
Is LVL stronger than Glulam?
Yes. LVL has a typical tensile strength of 42 MPa (6.09 ksi) against 19 MPa (2.78 ksi) for Glulam — about 119% more.
Which is cheaper, Glulam or LVL?
LVL is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while Glulam is standard ($$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, Glulam or LVL?
Glulam, by a small margin. Both rate excellent for machinability — 92/100 against 85/100 for LVL.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Glulam and LVL side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.