Glulam vs OSB
Natural Material · grade comparison
Glulam and OSB are both natural material grades. Glulam is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 19 MPa (2.78 ksi) against 12 MPa (1.74 ksi) for OSB, about 60% more. In exchange, OSB is the more ductile: elongation 1% versus 0.8% for Glulam. Glulam is lighter (0.47 g/cm³ vs 0.64 g/cm³ for OSB) and Glulam is stiffer (11.5 GPa vs 3.5 GPa). On the shop floor, OSB sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than Glulam (standard, $$).
GlulamChoose it when strength drives the design, or when weight is the constraint.
OSBChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when the part sees heat.
Glulam vs OSB: 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)
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Mohs
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 0.13 W/m·K0.08 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Min Service Temperature -50°C-58 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
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 | OSB |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $ Budget |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Glulam vs OSB — frequently asked
Is Glulam stronger than OSB?
Yes. Glulam has a typical tensile strength of 19 MPa (2.78 ksi) against 12 MPa (1.74 ksi) for OSB — about 60% more.
Which is cheaper, Glulam or OSB?
OSB 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 OSB?
Glulam, by a small margin. Both rate excellent for machinability — 92/100 against 85/100 for OSB.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Glulam and OSB 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.