Marble vs Travertine
Natural Material · grade comparison
Marble and Travertine are both natural material grades. Marble is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 8 MPa (1.16 ksi) against 6 MPa (0.798 ksi) for Travertine, about 45% more. In exchange, Travertine is the more ductile: elongation 0.1% versus 0.02% for Marble. Travertine is lighter (2.45 g/cm³ vs 2.7 g/cm³ for Marble) and Marble is stiffer (55 GPa vs 42 GPa).
MarbleChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat.
TravertineChoose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when weight is the constraint.
Marble vs Travertine: 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
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Knoop
Hardness, Mohs
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 880 J/kg·K0.21 BTU/lb·°F · Min Service Temperature -40°C-40 °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
Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 0%
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 | Marble | Travertine |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $ Budget | $ Budget |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Marble vs Travertine — frequently asked
Is Marble stronger than Travertine?
Yes. Marble has a typical tensile strength of 8 MPa (1.16 ksi) against 6 MPa (0.798 ksi) for Travertine — about 45% more.
Which is cheaper, Marble or Travertine?
Both sit in the same relative cost tier ($, budget); the part price will be decided by machining time, tolerance and quantity rather than by the material.
When should I choose Marble over Travertine?
Pick Marble when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat. Pick Travertine when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when weight is the constraint.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Marble and Travertine 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.