Oak vs White Oak
Natural Material · grade comparison
Oak and White Oak are both natural material grades. White Oak is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) against 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) for Oak, about 5% more. White Oak is the more ductile: elongation 1.2% versus 1% for Oak. Oak is lighter (0.72 g/cm³ vs 0.76 g/cm³ for White Oak).
OakChoose it when weight is the constraint.
White OakChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded.
Oak vs White Oak: 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.
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Same in both: Elastic (Young's) Modulus 12.3 GPa1.8 Msi · Shear Modulus 1.1 GPa0.16 Msi · Poisson's Ratio 0.37 · Hardness, Mohs 2.5
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Same in both: Porosity 52%
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Same in both: Thermal Conductivity 0.17 W/m·K0.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 90°C194 °F · Min Service Temperature -60°C-76 °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 Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 11 MJ/kg4,729 BTU/lb · Typical Recycled Content 5%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Same in both: Specific Strength (UTS / density) 132 kN·m/kg · Thermal Diffusivity 0.1 mm²/s · 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 | Oak | White Oak |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $$ Standard |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Oak vs White Oak — frequently asked
Is White Oak stronger than Oak?
Yes. White Oak has a typical tensile strength of 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) against 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) for Oak — about 5% more.
Which is cheaper, Oak or White Oak?
Both sit in the same relative cost tier ($$, standard); the part price will be decided by machining time, tolerance and quantity rather than by the material.
Which is easier to machine, Oak or White Oak?
Oak. Its machinability rates very good (70/100) against good (65/100) for White Oak.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Oak and White Oak 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.