Wood Shrinkage

Wood shrinkage is the dimensional change that occurs as wood loses moisture from green (freshly felled) to oven-dry condition. Wood shrinks anisotropically: tangentially (along growth rings) more than radially (from center to edge), and both more than longitudinally (along the grain). Measuring shrinkage percentages is essential for understanding wood drying behavior, predicting checking and warping, and selecting materials for applications sensitive to dimensional change (flooring, cabinetry, musical instruments).