Moisture Content

Definition

Moisture content (MC) is water in the wood as a percent of oven-dry mass. Across the grain, change ≈ width × coefficient × (end MC − start MC). Flatsawn uses the larger tangential coefficient; quartersawn uses radial. Negative change is shrinkage. Indoor winter EMC is often 6–11%. Leave the calculated movement as button-slot travel on tabletops — do not glue a solid top tight to the apron.

Calculators that use this

• Fine woodworking & cabinetry

  Wood Movement / Expansion Estimator

  Estimate seasonal width change of a board from species, flatsawn vs quartersawn cut, and the change in moisture content.

• Carpentry & framing

  Lumber Board Foot & Cost Calculator

  Convert actual lumber thickness, width, length and quantity into board feet or cubic metres, add waste, and estimate material cost in imperial or metric units.