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    Wood Movement Calculator

    Estimate how much a board will expand or contract across the grain with seasonal humidity changes. Critical for tabletops, panels, and breadboard ends.

    Inputs

    Pick the species, grain orientation, board width, and your indoor moisture content swing.

    Measure perpendicular to the grain — the dimension that moves.

    Typical heated home: 6–8% in winter, 10–12% in summer. Unconditioned shop or coastal climates can swing further.

    Total movement across 24"1/2" (0.5040")
    In millimeters12.80 mm
    As a percentage2.100%
    Movement per side (centered glue-up)±1/4"

    How to use this:

    • Tabletops: leave the "per side" amount of slop on each end of slotted attachment hardware.
    • Breadboard ends: the center can be pinned; outer tenons need elongated holes for that much travel.
    • Panels in frames: leave at least the per-side amount of space in each side groove.

    Shrinkage data from USDA Forest Products Lab Wood Handbook. Formula: ΔW = W × (ΔMC ÷ 30) × shrinkage%. Assumes linear shrinkage below the 30% fiber saturation point.