Photo Credit

USDA Forest Service photo by Dorothy Punderson.

Forest Products Lab collections manager shows a sample from the active wood collection.

The Wood Identification Public Service is provided by the USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory Center for Wood Anatomy Research. Our team of experts can help you identify different types of wood samples. This service is available to private U.S. citizens and is designed to support research, education, and curiosity.

How It Works

1. You send us a wood sample.
2. Our experts examine the sample using tools like hand lenses and microscopes.
3. We identify the type of wood based on its unique cellular structure.
4. We send you the results, usually within four weeks.

Important Things to Know

• This service is free for private U.S. citizens.
• You can submit up to three wood samples per year per household.
• We typically identify wood to the genus level (like oak or maple), not the exact species.
• We don't determine the age or origin of wood samples.
• We only identify wood. We don't identify charcoal or archaeological samples, except by prior arrangement.

How to Submit a Wood Sample

Step 1: Sample Preparation

• Size: Your sample should be about 1 x 3 x 6 inches. Anything smaller might limit our ability to identify it.
• If you only have a smaller specimen, a sample must be cut or split from it rather than shaved or gouged, as instructed below. Specimens of insufficient size or quality will not be analyzed.
  • To produce a good specimen from a small sample, use a fine saw, sharp knife, or small chisel and cut across the grain to a depth of about 3/16 inch. Make two such cuts at least 1/2 inch apart.
    • If a knife is used, a splinter can be split out by prying up at one of the incised points.
    • If a chisel is used, the edge can be placed in one of the cuts and then angled to travel down the grain to the other cut.
    • A sharp tap will produce a good specimen.
  • The resulting small sample should be solid enough to roll between your thumb and forefinger without crumbling or breaking.

Step 2: Fill Out the Submission Form

Use our specimen submission form. Make sure to include:

• Your contact information.
• Any information you know about the wood (common name, where it's from).

Step 3: Package Your Sample

• Label each sample clearly as 1, 2, or 3 if you're sending multiple pieces. Results will be reported by number, so don't use letters or other codes.
• For small samples, use separate envelopes labeled with the sample number.
• Don't tape samples to cards or paper; they can be damaged when the tape is removed.
• Use a padded/cardboard envelope or small box to protect the sample during shipping.
• If you require delivery confirmation, send your request via a carrier that can provide such information to you.

Step 4: Send Us Your Sample

Mail your package to:

Wood Identification Public Service
Center for Wood Anatomy Research
USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory 
1 Gifford Pinchot Dr. 
Madison, WI 53726-2398

Additional Information

• Samples are not returned and may be destroyed during the identification process.
• We cannot identify samples that don't meet our guidelines.
• This service is for private citizens only. Businesses or organizations needing wood identification should consult a private expert or local university.
• We don't provide wood identification for legal disputes.

How We Identify Wood Samples

Photo Credit

USDA Forest Service photo by Dorothy Punderson.

The XyloTron, a tool used to identify wood.

Scientific wood identification depends primarily on characteristics of wood cells revealed with a hand lens or under a microscope.

To prepare a microscope slide, a cross-sectional surface of the specimen is smoothed with a sharp knife and examined with a hand lens. Thin sections are cut freehand along the grain from the radial and tangential surfaces and prepared for viewing under the microscope.

Identifications are typically based on technical anatomical features observed at high magnification. Gross features such as color, odor, and texture are of limited utility as they can be quite variable and therefore are less diagnostic.