How Long Should Wood Acclimate? Quick Answer

January 5, 2026 January 5, 2026 by Marcus Webb in Workshop Tips 1 min read

Wondering how long to let your wood acclimate before starting a project? Here is the quick answer.

General rule: 1 week per inch of thickness in your shop environment.

Why it matters: Wood expands and contracts with humidity changes. If you build with wood that has not equilibrated to your shop conditions, joints may fail or panels may warp.

Best practices:

Store wood horizontally on stickers
Allow air circulation on all sides
Use a moisture meter to verify
Target 6-8% moisture content for furniture

Patience here prevents problems later.

Learn more: Lumber Storage Solutions

Marcus Webb

Author & Expert

Marcus Webb is a master woodworker with over 25 years of experience building custom furniture and cabinetry. He learned traditional joinery techniques from his grandfather and has since built hundreds of pieces, from fine furniture to workshop fixtures. Marcus teaches woodworking classes and writes about shop setup, tool selection, and project planning.

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