Softwood is a generic term used in woodworking and the lumber industries for wood from conifers, which are needle-bearing trees. Softwood producing trees include the likes of pine, spruce, cedar, fir, larch, Douglas fir, hemlock, cypress, redwood and yew.

The difference between softwood and hardwood is found in the microscopic structure of the wood. Softwood contains only two types of cells, those being longitudinal wood fibers and transverse ray cells. Softwoods lack the vessel elements for water transport that hardwoods have. These vessels manifest in hardwoods as pores. In softwood, water transport within the tree occurs via the tracheids only. Some softwoods, such as pine, spruce, larch and Douglas fir, have resin canals that provide transport of resin as a defense against injury. Contrary to the name, softwood trees can often be harder than hardwood trees.

Douglas fir, a softwood, is harder and stronger than many hardwoods, while balsa, technically a hardwood, is much softer than even most softwoods. SEM images can show the presence of pores in hardwoods and its absence in softwoods. It is true that in general, softwood is easy to work with. As such, it forms the bulk of wood used by humans for items such as flooring. Softwood does have a huge range of uses though beyond flooring. It is a prime material for structural building components, but is also found in furniture and other products such as molding, doors and windows.

Softwood is also harvested for use in the production of paper, and for various types of soft board and for additional specialty uses. In fact, walk through the lumber department of any home center, and 90% of the wood materials available will be softwoods (or manufactured from softwoods). Only the remaining 10% will be hardwood varieties. Why the disparity? Well, softwoods are inexpensive and readily available in the United States and Europe, and are very well suited for general projects.

No matter which types of softwoods you choose to use in your projects, keep in mind that most softwoods are developed for construction uses, and not necessarily for building furniture. Keep in mind that softwoods need to become acclimated to the environment in which the finished project will reside before beginning woodworking to avoid excessive movement after the project is completed.

Of additional interest, softwoods can be a fine choice when building utilitarian projects such as cabinets for the woodshop, painted projects and dog houses.