Short answer: Douglas fir lasts more on its own above ground (class 3) and has a warm red brown colour. Pine (grenen) is cheaper softwood (class 4 to 5). Outdoor it most of the time only makes sense as pressure-treated pine. So "Douglas vs pine" hangs on this: do you mean raw pine, or pine the works treated for a fence?
Side by side
- Class — pine with no treat 4 to 5; treated pine about class 3 after the treat; Douglas 3 (heartwood).
- Look — pine pale yellow; treated pine green then weathers grey; Douglas warm red brown.
- Outdoor treat — pine with no treat needs a treat or you skip it; treated pine is factory treated; Douglas is often used with no treat above ground.
- Ground contact — pine with no treat no; treated pine yes if the class is right; Douglas only a bit, do not leave it in lasting contact.
- Price level — pine low; treated pine low to mid; Douglas mid.
- Typical use — pine indoor or short-term; treated pine fencing and posts; Douglas canopy, decking, facade.
When pine, when Douglas?
- Budget fencing — pressure-treated pine.
- A warm colour you can see — Douglas.
- Treated vs Douglas detail — also read Douglas vs pressure-treated.
More context: what is pine timber?, what is Douglas?, outdoor timber species.
So the pick is not "which wood is best" in the void. It is which job you have. A cheap fence with posts in the ground points to treated pine. A canopy or deck you want to see points to Douglas. Lasting water or heavy ground contact points to hardwood, not to either of these two.
Keep that split in mind when you buy. Pine is the cheap path if the works treated it. Douglas is the warm path if the timber stays above ground. Mix them if you like, but do not ask raw pine to do a Douglas job, and do not ask Douglas to sit in wet soil for years.
Common questions
What is the difference between pine and Douglas?
Douglas lasts more on its own and looks warmer. Pine costs less and outdoor is most of the time pressure-treated.
Douglas vs pine: which is better value?
Treated pine most of the time costs less to buy. Douglas can pay off through colour and less extra treat above ground.
What is the difference between pine and Douglas fir?
Douglas heartwood lasts more on its own (class 3) and is warmer red brown. Pine is class 4 to 5 and outdoor is of use when pressure-treated. Douglas most of the time costs more to buy.
Douglas vs pine: which should I choose?
Pick pressure-treated pine for a cheap fence and for posts with ground contact. Pick Douglas for garden work above ground with a natural look.
Is pine the same as pressure-treated timber?
No. Pine is the species. Pressure-treated pine is that species after treat. Pine with no treat is not the same as treated fencing timber.
Where can I buy pine or Douglas?
At Houthandel Jan Sok in Meppel. Pressure-treated pine is in the treated shop. Douglas is in the Douglas shop. We send to NL, BE and DE.