This chart is best used for comparison to show which woods are more relatively stable that others. This means what you can expect as far as shrinkage or swelling. In actuality when the floor is installed and the boards are laid next to each other, this tends to restrain movement so the change would be diminished in a complete floor .

*Note -Although some tropical woods such as Australian cypress, Brazilian cherry, merbau and wenge appear in this chart or have excellent moisture stability compared to domestic oak, actual installations of many of these woods have demonstrated significant movement in use. To avoid problems later, extra care should be taken to inform potential users of these tendencies prior to purchase.

Source: Stability ratings taken from Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material (Agriculture Handbook 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture; revised 1987)