Emissivities of common building materials

From Sparrow & Cess, with permission

All values at 100°F (40°C) unless otherwise noted

Surface

Emissivity

Brick, red & rough

0.93

Concrete, rough

0.94

Glass, smooth

0.94

Ice, smooth

0.97a

Marble, white

0.95

Paint, black gloss

0.90

Paint, white

0.89 to 0.97

Paint, various oils

0.92 to 0.96

Paper, white

0.95

Sandstone

0.83 to 0.90b

Snow

0.82c

Water, thickness > 0.1 mm

0.96

Wood, oak, planed

0.90

Wood, walnut, sanded

0.83

Wood, spruce, sanded

0.82

Wood, beech

0.94

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

aat 32°F (0°C)
bat 100 to 250°F (100 to 500°C)
cat 10 to 20°F (-12 to -6°C)