BenchwiseJanka hardness chart
The Janka test measures the force (in pounds-force) needed to push a steel ball half its diameter into a board. Higher means harder: harder woods resist dents and wear, and are harder to cut, nail and screw. Values below are typical; real boards vary.
| Wood | Janka (lbf) | Density (kg/m³) | Type | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ipe Handroanthus spp. | 3510 | 1050 | Hardwood | Very durable |
| Jatoba Hymenaea courbaril | 2350 | 910 | Hardwood | Very durable |
| Purpleheart Peltogyne spp. | 1860 | 880 | Hardwood | Durable |
| Hickory Carya ovata | 1820 | 830 | Hardwood | No |
| Padauk Pterocarpus soyauxii | 1725 | 745 | Hardwood | Durable |
| Hard maple Acer saccharum | 1450 | 705 | Hardwood | No |
| Sapele Entandrophragma cylindricum | 1410 | 640 | Hardwood | Durable |
| White oak Quercus alba | 1360 | 755 | Hardwood | Durable |
| Ash Fraxinus americana | 1320 | 675 | Hardwood | No |
| Beech Fagus sylvatica | 1300 | 710 | Hardwood | No |
| Red oak Quercus rubra | 1290 | 705 | Hardwood | No |
| Birch Betula alleghaniensis | 1260 | 690 | Hardwood | No |
| Teak Tectona grandis | 1155 | 655 | Hardwood | Very durable |
| European oak Quercus robur | 1120 | 710 | Hardwood | Durable |
| Black walnut Juglans nigra | 1010 | 610 | Hardwood | Durable |
| Soft maple Acer rubrum | 950 | 545 | Hardwood | No |
| Black cherry Prunus serotina | 950 | 580 | Hardwood | Some |
| African mahogany Khaya ivorensis | 830 | 540 | Hardwood | Durable |
| Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla | 800 | 545 | Hardwood | Durable |
| Southern yellow pine Pinus taeda | 690 | 580 | Softwood | Some |
| Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii | 660 | 530 | Softwood | Some |
| Alder Alnus rubra | 590 | 450 | Hardwood | No |
| Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera | 540 | 455 | Hardwood | No |
| Scots pine Pinus sylvestris | 540 | 520 | Softwood | Some |
| Spruce Picea abies | 510 | 450 | Softwood | No |
| Bald cypress Taxodium distichum | 510 | 510 | Softwood | Very durable |
| Redwood Sequoia sempervirens | 450 | 420 | Softwood | Very durable |
| Basswood (linden) Tilia americana | 410 | 415 | Hardwood | No |
| Eastern white pine Pinus strobus | 380 | 385 | Softwood | No |
| Western red cedar Thuja plicata | 350 | 370 | Softwood | Very durable |
Reading the chart
- Under 700 lbf: soft and easy to work (pine, cedar, poplar, basswood): good for beginner projects, boxes and carving.
- 700 to 1,400: medium (walnut, cherry, oak, ash): furniture and cabinets.
- Above 1,400: very hard (hard maple, hickory, padauk, ipe): flooring, tool handles and decking, but pre-drill and use sharp tools.
The Benchwise wood guide has all 30 species with workability, price tier, uses and movement coefficients, in eight languages.
Coming soon to the App Store