Wood Species Database

Search Janka hardness, approximate density, and shop notes for common hardwoods and softwoods so you can match species to wear, weight, and workability.

Species	Janka Hardness (lbf)	Avg Weight (lbs/ft³)	Notes
Alder, Red	590 Soft	28	Soft. Easy to work. Popular for cabinetry.
Ash, White	1320 Medium	42	Strong, shock resistant. Baseball bats.
Basswood	410 Soft	26	Very soft. Preferred for hand carving.
Beech, American	1300 Medium	45	Hard, uniform grain. Workbenches, bent laminations.
Birch, Yellow	1260 Medium	43	Hard, heavy. Good for flooring/furniture.
Butternut	490 Soft	27	Soft, light brown. Carving and interior trim.
Cedar, Eastern Red	900 Medium	33	Aromatic. Closet linings, chests, fence posts.
Cedar, Western Red	350 Soft	23	Aromatic, rot resistant. Outdoor use.
Cherry, Black	995 Medium	35	Darkens with age. Smooth grain. Premium furniture.
Cypress, Bald	510 Soft	32	Rot resistant softwood. Exterior millwork, boats.
Douglas Fir	660 Soft	32	Construction lumber. Splinters easily.
Ebony, Gaboon	3080 Very Hard	60	Extremely hard/heavy. Musical instruments.
Hemlock, Western	540 Soft	29	Soft, straight grain. Framing, timbers.
Hickory	1820 Very Hard	50	Very hard/tough. Tool handles.
Ipe (Brazilian Walnut)	3684 Very Hard	69	Rock hard. Requires carbide tools. Decking.
Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry)	2350 Very Hard	57	Very hard. Flooring, heavy-wear surfaces.
Locust, Black	1700 Very Hard	48	Extremely rot resistant. Fence posts, outdoor.
Mahogany, African	1070 Medium	37	Wider boards than Honduras. Furniture, boat trim.
Mahogany, Honduras	900 Medium	34	Stable, easy to work. The classic furniture wood.
Maple, Hard (Sugar)	1450 Medium	44	Very durable. Cutting boards, bowling alleys.
Maple, Soft (Red)	950 Medium	38	Softer than sugar maple. Painted cabinets.
Oak, Red	1290 Medium	44	Standard for cabinets/flooring. Open grain.
Oak, White	1360 Medium	47	Rot resistant. Arts & Crafts style furniture.
Padauk	2170 Very Hard	47	Vivid orange-red. Accents, cutting boards. Oxidizes to brown.
Pine, Eastern White	380 Soft	25	Very soft. Construction, rustic furniture.
Pine, Ponderosa	460 Soft	28	Moderate softwood. Knotty pine paneling, trim.
Pine, Southern Yellow	870 Medium	34	Harder than white pine. Pressure treated lumber.
Poplar	540 Soft	29	Paint grade utility wood. Easy to machine.
Purpleheart	2520 Very Hard	56	Exotic purple color. Very hard on tools.
Redwood, Coast	420 Soft	28	Naturally rot resistant. Decking, outdoor structures.
Sapele	1410 Medium	42	Ribbon stripe figure. Mahogany alternative for furniture.
Spruce, Sitka	510 Soft	28	Stiff for its weight. Soundboards, aircraft, masts.
Sycamore, American	770 Medium	34	Fine texture, lacewood figure on quartersawn. Butcher blocks.
Teak	1070 Medium	41	Oily, water resistant. Marine applications.
Walnut, Black	1010 Medium	38	Rich dark color. Pleasure to work with.
Wenge	1630 Very Hard	55	Very dark brown. Splinters easily. Accents, turnings.
Zebrawood	1575 Very Hard	46	Distinct striping. Hard to glue (oily).

*Janka Hardness measures resistance to denting. Higher is harder.
Values are averages and can vary by tree growth conditions.

Choosing Species by Properties, Not Just Color

Hardness and density tell you how a board will live in a project long before you see the finished grain. A dining table top wants dent resistance; a carved molding wants a species that shears cleanly; a wall cabinet door can trade some hardness for stability and weight. Use this database as a first filter when you are comparing yard stock or deciding whether a substitute species will behave like the one in your plan.

How to use this database

Type a common name (walnut, oak, maple) in the search box to filter the table.
Click Species, Janka, or Weight column headers to sort and rank candidates.
Read the notes for typical uses and quirks—then verify with your local supplier’s grade and moisture.

Density and hardness caveats

Janka is a side-hardness test (force to embed a steel ball), not a guarantee against splitting, checking, or seasonal movement. Growth rate, heartwood vs sapwood, and kiln schedule all shift real-world numbers. Weight per cubic foot is an average for air-dry stock; green lumber and highly figured boards can feel heavier. For outdoor work, look past hardness to rot resistance and how the species takes fasteners and finish.

FAQ

Is a higher Janka always better?

Only for dent resistance. Extremely hard woods can be brittle, dull cutters faster, and fight hand tools. Match hardness to the wear surface, not to a bragging contest.

Can I substitute a denser wood one-for-one?

Check weight on hinged doors and drawer fronts, and expect different glue-up and finishing behavior. Density also changes how much the shelf will sag under the same span.

Why don’t my boards match the published Janka?

Published values are species averages. Juvenile wood, soft earlywood rings, and imported look-alikes can land well below the catalog number.

Should I use this for structural design?

No. These are shop selection aids. Load-bearing members need graded lumber, engineering span tables, or a qualified designer—not a hardness chart alone.

Where this fits in the workflow

Board Foot Calculator Price the species once you have chosen it.
Shelf Sagulator Density decides whether the shelf holds its line.
Cutting Board Designer Hardness and food safety both matter for a board.
Screw & Drill Bit Chart Harder species need pilot holes closer to the shank diameter.

Read the longer write-up

Shelf Span and Deflection: Plywood vs Solid Hardwood When a shelf looks fine on paper but sags under books, span and modulus matter more than thickness alone. Practical limits for plywood, hardwood, and loaded casework.
How Board Feet Are Sold — and Why Nominal Thickness Matters Hardwood yards invoice by the board foot using nominal thickness. Learn the formula, 4/4 through 12/4 conventions, and how to reconcile a cut list with a delivery ticket.

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