Home / Wood Compare / African Mahogany vs American Cherry
Professional Comparison · Source-attributed engineering data · Updated 19 July 2026
African Mahogany VS American Cherry
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
🥇
African Mahogany
58/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood💧Moisture Stable
- Better dimensional stability (Excellent vs Good)
🥈
American Cherry
49/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood💧Moisture Stable
- Easier to machine and fasten
- Lighter (0.5 vs 0.52 g/cm³)
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
African MahoganyAmerican Cherry
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Tie |
| Stability | African Mahogany |
| Hardness | African Mahogany |
| Strength (MOR) | American Cherry |
| Stiffness (MOE) | American Cherry |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | American Cherry |
| Lightness | American Cherry |
Engineering data
| Property | African Mahogany | American Cherry |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1070WD lbf | 950WD lbf |
| Density | 0.52FPL g/cm³ | 0.5FPL g/cm³ |
| MOE | 9.7FPL GPa | 10.3FPL GPa |
| MOR | 78.6FPL MPa | 85.0FPL MPa |
| Durability | Class 3 Moderately Durable | Class 3 Moderately Durable |
| Stability | Excellent | Good |
| Fire (E84) | Class B indicative | Class B indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 3WD % | 3.7WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 5WD % | 7.1WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.67 | 1.92 |
Figures carry the same source status as the species pages they come from — verified where cited, indicative where marked.
Best for
| Application | Recommended | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor decking / pergola | 🥇 African Mahogany | ★★★★☆ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 African Mahogany | ★★★★☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 African Mahogany | ★★★☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 African Mahogany | ★★★★☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 American Cherry | ★★☆☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
African Mahogany
Advantages relative to American Cherry
- Radial shrinkage 3.0% vs 3.7% and tangential 5.0% vs 7.1% — less movement on both axes
Limitations relative to American Cherry
American Cherry
Advantages relative to African Mahogany
Limitations relative to African Mahogany
- Radial shrinkage 3.7% vs 3.0% and tangential 7.1% vs 5.0% — greater movement on both axes
Recommendation
Choose African Mahogany if…
- Wide panels or flat surfaces must stay flat — panelling, cabinet doors, or veneer applications
- The application is boat and ship building — mahogany's documented exterior use
Choose American Cherry if…
- The application is kitchen cabinets, low-traffic flooring, or pattern-making — cherry's documented specialty uses
- Engineering differences outside dimensional stability are within ~8% — for cabinet work where those differences are not decisive, the two are relatively close on the properties assessed here
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, African Mahogany or American Cherry?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 3, Moderately Durable). For outdoor work the separation is movement, not decay: African Mahogany moves 5.0% tangentially against 7.1%, which decides board width and fixing spacing more than the durability class does.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
African Mahogany — outdoor performance combines decay durability with dimensional stability, and it leads on that combination.
Is African Mahogany harder than American Cherry?
Yes — Janka 1070 lbf vs 950 lbf.
How we score. Both Library Scores above are percentile ranks inside our 60-species library, from a weighted composite led by durability (22%) and dimensional stability (18%). Price is deliberately not scored. Full weighting and what it excludes.