Home / Wood Compare / African Mahogany vs American Cherry
Professional Comparison · Verified 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
- Very low movement in service
Limitations
- Few practical drawbacks within its intended uses
American Cherry
Advantages
- Lightweight — easy handling and installation
Limitations
- Few practical drawbacks within its intended uses
Recommendation
Choose African Mahogany if…
- You need minimal movement (doors, decking, panelling)
- The surface takes traffic or impact
Choose American Cherry if…
- Ease of working and fastening matters
- Weight matters — ceilings, wall panels, transport
- Its profile matches the application better than a single overall score
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 decisions between them, weigh dimensional stability and hardness instead.
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. Each wood gets a weighted composite of the verified figures shown above: durability 22%, stability 18%, hardness 12%, bending strength 12%, machining ease 12%, stiffness 8%, flame spread 8%, lightness 8%. The Library Score is that composite's percentile rank within our 60-species library — 50 means the library median, 90 means it outperforms nine of every ten species we cover. No price data is scored — cost guidance is qualitative. The score summarises the data; it does not replace judgement about your specific application.