Home / Wood Compare / American Cherry vs European Larch
Professional Comparison · Verified Engineering Data · Updated 19 July 2026
American Cherry VS European Larch
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
🥇
American Cherry
49/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood💧Moisture Stable
- Harder wear surface (Janka 950 vs 740 lbf)
- Better flame-spread class (Class B vs Class C)
🥈
European Larch
44/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood💧Moisture Stable
- Close second across most categories
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
American CherryEuropean Larch
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Tie |
| Stability | Tie |
| Hardness | American Cherry |
| Strength (MOR) | European Larch |
| Stiffness (MOE) | European Larch |
| Flame spread | American Cherry |
| Machining ease | Tie |
| Lightness | American Cherry |
Engineering data
| Property | American Cherry | European Larch |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 950WD lbf | 740WD lbf |
| Density | 0.5FPL g/cm³ | 0.55WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 10.3FPL GPa | 11.8WD GPa |
| MOR | 85.0FPL MPa | 90.0WD MPa |
| Durability | Class 3 Moderately Durable | Class 3 Moderately Durable |
| Stability | Good | Good |
| Fire (E84) | Class B indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 3.7WD % | 4.2WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 7.1WD % | 8.2WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.92 | 1.95 |
Figures carry the same source status as the species pages they come from — verified where cited, indicative where marked.
Best for
| Application | Recommended | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 American Cherry | ★★★☆☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 American Cherry | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 American Cherry | ★★★☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 European Larch | ★★★☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
American Cherry
Advantages
- Lightweight — easy handling and installation
Limitations
- Few practical drawbacks within its intended uses
European Larch
Advantages
Limitations
- Soft surface — dents under point loads
Recommendation
Choose American Cherry if…
- You want the stronger all-round engineering profile
Choose European Larch if…
- Its profile matches the application better than a single overall score
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, American Cherry or European Larch?
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?
They are closely matched outdoors — durability and stability come out almost level. Let the application decide: harder surface for decking traffic, lighter weight for cladding.
Is American Cherry harder than European Larch?
Yes — Janka 950 lbf vs 740 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.