Home / Wood Compare / Black Walnut vs American Cherry
Professional Comparison · Verified Engineering Data · Updated 19 July 2026
Black Walnut VS American Cherry
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
🥇
Black Walnut
69/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood💧Moisture Stable
- Better dimensional stability (Excellent vs Good)
- Stronger in bending (MOR 101.0 vs 85.0 MPa)
🥈
American Cherry
49/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood💧Moisture Stable
- Easier to machine and fasten
- Lighter (0.5 vs 0.55 g/cm³)
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
Black WalnutAmerican Cherry
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Tie |
| Stability | Black Walnut |
| Hardness | Black Walnut |
| Strength (MOR) | Black Walnut |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Black Walnut |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | American Cherry |
| Lightness | American Cherry |
Engineering data
| Property | Black Walnut | American Cherry |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1010WD lbf | 950WD lbf |
| Density | 0.55FPL g/cm³ | 0.5FPL g/cm³ |
| MOE | 11.6FPL GPa | 10.3FPL GPa |
| MOR | 101.0FPL 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 | 5.5WD % | 3.7WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 7.8WD % | 7.1WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.42 | 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 | 🥇 Black Walnut | ★★★★☆ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Black Walnut | ★★★★☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Black Walnut | ★★★☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Black Walnut | ★★★★☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Black Walnut | ★★★☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Black Walnut
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 Black Walnut if…
- You need minimal movement (doors, decking, panelling)
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, Black Walnut 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?
Black Walnut — outdoor performance combines decay durability with dimensional stability, and it leads on that combination.
Is Black Walnut harder than American Cherry?
Yes — Janka 1010 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.