Home / Wood Compare / Black Walnut vs American Cherry
Professional Comparison · Source-attributed 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 relative to American Cherry
- MOR is 101 MPa vs 85 MPa, about 19% higher
Limitations relative to American Cherry
American Cherry
Advantages relative to Black Walnut
Limitations relative to Black Walnut
- MOR is 85 MPa vs 101 MPa, about 16% lower
Recommendation
Choose Black Walnut if…
- Fine furniture, cabinetry, doors and gunstocks where the higher bending strength is the deciding property
- Turnery, veneer and panelling where the working properties suit the piece and the shared Class 3 durability with Class B fire class is the baseline
Choose American Cherry if…
- Fine furniture, cabinetmaking, decorative panelling and interior joinery where the working properties are sufficient and either species is acceptable
- Mouldings and turnery where the cherry appearance is the aesthetic preference
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Black Walnut or American Cherry?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 3, Moderately Durable). Outdoors, movement will not separate them either — 7.8% against 7.1% tangential. The practical difference is weight: Black Walnut runs 0.55 g/cm³ against 0.50, so American Cherry is the easier fix overhead and the cheaper one to freight.
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. The Library Scores are percentile ranks against the other 59 species we cover — durability and stability carry the most weight, and no price data enters the calculation. Full weighting and what it excludes.