Home / Wood Compare / Black Walnut vs European Larch
Professional Comparison · Verified Engineering Data · Updated 19 July 2026
Black Walnut VS European Larch
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)
- Harder wear surface (Janka 1010 vs 740 lbf)
- Stronger in bending (MOR 101.0 vs 90.0 MPa)
- 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
Black WalnutEuropean Larch
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) | Tie |
| Flame spread | Black Walnut |
| Machining ease | European Larch |
| Lightness | Tie |
Engineering data
| Property | Black Walnut | European Larch |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1010WD lbf | 740WD lbf |
| Density | 0.55FPL g/cm³ | 0.55WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 11.6FPL GPa | 11.8WD GPa |
| MOR | 101.0FPL MPa | 90.0WD MPa |
| Durability | Class 3 Moderately Durable | Class 3 Moderately Durable |
| Stability | Excellent | Good |
| Fire (E84) | Class B indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 5.5WD % | 4.2WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 7.8WD % | 8.2WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.42 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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
European Larch
Advantages
Limitations
- Soft surface — dents under point loads
Recommendation
Choose Black Walnut if…
- You need minimal movement (doors, decking, panelling)
- The surface takes traffic or impact
Choose European Larch if…
- Its profile matches the application better than a single overall score
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Black Walnut 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?
Black Walnut — outdoor performance combines decay durability with dimensional stability, and it leads on that combination.
Is Black Walnut harder than European Larch?
Yes — Janka 1010 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.