Ebony VS Jarrah
- Harder wear surface (Janka 2430 vs 1910 lbf)
- Stronger in bending (MOR 136.0 vs 112.0 MPa)
- Better flame-spread class (Class A vs Class B)
- Lighter (0.82 vs 0.9 g/cm³)
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
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 | Ebony |
| Strength (MOR) | Ebony |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Ebony |
| Flame spread | Ebony |
| Machining ease | Jarrah |
| Lightness | Jarrah |
Engineering data
| Property | Ebony | Jarrah |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 2430 lbf | 1910WD lbf |
| Density | 0.9 g/cm³ | 0.82FPL g/cm³ |
| MOE | 16.0 GPa | 13.0FPL GPa |
| MOR | 136.0 MPa | 112.0FPL MPa |
| Durability | Class 1 Very Durable | Class 1 Very Durable |
| Stability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Fire (E84) | Class A indicative | Class B indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 5.5 % | 4.6WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 6.5 % | 6.6WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.18 | 1.43 |
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 | 🥇 Ebony | ★★★★★ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Jarrah | ★★★★☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Ebony | ★★★★☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Jarrah | ★★★☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Ebony | ★★★★☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Ebony
Advantages relative to Jarrah
- Janka is 2,430 lbf vs 1,910 lbf, about 27% harder
- MOR is 136 MPa vs 112 MPa, about 21% higher
- MOE is 16.0 GPa vs 13.0 GPa, about 23% higher
- Fire (E84) is Class A vs Class B — one class better on flame-spread rating
Limitations relative to Jarrah
Jarrah
Advantages relative to Ebony
Limitations relative to Ebony
- Janka is 1,910 lbf vs 2,430 lbf, about 21% lower
- MOR is 112 MPa vs 136 MPa, about 18% lower
- MOE is 13.0 GPa vs 16.0 GPa, about 19% lower
- Fire (E84) is Class B vs Class A — one class lower on flame-spread rating
Recommendation
Choose Ebony if…
- Musical instrument parts (piano keys, fingerboards, bridges, nuts), inlay and marquetry, chess pieces, knife and tool handles where the higher hardness, bending strength and Class A fire class all matter in specification
- High-end furniture detailing and turned specialty objects where the small-component profile suits the material
Choose Jarrah if…
- Heavy engineering (wharves, bridges, railway sleepers, poles, piles), structural framing, flooring, decking and cladding where the working properties are sufficient and the shared Class 1 durability is what the exterior exposure needs
- High-quality indoor and weatherproof outdoor furniture, turnery, joinery, parquetry, marine structures and boatbuilding where the documented jarrah role is what the project is specifying
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Ebony or Jarrah?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 1, Very Durable). Outdoors, movement will not separate them either — 6.5% against 6.6% tangential. The practical difference is weight: Ebony runs 0.90 g/cm³ against 0.82, so Jarrah is the easier fix overhead and the cheaper one to freight.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
Both are EN 350 Class 1, and tangential movement runs 6.5% for Ebony against 6.6% for Jarrah — close enough that decay resistance will not choose between them, and Ebony holds its dimension marginally better. Ebony gives the harder wearing surface at 2,430 lbf; Jarrah is the lighter section at 0.82 g/cm³ — traffic favours the first, cladding and handling the second.
Is Ebony harder than Jarrah?
Yes — Janka 2430 lbf vs 1910 lbf.