Ebony VS Wenge
- Harder wear surface (Janka 2430 vs 1930 lbf)
- Better flame-spread class (Class A vs Class B)
- Lighter (0.8 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 | Tie |
| Strength (MOR) | Wenge |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Tie |
| Flame spread | Ebony |
| Machining ease | Wenge |
| Lightness | Wenge |
Engineering data
| Property | Ebony | Wenge |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 2430 lbf | 1930WD lbf |
| Density | 0.9 g/cm³ | 0.8WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 16.0 GPa | 17.6WD GPa |
| MOR | 136.0 MPa | 151.7WD 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 % | 4.8WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 6.5 % | 8.1WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.18 | 1.69 |
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 | 🥇 Wenge | ★★★★☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Ebony | ★★★★☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Wenge | ★★★☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Wenge | ★★★★☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Ebony
Advantages relative to Wenge
- Janka is 2,430 lbf vs 1,930 lbf, about 26% harder
- Fire (E84) is Class A vs Class B — one class better on flame-spread rating
Limitations relative to Wenge
Wenge
Advantages relative to Ebony
Limitations relative to Ebony
- Janka is 1,930 lbf vs 2,430 lbf, about 21% 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 and Class A fire class both matter in specification
- High-end furniture detailing and turned specialty objects where the documented small-component decorative use is what the project is specifying
Choose Wenge if…
- Strip and parquet flooring (often as a dark accent against lighter timber), high-end furniture and cabinetry, decorative veneer and panelling where the shared Class 1 durability is the baseline and the wenge grain and appearance are the aesthetic preference
- Musical instruments (guitar necks, fingerboards, bodies), joinery, turned objects and sporting goods where the documented wenge role is what the project is specifying
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Ebony or Wenge?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 1, Very Durable). For outdoor work the separation is movement, not decay: Ebony moves 6.5% tangentially against 8.1%, which decides board width and fixing spacing more than the durability class does.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
Both are EN 350 Class 1, and tangential movement runs 6.5% for Ebony against 8.1% for Wenge — 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; Wenge is the lighter section at 0.80 g/cm³ — traffic favours the first, cladding and handling the second.
Is Ebony harder than Wenge?
Yes — Janka 2430 lbf vs 1930 lbf.