Home / Wood Compare / European Larch vs Meranti Red Lauan
Professional Comparison · Verified Engineering Data · Updated 19 July 2026
European Larch VS Meranti Red Lauan
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
🥇
European Larch
44/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood💧Moisture Stable
- Better dimensional stability (Good vs Poor (warp-prone))
- Stronger in bending (MOR 90.0 vs 79.3 MPa)
🥈
Meranti Red Lauan
8/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood
- Lighter (0.52 vs 0.55 g/cm³)
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
European LarchMeranti Red Lauan
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Tie |
| Stability | European Larch |
| Hardness | Tie |
| Strength (MOR) | European Larch |
| Stiffness (MOE) | European Larch |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Tie |
| Lightness | Meranti Red Lauan |
Engineering data
| Property | European Larch | Meranti Red Lauan |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 740WD lbf | 800WD lbf |
| Density | 0.55WD g/cm³ | 0.52FPL g/cm³ |
| MOE | 11.8WD GPa | 10.6FPL GPa |
| MOR | 90.0WD MPa | 79.3FPL MPa |
| Durability | Class 3 Moderately Durable | Class 3 Moderately Durable |
| Stability | Good | Poor (warp-prone) |
| Fire (E84) | Class C indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 4.2WD % | 3WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 8.2WD % | 7.5WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.95 | 2.5 |
Figures carry the same source status as the species pages they come from — verified where cited, indicative where marked.
Best for
| Application | Recommended | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 European Larch | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 European Larch | ★★★☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 European Larch | ★★★☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
European Larch
Advantages
Limitations
- Soft surface — dents under point loads
Meranti Red Lauan
Advantages
Limitations
- Noticeable seasonal movement — allow for it in design
Recommendation
Choose European Larch if…
- You need minimal movement (doors, decking, panelling)
Choose Meranti Red Lauan if…
- Weight matters — ceilings, wall panels, transport
- Its profile matches the application better than a single overall score
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, European Larch or Meranti Red Lauan?
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?
European Larch — outdoor performance combines decay durability with dimensional stability, and it leads on that combination.
Is European Larch harder than Meranti Red Lauan?
No — Meranti Red Lauan is harder (Janka 800 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.