Hard Maple VS Rubber Wood
- Harder wear surface (Janka 1450 vs 960 lbf)
- Stronger in bending (MOR 109.0 vs 71.9 MPa)
- Better flame-spread class (Class B vs Class C)
- Easier to machine and fasten
- Lighter (0.55 vs 0.63 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 | Hard Maple |
| Strength (MOR) | Hard Maple |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Hard Maple |
| Flame spread | Hard Maple |
| Machining ease | Rubber Wood |
| Lightness | Rubber Wood |
Engineering data
| Property | Hard Maple | Rubber Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1450WD lbf | 960WD lbf |
| Density | 0.63FPL g/cm³ | 0.55WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 12.6FPL GPa | 9.1WD GPa |
| MOR | 109.0FPL MPa | 71.9WD MPa |
| Durability | Class 5 Not Durable | Class 5 Not Durable |
| Stability | Moderate | Moderate |
| Fire (E84) | Class B indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 4.8WD % | 2.3WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 9.9WD % | 5.1WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 2.06 | 2.22 |
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 | 🥇 Hard Maple | ★★★☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Rubber Wood | ★★★☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Hard Maple | ★★★☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Hard Maple
Advantages relative to Rubber Wood
- Janka is 1,450 lbf vs 960 lbf, about 51% harder
- MOR is 109 MPa vs 71.9 MPa, about 52% higher
- MOE is 12.6 GPa vs 9.1 GPa, about 38% higher
- Fire (E84) is Class B vs Class C — one class better on flame-spread rating
Limitations relative to Rubber Wood
Rubber Wood
Advantages relative to Hard Maple
Limitations relative to Hard Maple
- Janka is 960 lbf vs 1,450 lbf, about 34% lower
- MOR is 71.9 MPa vs 109 MPa, about 34% lower
- MOE is 9.1 GPa vs 12.6 GPa, about 28% lower
- Fire (E84) is Class C vs Class B — one class lower on flame-spread rating
Recommendation
Choose Hard Maple if…
- Sports and gymnasium flooring (a signature application), butcher blocks and cutting boards where the higher hardness, stiffness and Class B fire class all matter in specification
- Kitchen cabinets, worktops, stairs and mouldings where the harder, stronger interior hardwood is what the piece needs
Choose Rubber Wood if…
- Interior furniture (the timber's dominant use — tables, chairs, bed frames, cabinets), kitchenware and cutting boards where the working properties are sufficient and the interior use suits the shared Class 5 durability
- Plywood and panel cores, blockboard, and pallets and crates where the utility hardwood profile is what the project is specifying
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Hard Maple or Rubber Wood?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 5, Not Durable). For outdoor work the separation is movement, not decay: Rubber Wood moves 5.1% tangentially against 9.9%, 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 5, and tangential movement runs 9.9% for Hard Maple against 5.1% for Rubber Wood — close enough that decay resistance will not choose between them, and Rubber Wood holds its dimension marginally better. Hard Maple gives the harder wearing surface at 1,450 lbf; Rubber Wood is the lighter section at 0.55 g/cm³ — traffic favours the first, cladding and handling the second.
Is Hard Maple harder than Rubber Wood?
Yes — Janka 1450 lbf vs 960 lbf.