Ipe Lapacho VS African Blackwood
- Leads on stiffness, hardness, lightness — a narrow but consistent edge
- Close second across most categories
- 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) | African Blackwood |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Ipe Lapacho |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Tie |
| Lightness | Tie |
Engineering data
| Property | Ipe Lapacho | African Blackwood |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 3680WD lbf | 3670WD lbf |
| Density | 0.92FPL g/cm³ | 0.98WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 22.0FPL GPa | 17.95WD GPa |
| MOR | 177.0FPL MPa | 213.0WD MPa |
| Durability | Class 1 Very Durable | Class 1 Very Durable |
| Stability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Fire (E84) | Class A indicative | Class A indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 6.6WD % | 2.9WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 8WD % | 4.8WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.21 | 1.66 |
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 | 🥇 Ipe Lapacho | ★★★★★ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Ipe Lapacho | ★★★★☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Ipe Lapacho | ★★★★★ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 African Blackwood | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Ipe Lapacho | ★★★★★ |
Advantages & limitations
Ipe Lapacho
Advantages relative to African Blackwood
- MOE is 22 GPa vs 17.9 GPa, about 23% higher
Limitations relative to African Blackwood
- MOR is 177 MPa vs 213 MPa, about 17% lower
- Radial shrinkage 6.6% vs 2.9% and tangential 8.0% vs 4.8% — much greater movement on both axes
African Blackwood
Advantages relative to Ipe Lapacho
- MOR is 213 MPa vs 177 MPa, about 20% higher
- Radial shrinkage 2.9% vs 6.6% and tangential 4.8% vs 8.0% — much less movement in service
Limitations relative to Ipe Lapacho
- MOE is 17.9 GPa vs 22 GPa, about 19% lower
Recommendation
Choose Ipe Lapacho if…
- The application is outdoor structural — decking, boardwalks, pool surrounds, or high-traffic exterior flooring
- Higher stiffness (MOE) matters for the structural element
Choose African Blackwood if…
- The application is precision specialty work — woodwind instruments, guitar fingerboards, or chess pieces
- Dimensional stability is critical for a piece that must hold tight tolerances — instrument bores, inlay, or turned objects
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Ipe Lapacho or African Blackwood?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 1, Very Durable). For outdoor work the separation is movement, not decay: African Blackwood moves 4.8% tangentially against 8.0%, 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 8.0% for Ipe Lapacho against 4.8% for African Blackwood — close enough that decay resistance will not choose between them, and African Blackwood holds its dimension marginally better. Hardness is effectively level (3,680 vs 3,670 lbf), so choose on weight.
Is Ipe Lapacho harder than African Blackwood?
Yes — Janka 3680 lbf vs 3670 lbf.