Home / Wood Compare / Massaranduba vs Spotted Gum
Professional Comparison · Source-attributed engineering data · Updated 19 July 2026
Massaranduba VS Spotted Gum
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
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Massaranduba
99/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood🌧Outdoor🔥Low Flame Spread💧Moisture Stable
- Higher durability (EN 350 Class 1 vs Class 2)
- Harder wear surface (Janka 3130 vs 2473 lbf)
- Stronger in bending (MOR 192.2 vs 137.0 MPa)
- Better flame-spread class (Class A vs Class B)
🥈
Spotted Gum
86/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood🌧Outdoor💧Moisture Stable
- Close second across most categories
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
MassarandubaSpotted Gum
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Massaranduba |
| Stability | Tie |
| Hardness | Tie |
| Strength (MOR) | Massaranduba |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Massaranduba |
| Flame spread | Massaranduba |
| Machining ease | Tie |
| Lightness | Tie |
Engineering data
| Property | Massaranduba | Spotted Gum |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 3130WD lbf | 2473WD lbf |
| Density | 0.85WD g/cm³ | 0.85WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 23.0WD GPa | 20.0WD GPa |
| MOR | 192.2WD MPa | 137.0WD MPa |
| Durability | Class 1 Very Durable | Class 2 Durable |
| Stability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Fire (E84) | Class A indicative | Class B indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 6.7WD % | 4WS % |
| Tangential Shrink | 9.4WD % | 6WS % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.4 | 1.5 |
Figures carry the same source status as the species pages they come from — verified where cited, indicative where marked.
Best for
| Application | Recommended | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor decking / pergola | 🥇 Massaranduba | ★★★★★ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Massaranduba | ★★★★☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Massaranduba | ★★★★★ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Spotted Gum | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Massaranduba | ★★★★★ |
Advantages & limitations
Massaranduba
Advantages relative to Spotted Gum
- Janka is 3,130 lbf vs 2,473 lbf, about 27% harder
- MOR is 192.2 MPa vs 137 MPa, about 40% higher
- MOE is 23.0 GPa vs 20.0 GPa, about 15% higher
- Durability is Class 1 vs Class 2 — one class more durable in exterior and ground-contact service
- Fire (E84) is Class A vs Class B — one class better on flame-spread rating
Limitations relative to Spotted Gum
Spotted Gum
Advantages relative to Massaranduba
Limitations relative to Massaranduba
- Janka is 2,473 lbf vs 3,130 lbf, about 21% lower
- MOR is 137 MPa vs 192.2 MPa, about 29% lower
- MOE is 20.0 GPa vs 23.0 GPa, about 13% lower
- Durability is Class 2 vs Class 1 — one class less durable
- Fire (E84) is Class B vs Class A — one class lower on flame-spread rating
Recommendation
Choose Massaranduba if…
- Marine and mine timbers, heavy construction, bridges and boat frames where the top-tier hardness, bending strength, Class 1 durability and Class A fire class all matter in specification
- Heavy-traffic decking and commercial flooring where the documented extreme service profile is what the piece must deliver
Choose Spotted Gum if…
- Decking, cladding and flooring, structural framing, posts and poles where the working properties are sufficient and the Class 2 durability is acceptable for the exposure
- Engineering work including wharves, bridges, railway sleepers and cross-arms, fine furniture, feature walls and charred cladding where the documented Spotted Gum role is what the project is specifying
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Massaranduba or Spotted Gum?
Massaranduba — it carries the better EN 350 rating (Class 1 vs Class 2). Lower class numbers mean higher natural durability.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
Massaranduba — outdoor performance combines decay durability with dimensional stability, and it leads on that combination.
Is Massaranduba harder than Spotted Gum?
Yes — Janka 3130 lbf vs 2473 lbf.
How we score. The Library Scores are percentile ranks against the other 59 species we cover — durability and stability carry the most weight, and no price data enters the calculation. Full weighting and what it excludes.