Home / Wood Compare / Merbau vs Shisham Sissoo
Professional Comparison · Source-attributed engineering data · Updated 19 July 2026
Merbau VS Shisham Sissoo
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
🥇
Merbau
84/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood🌧Outdoor💧Moisture Stable
- Higher durability (EN 350 Class 1 vs Class 2)
- Stronger in bending (MOR 116.0 vs 97.5 MPa)
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Shisham Sissoo
52/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood🌧Outdoor💧Moisture Stable
- Close second across most categories
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
MerbauShisham Sissoo
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Merbau |
| Stability | Tie |
| Hardness | Merbau |
| Strength (MOR) | Merbau |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Merbau |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Tie |
| Lightness | Merbau |
Engineering data
| Property | Merbau | Shisham Sissoo |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1712WD lbf | 1660WD lbf |
| Density | 0.74FPL g/cm³ | 0.75WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 15.4FPL GPa | 10.4WD GPa |
| MOR | 116.0FPL MPa | 97.5WD MPa |
| Durability | Class 1 Very Durable | Class 2 Durable |
| Stability | Good | Good |
| Fire (E84) | Class B indicative | Class B indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 2.7WD % | 3.1WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 4.6WD % | 5.3WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.7 | 1.71 |
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 | 🥇 Merbau | ★★★★☆ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Merbau | ★★★★☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Merbau | ★★★★☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Shisham Sissoo | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Merbau | ★★★★☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Merbau
Advantages relative to Shisham Sissoo
- MOR is 116 MPa vs 97.5 MPa, about 19% higher
- MOE is 15.4 GPa vs 10.4 GPa, about 48% higher
- Durability is Class 1 vs Class 2 — one class more durable in exterior and ground-contact service
Limitations relative to Shisham Sissoo
Shisham Sissoo
Advantages relative to Merbau
Limitations relative to Merbau
- MOR is 97.5 MPa vs 116 MPa, about 16% lower
- MOE is 10.4 GPa vs 15.4 GPa, about 32% lower
- Durability is Class 2 vs Class 1 — one class less durable in exterior service
Recommendation
Choose Merbau if…
- Interior flooring and exterior decking, outdoor furniture, pergolas and patios, boardwalks and bridges where the higher bending strength, stiffness and Class 1 durability all matter in specification and the shared Class B fire class is the baseline
- Boat building, heavy structural frameworks and industrial flooring where the exterior-grade profile is what the piece must deliver
Choose Shisham Sissoo if…
- Fine furniture and cabinetry, decorative veneer, doors, windows and interior joinery where the working properties are sufficient and the shisham figure and appearance are the aesthetic preference
- Musical instruments and sports goods (both documented on the species page), decorative carving and turnery where the documented shisham role is what the project is specifying
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Merbau or Shisham Sissoo?
Merbau — 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?
Merbau — outdoor performance combines decay durability with dimensional stability, and it leads on that combination.
Is Merbau harder than Shisham Sissoo?
Yes — Janka 1712 lbf vs 1660 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.