Home / Wood Compare / Neem vs Mango Wood
Professional Comparison · Source-attributed engineering data · Updated 19 July 2026
Neem VS Mango Wood
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
🥇
Neem
34/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood🌧Outdoor💧Moisture Stable🌿Sustainable
- Higher durability (EN 350 Class 2 vs Class 5)
- Harder wear surface (Janka 1460 vs 1070 lbf)
🥈
Mango Wood
29/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood💧Moisture Stable🌿Sustainable
- Easier to machine and fasten
- Lighter (0.51 vs 0.68 g/cm³)
- More stable in service
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
NeemMango Wood
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Neem |
| Stability | Mango Wood |
| Hardness | Neem |
| Strength (MOR) | Mango Wood |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Mango Wood |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Mango Wood |
| Lightness | Mango Wood |
Engineering data
| Property | Neem | Mango Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1460 lbf | 1070WD lbf |
| Density | 0.68 g/cm³ | 0.51WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 7.8 GPa | 11.53WD GPa |
| MOR | 78.0 MPa | 88.5WD MPa |
| Durability | Class 2 Durable | Class 5 Not Durable |
| Stability | Good | Excellent |
| Fire (E84) | Class C indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 3.4 % | 3.6WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 6.2 % | 5.5WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.82 | 1.53 |
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 | 🥇 Neem | ★★★★☆ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Neem | ★★★☆☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Neem | ★★★★☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Mango Wood | ★★★★☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Mango Wood | ★★☆☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Neem
Advantages relative to Mango Wood
- Janka is 1,460 lbf vs 1,070 lbf, about 36% harder
- Durability is Class 2 vs Class 5 — three classes more durable in exterior and moderate-exposure service
Limitations relative to Mango Wood
- MOE is 7.8 GPa vs 11.5 GPa, about 32% lower
Mango Wood
Advantages relative to Neem
- MOE is 11.5 GPa vs 7.8 GPa, about 47% higher
Limitations relative to Neem
- Janka is 1,070 lbf vs 1,460 lbf, about 27% lower
- Durability is Class 5 vs Class 2 — three classes less durable, limiting the use to interior service
Recommendation
Choose Neem if…
- Light construction, beams, door and window frames, posts and fencing where the Class 2 durability rating is worth having and the higher hardness matters in service
- Furniture (wardrobes, bookcases, closets), flooring and panelling where the durability-plus-hardness combination is the specification
Choose Mango Wood if…
- Furniture (the timber's dominant use in India), cabinetry and joinery, kitchenware and chopping boards where the higher stiffness matters and the Class 5 durability limits the use to interior service
- Musical instruments, plywood and veneer, and turned objects where the stiffer working properties are the deciding factor
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Neem or Mango Wood?
Neem — it carries the better EN 350 rating (Class 2 vs Class 5). Lower class numbers mean higher natural durability.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
Neem — outdoor performance combines decay durability with dimensional stability, and it leads on that combination.
Is Neem harder than Mango Wood?
Yes — Janka 1460 lbf vs 1070 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.