Home / Wood Compare / Sal vs Keruing
Professional Comparison · Source-attributed engineering data · Updated 19 July 2026
Sal VS Keruing
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
🥇
Sal
71/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood🌧Outdoor💧Moisture Stable
- Higher durability (EN 350 Class 2 vs Class 3)
- Better dimensional stability (Good vs Moderate)
- Better flame-spread class (Class B vs Class C)
🥈
Keruing
39/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood
- Close second across most categories
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
SalKeruing
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Sal |
| Stability | Sal |
| Hardness | Sal |
| Strength (MOR) | Keruing |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Keruing |
| Flame spread | Sal |
| Machining ease | Keruing |
| Lightness | Keruing |
Engineering data
| Property | Sal | Keruing |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1340 lbf | 1270WD lbf |
| Density | 0.74 g/cm³ | 0.69FPL g/cm³ |
| MOE | 14.2 GPa | 14.5FPL GPa |
| MOR | 112.0 MPa | 113.0FPL MPa |
| Durability | Class 2 Durable | Class 3 Moderately Durable |
| Stability | Good | Moderate |
| Fire (E84) | Class B indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 4 % | 5.2WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 7.5 % | 10.9WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.88 | 2.1 |
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 | 🥇 Sal | ★★★★☆ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Sal | ★★★☆☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Sal | ★★★☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Sal | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Keruing | ★★★★☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Sal
Advantages relative to Keruing
- Durability is Class 2 vs Class 3 — one class more durable in exterior and moderate-exposure service
- Fire (E84) is Class B vs Class C — one class better on flame-spread rating
Limitations relative to Keruing
Keruing
Advantages relative to Sal
Limitations relative to Sal
- Durability is Class 3 vs Class 2 — one class less durable in exterior service
- Fire (E84) is Class C vs Class B — one class lower on flame-spread rating
Recommendation
Choose Sal if…
- The end use is beams, pillars, railway sleepers, bridges or heavy house construction where a Class 2 durability rating and Class B fire class both matter
- Marine or hydraulic-engineering work where a durability margin over Class 3 species is worth having
Choose Keruing if…
- Truck and trailer flooring (the timber's signature apitong application) or industrial flooring where the harder wear profile is the deciding factor rather than durability class
- Boardwalks, bridges, railway crossties (treated) and pallets where Class 3 durability is acceptable when specified with appropriate treatment
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Sal or Keruing?
Sal — it carries the better EN 350 rating (Class 2 vs Class 3). Lower class numbers mean higher natural durability.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
Sal — outdoor performance combines decay durability with dimensional stability, and it leads on that combination.
Is Sal harder than Keruing?
Yes — Janka 1340 lbf vs 1270 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.