Home / Wood Compare / Sal vs Keruing
Professional Comparison · Verified 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
- Rated for exterior exposure (EN 350 Class 2)
Limitations
- Hard on tooling; pre-drilling recommended
- Heavy — consider structure and handling
Keruing
Advantages
Limitations
- Noticeable seasonal movement — allow for it in design
- Heavy — consider structure and handling
Recommendation
Choose Sal if…
- The project lives outdoors and service life is the priority
- You need minimal movement (doors, decking, panelling)
Choose Keruing if…
- Its profile matches the application better than a single overall score
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. Each wood gets a weighted composite of the verified figures shown above: durability 22%, stability 18%, hardness 12%, bending strength 12%, machining ease 12%, stiffness 8%, flame spread 8%, lightness 8%. The Library Score is that composite's percentile rank within our 60-species library — 50 means the library median, 90 means it outperforms nine of every ten species we cover. No price data is scored — cost guidance is qualitative. The score summarises the data; it does not replace judgement about your specific application.