Home / Wood Compare / Sal vs Neem
Professional Comparison · Verified Engineering Data · Updated 19 July 2026
Sal VS Neem
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
- Stronger in bending (MOR 112.0 vs 78.0 MPa)
- Better flame-spread class (Class B vs Class C)
🥈
Neem
34/100 Library Score
🪵Hardwood🌧Outdoor💧Moisture Stable🌿Sustainable
- Lighter (0.68 vs 0.74 g/cm³)
- Harder wear surface
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
SalNeem
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Tie |
| Stability | Tie |
| Hardness | Neem |
| Strength (MOR) | Sal |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Sal |
| Flame spread | Sal |
| Machining ease | Tie |
| Lightness | Neem |
Engineering data
| Property | Sal | Neem |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1340 lbf | 1460 lbf |
| Density | 0.74 g/cm³ | 0.68 g/cm³ |
| MOE | 14.2 GPa | 7.8 GPa |
| MOR | 112.0 MPa | 78.0 MPa |
| Durability | Class 2 Durable | Class 2 Durable |
| Stability | Good | Good |
| Fire (E84) | Class B indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 4 % | 3.4 % |
| Tangential Shrink | 7.5 % | 6.2 % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.88 | 1.82 |
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 | 🥇 Neem | ★★★☆☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Neem | ★★★★☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Sal | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Sal | ★★★★☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Sal
Advantages
- Rated for exterior exposure (EN 350 Class 2)
Limitations
- Hard on tooling; pre-drilling recommended
- Heavy — consider structure and handling
Neem
Advantages
- Rated for exterior exposure (EN 350 Class 2)
Limitations
- Hard on tooling; pre-drilling recommended
Recommendation
Choose Sal if…
- You want the stronger all-round engineering profile
Choose Neem if…
- Weight matters — ceilings, wall panels, transport
- You need the harder wear surface
- Its profile matches the application better than a single overall score
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Sal or Neem?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 2, Durable). For outdoor decisions between them, weigh dimensional stability and hardness instead.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
They are closely matched outdoors — durability and stability come out almost level. Let the application decide: harder surface for decking traffic, lighter weight for cladding.
Is Sal harder than Neem?
No — Neem is harder (Janka 1460 vs 1340 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.