Silver Birch VS Mango Wood
- Stronger in bending (MOR 114.3 vs 88.5 MPa)
- Better flame-spread class (Class B vs Class C)
- Easier to machine and fasten
- Lighter (0.51 vs 0.61 g/cm³)
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
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 | Silver Birch |
| Strength (MOR) | Silver Birch |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Silver Birch |
| Flame spread | Silver Birch |
| Machining ease | Mango Wood |
| Lightness | Mango Wood |
Engineering data
| Property | Silver Birch | Mango Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1210WD lbf | 1070WD lbf |
| Density | 0.61WD g/cm³ | 0.51WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 14.0WD GPa | 11.53WD GPa |
| MOR | 114.3WD MPa | 88.5WD MPa |
| Durability | Class 5 Not Durable | Class 5 Not Durable |
| Stability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Fire (E84) | Class B indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 5.3 % | 3.6WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 7.8 % | 5.5WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.47 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Silver Birch | ★★★☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Mango Wood | ★★★★☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Silver Birch | ★★★★☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Silver Birch
Advantages relative to Mango Wood
- MOR is 114.3 MPa vs 88.5 MPa, about 29% higher
- MOE is 14.0 GPa vs 11.5 GPa, about 22% higher
- Fire (E84) is Class B vs Class C — one class better on flame-spread rating
Limitations relative to Mango Wood
Mango Wood
Advantages relative to Silver Birch
Limitations relative to Silver Birch
- MOR is 88.5 MPa vs 114.3 MPa, about 23% lower
- MOE is 11.5 GPa vs 14.0 GPa, about 18% lower
- Fire (E84) is Class C vs Class B — one class lower on flame-spread rating
Recommendation
Choose Silver Birch if…
- Flooring, doors, cabinets and interior joinery where the higher bending strength, stiffness and Class B fire class all matter in specification and the shared Class 5 durability keeps the use to interior service
- Plywood, veneer and turned parts where the stiffer core matters in the assembly
Choose Mango Wood if…
- Furniture (the timber's dominant use in India), cabinetry and joinery, kitchenware and chopping boards where the working properties are sufficient and the Class 5 durability suits the interior use
- Plywood and veneer, turned objects and carving, musical instruments where the documented Indian hardwood role is what the project is specifying
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Silver Birch or Mango Wood?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 5, Not Durable). For outdoor work the separation is movement, not decay: Mango Wood moves 5.5% tangentially against 7.8%, which decides board width and fixing spacing more than the durability class does.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
Both are EN 350 Class 5, and tangential movement runs 7.8% for Silver Birch against 5.5% for Mango Wood — close enough that decay resistance will not choose between them, and Mango Wood holds its dimension marginally better. Silver Birch gives the harder wearing surface at 1,210 lbf; Mango Wood is the lighter section at 0.51 g/cm³ — traffic favours the first, cladding and handling the second.
Is Silver Birch harder than Mango Wood?
Yes — Janka 1210 lbf vs 1070 lbf.