Janka hardness ratings (lbf and newtons) for 60 timber species. The Janka test measures the force needed to embed a steel ball halfway into the wood — the industry standard for comparing wear resistance and denting.
Janka hardness predicts how well a floor, worktop, or stair tread resists dents and wear. A higher number means a harder surface. Most residential flooring sits between 1,000 and 2,000 lbf; species above 2,500 lbf are very hard and can be tougher to machine and nail. Hardness correlates with density but is not identical — grain and structure matter too.
| Species ↕ | Janka (lbf) ↕ | Janka (N) ↕ | Class ↕ | Specific Gravity ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lignum VitaeGuaiacum officinale | 4,390 | 19,526 | Hard | 1.05 |
| Ipe LapachoHandroanthus serratifolius | 3,680 | 16,368 | Hard | 0.92 |
| African BlackwoodDalbergia melanoxylon | 3,670 | 16,324 | Medium | 0.98 |
| CumaruDipteryx odorata | 3,540 | 15,745 | Medium | 0.87 |
| MassarandubaManilkara bidentata | 3,190 | 14,189 | Medium | 0.85 |
| Spotted GumCorymbia citriodora | 2,473 | 10,999 | Medium | 0.85 |
| Indian RosewoodDalbergia latifolia | 2,440 | 10,853 | Medium | 0.75 |
| EbonyDiospyros ebenum | 2,430 | 10,808 | Medium | 0.90 |
| JarrahEucalyptus marginata | 1,910 | 8,495 | Medium | 0.82 |
| BangkiraiShorea laevis | 1,798 | 7,997 | Medium | 0.85 |
| MerbauIntsia bijuga | 1,712 | 7,615 | Medium | 0.74 |
| BalauShorea spp. | 1,700 | 7,561 | Medium | 0.78 |
| Shisham SissooDalbergia sissoo | 1,660 | 7,383 | Medium | 0.75 |
| GarapaApuleia leiocarpa | 1,650 | 7,339 | Medium | 0.72 |
| WengeMillettia laurentii | 1,630 | 7,250 | Medium | 0.80 |
| SapeleEntandrophragma cylindricum | 1,510 | 6,716 | Medium | 0.62 |
| NeemAzadirachta indica | 1,460 | 6,494 | Medium | 0.68 |
| Hard MapleAcer saccharum | 1,450 | 6,449 | Medium | 0.63 |
| European BeechFagus sylvatica | 1,450 | 6,449 | Medium | 0.68 |
| Bamboo Structural EngineeredBambusa / Dendrocalamus spp. | 1,380 | 6,138 | Medium | 0.60 |
| Thermowood Pine ThermoDPinus sylvestris | 1,380 | 6,138 | Soft | 0.48 |
| SalShorea robusta | 1,340 | 5,960 | Medium | 0.74 |
| Thermowood Ash ThermoDFraxinus excelsior | 1,320 | 5,871 | Medium | 0.66 |
| White AshFraxinus americana | 1,320 | 5,871 | Medium | 0.60 |
| KeruingDipterocarpus spp. | 1,270 | 5,649 | Medium | 0.69 |
| Yellow BirchBetula alleghaniensis | 1,260 | 5,604 | Medium | 0.62 |
| IrokoMilicia excelsa | 1,260 | 5,604 | Medium | 0.55 |
| Thermowood Spruce ThermoDPicea abies | 1,230 | 5,471 | Medium | 0.45 |
| Thermowood Birch ThermoDBetula pubescens | 1,210 | 5,382 | Medium | 0.62 |
| Silver BirchBetula pendula | 1,210 | 5,382 | Medium | 0.61 |
| Thermowood Oak ThermoDQuercus robur | 1,120 | 4,981 | Medium | 0.68 |
| European OakQuercus robur | 1,120 | 4,981 | Medium | 0.67 |
| Thermowood Larch ThermoDLarix decidua | 1,100 | 4,892 | Medium | 0.55 |
| Thermowood Siberian Larch ThermoDLarix sibirica | 1,100 | 4,892 | Medium | 0.59 |
| TeakTectona grandis | 1,070 | 4,759 | Medium | 0.55 |
| Mango WoodMangifera indica | 1,070 | 4,759 | Medium | 0.51 |
| Burma Teak Premium GradeTectona grandis | 1,070 | 4,759 | Medium | 0.66 |
| African MahoganyKhaya ivorensis | 1,070 | 4,759 | Medium | 0.52 |
| Black WalnutJuglans nigra | 1,010 | 4,492 | Medium | 0.55 |
| Hinoki CypressChamaecyparis obtusa | 1,010 | 4,492 | Soft | 0.42 |
| Rubber WoodHevea brasiliensis | 960 | 4,270 | Soft | 0.55 |
| American CherryPrunus serotina | 950 | 4,225 | Medium | 0.50 |
| Southern Yellow PinePinus spp. (P. palustris, P. taeda) | 870 | 3,869 | Medium | 0.51 |
| Meranti Red LauanShorea spp. | 800 | 3,558 | Medium | 0.52 |
| Thermowood Radiata Pine ThermoDPinus radiata | 710 | 3,158 | Medium | 0.50 |
| Accoya Acetylated Radiata PinePinus radiata | 710 | 3,158 | Medium | 0.51 |
| Sweet ChestnutCastanea sativa | 680 | 3,024 | Medium | 0.56 |
| Douglas FirPseudotsuga menziesii | 620 | 2,757 | Medium | 0.48 |
| Deodar CedarCedrus deodara | 580 | 2,579 | Medium | 0.48 |
| Sugi Japanese CedarCryptomeria japonica | 580 | 2,579 | Soft | 0.38 |
| Western HemlockTsuga heterophylla | 540 | 2,401 | Medium | 0.45 |
| Scots PinePinus sylvestris | 540 | 2,401 | Medium | 0.49 |
| European LarchLarix decidua | 530 | 2,357 | Medium | 0.55 |
| Spruce-Pine-Fir SPFPicea / Pinus / Abies spp. | 510 | 2,268 | Medium | 0.42 |
| Hem-FirTsuga / Abies spp. | 500 | 2,224 | Soft | 0.45 |
| Kail Blue PinePinus wallichiana | 460 | 2,046 | Soft | 0.45 |
| Norway SprucePicea abies | 380 | 1,690 | Soft | 0.43 |
| Thermowood Western Red Cedar ThermoDThuja plicata | 350 | 1,556 | Medium | 0.38 |
| Western Red CedarThuja plicata | 350 | 1,556 | Soft | 0.32 |
| PaulowniaPaulownia tomentosa | 300 | 1,334 | Medium | 0.28 |
