North America
White oak
Quercus alba
Light to medium brown with prominent rays, especially on quartersawn faces.
1,350 lbf · Janka hardness
Flooring · Furniture · Joinery
The hardwood reference
Hardwood species library
Start with the wood. Understand its properties, practical uses and the sourcing questions that matter before you choose a supplier.
A species is not inherently certified. Certification applies to a documented supply chain and the claim on a particular product. Janka values are typical indentation resistance in lbf, not structural design values; durability refers to heartwood, not sapwood. CITES notes are a starting point, not legal advice. Confirm suitability with your supplier and designer.
37 of 37 species · select up to 3 to compare
North America
Red oak
Quercus rubra
Light to medium reddish brown with a coarse, open grain and less ray figure than white oak.
1,220 lbf · Janka hardness
Flooring · Furniture · Cabinetry
North America
Hard maple
Acer saccharum
Cream-colored sapwood with a fine, even texture; heartwood is darker.
1,450 lbf · Janka hardness
Flooring · Furniture · Cabinetry
North America
Soft maple
Acer rubrum
Pale, fine-textured wood similar to hard maple but usually with more color streaking.
950 lbf · Janka hardness
Furniture · Cabinetry · Millwork
North America
Black walnut
Juglans nigra
Chocolate-brown heartwood with pale sapwood; color varies and can lighten with exposure.
1,010 lbf · Janka hardness
Furniture · Cabinetry · Veneer
North America
Black cherry
Prunus serotina
Pinkish brown when freshly cut, deepening to a reddish brown with light and age.
950 lbf · Janka hardness
Furniture · Cabinetry · Veneer
North America
White ash
Fraxinus americana
Pale to light-brown wood with open pores and a pronounced grain pattern.
1,320 lbf · Janka hardness
Flooring · Furniture · Joinery
North America
Yellow birch
Betula alleghaniensis
Light reddish-brown heartwood with nearly white sapwood and a fine, even texture.
1,260 lbf · Janka hardness
Furniture · Cabinetry · Plywood
North America
American beech
Fagus grandifolia
Pale cream to pinkish brown with small, distinctive ray flecks.
1,300 lbf · Janka hardness
Furniture · Flooring · Turnery
North America
Hickory / pecan
Carya illinoinensis
Marked contrast between light sapwood and reddish-brown heartwood, often sold as a rustic mix.
1,820 lbf · Janka hardness
Flooring · Tool handles · Cabinetry
North America
Yellow poplar
Liriodendron tulipifera
Cream to yellowish-brown with occasional green or purple mineral streaks.
540 lbf · Janka hardness
Millwork · Painted cabinetry · Furniture frames
North America
Black locust
Robinia pseudoacacia
Pale greenish-yellow when fresh, ageing to a russet brown.
1,700 lbf · Janka hardness
Decking · Exterior furniture · Posts
North America
American elm
Ulmus americana
Light to medium reddish brown with a coarse texture and distinctive wavy grain.
830 lbf · Janka hardness
Furniture · Bent parts · Veneer
North America
Butternut
Juglans cinerea
Light tan to medium brown with a grain pattern resembling walnut.
490 lbf · Janka hardness
Carving · Furniture · Interior panelling
North America
American sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
Pale reddish brown; quartersawn faces show pronounced lace-like fleck.
770 lbf · Janka hardness
Furniture · Veneer · Interior joinery
Europe
European oak
Quercus robur
Light to medium brown with prominent rays; often more variable in color than American white oak.
1,120 lbf · Janka hardness
Flooring · Joinery · Furniture
Europe
European beech
Fagus sylvatica
Pale cream, turning pinkish after steaming; fine, even texture with small ray flecks.
1,450 lbf · Janka hardness
Furniture · Chairs · Flooring
Africa
Sapele
Entandrophragma cylindricum
Reddish brown, often with ribbon-like figure on quartersawn boards.
1,360 lbf · Janka hardness
Joinery · Furniture · Veneer
Africa
CITES IIAfrican mahogany
Khaya spp.
Pale pink to reddish brown, sometimes with ribbon figure.
850 lbf · Janka hardness
Joinery · Furniture · Boatbuilding
Africa
Iroko
Milicia excelsa
Yellow to golden brown, darkening to a deep brown with exposure.
1,190 lbf · Janka hardness
Exterior joinery · Decking · Benchtops
Africa
CITES IIAfrormosia
Pericopsis elata
Yellowish brown, darkening on exposure; fine texture.
1,570 lbf · Janka hardness
Exterior joinery · Flooring · Furniture
Africa
Wenge
Millettia laurentii
Very dark brown with fine near-black streaks; coarse texture.
1,930 lbf · Janka hardness
Flooring · Furniture · Veneer
Africa
Zebrawood
Microberlinia brazzavillensis
Pale golden yellow with dark brown to black stripes.
1,830 lbf · Janka hardness
Veneer · Furniture · Decorative panels
Africa
African padauk
Pterocarpus soyauxii
Vivid orange-red when fresh, ageing to a deep reddish brown.
1,710 lbf · Janka hardness
Flooring · Furniture · Turnery
Africa
CITES IIBubinga
Guibourtia spp.
Pinkish red to reddish brown with darker purple or black streaks.
2,410 lbf · Janka hardness
Veneer · Furniture · Musical instruments
Asia
Teak
Tectona grandis
Golden to medium brown, often darkening with age; typically straight-grained.
1,070 lbf · Janka hardness
Exterior furniture · Joinery · Marine
Asia
Merbau
Intsia spp.
Yellowish to orange brown, darkening to a deep reddish brown.
1,840 lbf · Janka hardness
Decking · Flooring · Exterior joinery
Asia-Pacific
Jarrah
Eucalyptus marginata
Rich red to reddish brown, darkening with age.
1,860 lbf · Janka hardness
Decking · Flooring · Furniture
Latin America
CITES IIIpe
Handroanthus spp.
Olive to dark brown, with a fine to medium texture and variable grain.
3,490 lbf · Janka hardness
Decking · Flooring · Exterior furniture
Latin America
CITES IICumaru
Dipteryx odorata
Medium to dark brown with a reddish or purplish hue and wavy grain.
3,330 lbf · Janka hardness
Decking · Flooring · Exterior structures
Latin America
Jatoba
Hymenaea courbaril
Salmon red to orange brown, deepening to a rich reddish brown.
2,690 lbf · Janka hardness
Flooring · Furniture · Tool handles
Latin America
CITES IIGenuine mahogany
Swietenia macrophylla
Pinkish to reddish brown, darkening with age; may show ribbon or mottled figure.
900 lbf · Janka hardness
Furniture · Boatbuilding · Musical instruments
Latin America
CITES IISpanish cedar
Cedrela odorata
Light pinkish to reddish brown with a distinctive cedar-like scent.
600 lbf · Janka hardness
Humidors · Exterior joinery · Boatbuilding
Latin America
Santos mahogany
Myroxylon balsamum
Orange to purplish brown, darkening to a deep reddish brown.
2,400 lbf · Janka hardness
Flooring · Furniture · Exterior work
Latin America
Garapa
Apuleia leiocarpa
Pale golden yellow to light brown, fine texture.
1,650 lbf · Janka hardness
Decking · Flooring · Exterior joinery
Latin America
Purpleheart
Peltogyne spp.
Dull greyish purple when cut, turning vivid purple then dark brown with exposure.
2,520 lbf · Janka hardness
Flooring · Furniture · Exterior structures
Latin America
CITES IICocobolo
Dalbergia retusa
Orange to reddish brown with dramatic dark streaks; darkens with age.
2,960 lbf · Janka hardness
Turnery · Knife handles · Musical instruments
37 commercially significant hardwoods across five regions, including every CITES-listed timber commonly offered to buyers. Reference values checked 18 September 2026 against The Wood Database; each profile links to its source. Availability and price must be confirmed with suppliers.