There’s just something in human nature that likes to see things ordered and ranked: we want a champion
Maybe, maybe not; but we need finality, we need separation, we need a champion
With this inner urge in mind, I’ve put together a top ten list of the hardest woods in the world
Note that the density of wood can vary by an average of plus or minus 10% between samples (called the coefficient of variation), so it’s entirely possible that a sample of wood ranked tenth on this list could easily weigh more than a sample of wood ranked first on to this list
Some of these species weigh, on the average, only a few tenths of a pound per cubic foot more than their nearest rivals: surely no final rank should be inferred from the list
But regardless, we want someone to take home the gold medal – we need a crowned champion – so here are the ten hardest woods in the world:
Sometimes called Argentine Lignum Vitae, this wood is a gem: inexpensive, brilliant olive-green color, beautiful feathery grain pattern, and needs a great natural polish on the lathe
(Dalbergia cearensis)
Kingwood is said to be named after several French kings (Louis XIV and Louis XV) who favored the wood in fine furniture
This tree is a favorite among hobbyists
Too small to be a viable timber, the colorful grain and high density of this wood are limited to small specialty projects
It’s easy to see what makes Snakewood so unique – its patterns and markings resemble the skin of a snake
Limited supply and high demand make this forest one of the most expensive in the world!
Another extremely hard African tree, the name says it all
Leadwood is rarely seen for sale and is said to be protected in South Africa – a very elusive tree
From the Spanish “quebrar hacha”, which literally means “axe breaker” Aptly named, Schinopsis wood is among the heaviest and hardest in the world
Widely accepted as the heaviest tree in the world – this tree is listed as an endangered species and is listed in CITES
Consider Verawood as a very close substitute
(Dalbergia melanoxylon)
In some parts of the world, this tree has achieved almost legendary status
Historical evidence indicates that this wood (not Diospyros spp) was the original “ebony”
This small South American tree could be considered a super mesquite
Related to mesquite, it is very dark, very thick and very hard; good substitute for ebony
Black Ironwood
845 lbs/ft3 (1355 kg/m3)
845 lbs/ft3 (1355 kg/m3)
845 lbs/ft3 (1355 kg/m3)
845 lbs/ft3 (1355 kg/m3)
845 lbs/ft3 (1355 kg/m3)
845 lbs/ft3 (1355 kg/m3)
845 lbs/ft3 (1355 kg/m3)
845 lbs/ft3 (1355 kg/m3)
845 lbs/ft3 (1355 kg/m3)
845 lbs/ft3 (1355 kg/m3)
Pieces are rarely seen for sale, as this wood is too small to produce commercially viable lumber
Like the unrelated Desert Ironwood, Black Ironwood is an excellent choice for small turning projects
Water weighs 623 pounds per cubic foot at room temperature (70 degrees F), so all of the above woods will easily sink in water
Density charts are for wood with a dry weight of 12% moisture content
There are probably a variety of obscure shrubs and small trees that produce wood that can be quite hard, but most woodworkers simply don’t see them in use, nor are they reliably documented in woodworking publications
The ten best forests you’ve never heard of
Top ten hardest woods
Are you an aspiring wood geek?
The poster, Worldwide Woods, Ranked by Hardness, should be required reading for anyone enrolled in wood geek school
I have collected over 500 types of wood on one poster, distributed in eight large geographical regions, with each wood sorted and ranked according to Jank hardness
Each wood is meticulously documented and photographed, listed with its Janka hardness value (in lbf) and geographic and global hardness rankings
Consider this: The venerable Red Oak (Quercus rubra) ranks only 33rd in North America and 278th in the world in hardness!
Aspiring wood geeks be advised: your curriculum may require Worldwide Woods as part of your next assignment!
List View Closer View: More on the heaviest woods Black Ironwood– 845 lbs/ft3 Itin (Caranda)– 796 lbs/ft3 African Blackwood– 793 lbs/ft3 Lignum Vitae– 785 lbs/ft3 Que785 lbs/ft3 Que7 lbs/ft3Snakewood – 757 lbs/ft3Desert Ironwood– 754 lbs/ft3Kingwood– 749 lbs/ft3Verawood– 744 lbs/ft3 Final ThoughtsFurther Reading
One of the main deciding aspects on the type of wood to use can sometimes rely on its weight
Because wood has a molecular structure like a sponge, its weight can vary depending on whether it is green, meaning it still holds a lot of water
According to their average pounds per cubic foot, the following list identifies the 10 heaviest woods in the world
Related post: Top 10 hardest woods in the world
List view
As Black Ironwood tops the list, it’s also important to shed some light on the next hardest woods
So, here are the ten hardest types of wood in the world
Heaviest Name WoodWood Weight per cubic foot (lbs/ft3) #1Black Ironwood845#2Itin796#3African Blackwood793#4Lignum vitae785#5Quebracho771#6Leadwood 758#7Snakewood 8K75 #10Verawood744
A closer look: More about the hardest forests
In the list below, some of the hardest woods in the world are further described
They are listed in descending order from hardest to easiest
Black Ironwood – 845 lbs/ft3
It’s no wonder that black iron is at the top of the list because most types of wood called “ironwood” are so dense
As a result, handling them is comparable to working with metal, and they often sink in water instead of floating like most wood
Furthermore, black iron wood also originates from wood that is considered small
Therefore, the wood materials that can be used are usually much smaller and are only useful for smaller projects
Because of its size and suitability for large projects, this wood is one of the few on this list that is rarely sold commercially
Itin (Caranda) – 796 lbs/ft3
One of the hardwoods at the top of the list of heaviest woods is Itin, also called karanda
It weighs 796 lbs/ft3
The type of wood belongs to mesquite and when working with this wood gives a pleasant smell
Because of its deep dark color and texture, this wood is often suggested as a substitute for traditional ebony
Itin mainly grows in South America, and is more commonly available than some of the other species on this list and not listed
It is often used in flooring, cabinetry and furniture projects
African Blackwood – 793 lbs/ft3
Third on the list is 793 lbs/ft3
As the African blackwood mainly lives in the savannah, it gives woodworkers great workability
The reason for this is that it is more similar to metal in handling than to other types of wood
It is often used to make musical instruments, and when it is turned rather than cut, it has much better results
Lignum Vitae – 785 lbs/ft3
Lignum vitae ranks fourth and is among the heaviest woods, weighing 785 lbs/ft3
This wood has a high natural oil content, which makes it naturally polished to a high gloss and excellent for outdoor applications due to its high rot resistance
Quebracho – 771 lbs/ft3
As with the hardwoods mentioned above, Quebracho is very difficult to work with
It ranks fifth on the list with a recorded weight of 771 lbs/ft3
When imported, Quebracho can cost significantly more than other species and is not readily available in the United States
Leadwood – 758 lbs/ft3
This South African wood is popular for its considerable weight (758 lbs/ft3) and density
Its sapwood is light yellow and its heartwood is a solid medium to dark brown (occasionally with a reddish tinge) that is known to darken with age
There are frequent knots in the grains, which can be straight or wavy
Snakewood – 757 lbs/ft3
One of the most aesthetically distinct exotic woods in the world is Snakewood, which juts out
Its regular patterns of deeper brown or black spots, reminiscent of snake skin, cover a muted light brown color with yellow, orange or red hues
The wood has a delicate texture and is even-grained
Whenever working with Snakewood, cutting blades should be at their sharpest
Despite the demanding performance characteristics, it turns and finishes quite well; accepts a high polish and exhibits an excellent natural shine
Desert Ironwood – 754 lbs/ft3
It is one of the most ecologically and economically important plant species in the region
Kingwood – 749 lbs/ft3
The heart of this type of wood is a mixture of purple and rose with white sapwood
Since wide or long materials are not usually available, they are best used for musical instrument components, knife handles, sticks and inlays
Verawood – 744 lbs/ft3
Verawood is a huge, tropical, evergreen tree that spreads into a rounded shape
Each flower has five spherical, spatula-shaped petals that vary in color from yellow to golden-orange
Meanwhile, it has a capsule-like fruit that develops after flowering
There are more things to uncover because wood is so useful in so many ways
It is very important because it provides materials for any building project and gives learning and knowledge to build the mind
You can visit them all and marvel at how powerful the tree becomes
Wood 101: Everything you need to know about wood species
Help is here: Inspection of wood contamination and application of the best solutions
Increase your knowledge: wood facts
Types of wood
A comparison of American hardwoods, softwoods, and tropical hardwoods
Wood products are known for their natural beauty, but when choosing a type of wood for your next cabinetry, flooring, furniture or millwork project, it’s important to consider the level of durability by understanding the difference between wood types
Each type and species of wood has an individual cellular structure that creates unique physical properties that determine suitability for different uses
For example, the hardness of wood varies widely, so certain types of hardwood are not recommended for flooring because they are not strong enough to withstand heavy wear and tear
The following offers a brief comparison of American hardwoods, softwoods, and the often misused tropical hardwoods and their respective applications:
Hardwoods are deciduous trees that have broad leaves, bear fruit or nuts, and are mostly dormant in winter
The forests of North America grow hundreds of species that thrive in temperate climates, including species of oak, ash, cherry, maple, and poplar
Each species can be made into durable, long-lasting furniture, cabinetry, flooring and millwork, and each offers unique marks with variations in grain pattern, texture and color
Widely available softwood trees in the US include cedar, fir, hemlock, pine, redwood, and spruce
In the home, softwoods are primarily used as structural lumber such as 2x4s and 2x6s, with limited decorative use
Tropical hardwoods, including mahogany, rosewood, teak and wenge – are not native to North America
They grow in the tropical forests of the world and must be imported for domestic use
While some tropical hardwoods can be used for interior applications, including flooring, the color, grain pattern, hardness, and luster of many imported woods differ from those of American hardwoods
For more information on non-native species, see the article “Don’t be fooled”
When in doubt about the type of wood to choose for your cabinetry, flooring, furniture or millwork project, check out the Janka grading system, which measures the relative hardness of the wood
The hardest commercially available hardwood is hickory, and it is five times harder than aspen, one of the “soft” hardwoods
And while this example lists only a few of the most popular hardwood species, there are hundreds of varieties that represent the North American hardwood population
Since hardness is an important factor, and hardness varies for each species, the Janka hardness scale is an excellent tool for identifying appropriate choices
Species
Hard Maple
Red oak
Black walnut
Yellow poplar