
4397 State Route 9 • Warrensburg, New York 12885 • phone: 518.623.9339 • email: info@countyfloors.com

The Janka hardness of a particular wood is a good indicator of its resistance to wear and denting.

Wood Flooring Species Janka Hardness Scale Glossary of Terms

Janka Hardness Scale for Wood Flooring Species

The Janka hardness test is a measurement of the force necessary to embed a .444-inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. It is the industry standard for gauging the ability of various species to tolerate denting and normal wear, as well as being a good indication of the effort required to either nail or saw the particular wood.

Please note that this is just a partial list containing some of the most popular choices in wood flooring as well as some of the more exotic species we carry.

For a detailed description of a particular species, click on its name to view a wood flooring specification page on that type of wood. Also, see our grade-specific Janka scale for a graphical comparison of the ratings of various types of hardwood flooring.

Wood Flooring Species	Hardness
Ipe / Brazilian Walnut / Lapacho	3684
Cumaru / Brazilian Teak	3540
Ebony	3220
Brazilian Redwood / Paraju	3190
Angelim Pedra	3040
Bloodwood	2900
Red Mahogany / Turpentine	2697
Spotted Gum	2473
Brazilian Cherry / Jatoba	2350
Mesquite	2345
Santos Mahogany / Bocote / Cabreuva	2200
Pradoo	2170
Brushbox	2135
Karri	2030
Sydney Blue Gum	2023
Bubinga	1980
Cameron	1940
Tallowwood	1933
Merbau	1925
Amendoim	1912
Jarrah	1910
Purpleheart	1860
Goncalo Alves / Tigerwood	1850
Hickory / Pecan / Satinwood	1820
Afzelia / Doussie	1810
Bangkirai	1798
Rosewood	1780
African Padauk	1725
Blackwood	1720
Merbau	1712
Kempas	1710
Locust	1700
Highland Beech	1686
Wenge / Red Pine	1630
Tualang	1624
Zebrawood	1575
True Pine / Timborana	1570
Peroba	1557
Kambala	1540
Sapele / Sapelli	1510
Curupixa	1490
Sweet Birch	1470
Hard Maple / Sugar Maple	1450
Coffee Bean	1390
Natural Bamboo (represents one species)	1380
Australian Cypress	1375
White Oak	1360
Tasmanian Oak	1350
Ribbon Gum	1349
Ash (White)	1320
American Beech	1300
Red Oak (Northern)	1290
Carribean Heart Pine	1280
Yellow Birch	1260
Movingui	1230
Heart Pine	1225
Carbonized Bamboo (represents one species)	1180
Cocobolo	1136
Brazilian Eucalyptus / Rose Gum	1125
Makore	1100
Boreal	1023
Black Walnut	1010
Teak	1000
Sakura	995
Black Cherry / Imbuia	950
Boire	940
Paper Birch	910
Cedar	900
Southern Yellow Pine (Longleaf)	870
Lacewood / Leopardwood	840
Parana	780
Sycamore	770
Shedua	710
Southern Yellow Pine (Loblolly and Shortleaf)	690
Douglas Fir	660
Larch	590
Chestnut	540
Hemlock	500
White Pine	420
Basswood	410
Eastern White Pine	380

County Floors • 4397 State Route 9 • Warrensburg • New York • 12885
518.623.9339 • info@countyfloors.com