Janka Hardness Illustration
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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, expressed in pounds-force (lbf). It is the industry standard for gauging the ability of various species to tolerate denting and normal wear, as well as being a good indicator of the effort required either to nail or to saw a particular type of wood. The nigher the number, the harder the wood.

These numbers are averages based on a range of standard deviation for each species of wood tested. 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
Santos Mahogany / Cabreuva / Bocote 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)   [benchmark] 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

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

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P.O. Box 440
Warrensburg, New York 12885

phone: (518) 623-9339 • email: [email protected]

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