Janka Hardness Chart for various hardwood flooring species

The Janka (or side) hardness test measures the force required to embed a .444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. This is one of the best measures of the ability of wood species to withstand denting and wear. It is also a good indicator of how hard a species is to saw or nail. The higher the number, the harder the wood.   The measurement is in pounds-force.

 

Chestnut    540

Douglass Fir    650

North American Cherry    950

North American Walnut  1010

Carbonized/Carmel Bamboo  1120

True Teak  1155

Heart Pine  1225

Yellow Birch  1260

Red Oak  1260

Beech  1300

White Ash  1320

White Oak  1360

Australian Cypress  1375

Royal Mahogany  1400

Natural Bamboo  1410

North American Maple  1450

African Cherry  1710

 

Padauk, African  1725

Bolivian Rosewood  1780

Hickory  1820

Merbau  1925

Bubinga  1980

Purpleheart    2090

Tigerwood((Goncalo Alves)  2160 

Honduran Rosewood  2200

Santos Mahogany  2200

Caribbean Rosewood  2300

Chestnut, Southern  2670

Tiete Rosewood(Guibourtia)  2800

Brazilian Cherry(Jatoba)  2820

Bloodwood  2900

Brazilian Rosewood(Tamarindo)  3000

Brazilian Teak(Cumaru)  3540 

Brazilian Walnut(Ipe)  3680 

 

Exotic Hardwoods of Rhode Island