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Wood species guide

Pick a wood at a glance: how hard it is, how easy it is to work, how it takes a finish and what people make with it. Hardness bands are our own cut-offs on the handbook’s figures. The other labels come from the USDA Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook, The Wood Database and one lumber supplier’s prices, using the written rules below, and each one names its source.

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The woods

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Sources: USDA FPL Wood Handbook, 2021 edition (FPL-GTR-282); The Wood Database; Woodworkers Source prices on October 25, 2026. Hardness: handbook figures, with our own bands. Workability and Finish: The Wood Database, except pore notes, which come from the handbook. Good for: the handbook. Price band: Woodworkers Source. Sapele price: Hearne Hardwoods, October 29, 2026. Turn on the numbers to see the source and a link for each label. Where we found no source for a label, we leave it out. Handbook figures are at 12% moisture content unless noted.
Species	Hardness	Workability	Finish	Good for	Price band
Alder, red Domestic hardwood	Soft	Easy	Finishes well	Furniture, Trim and millwork	$
Alnus rubra Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 590 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.41 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 9,800 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.38 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.4 / 7.3 / 12.6 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Red alder is very easy to work with both hand and machine tools; it sands especially easy.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Turns, glues, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “furniture, but it is also used for sash and door panel stock and other millwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $7.99 per board foot for “Alder 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Ash, white Domestic hardwood	Hard	Easy	Finishes well; open pores: fill for a smooth finish	Furniture, Cabinets, Flooring, Trim and millwork	$
Fraxinus americana Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,320 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.60 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 15,400 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.74 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.9 / 7.8 / 13.3 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Produces good results with hand or machine tools.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues, stains, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Hardwoods such as ash, hickory, oak, and walnut are known for large vessels” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 16 (Fillers and Sealers)) Good for: “cabinets, furniture, flooring, millwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $7.99 per board foot for “Ash 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Basswood, American Domestic hardwood	Soft	Easy	Finishes well	Trim and millwork, Turning and carving	$
Tilia americana Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 410 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.37 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 8,700 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.46 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 6.6 / 9.3 / 15.8 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Easy to work, being very soft and light.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Basswood also glues and finishes well, but has poor steam bending and nail holding characteristics.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “molding … a favorite of wood carvers” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $5.99 per board foot for “Basswood 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Beech, American Domestic hardwood	Hard	Easy	Finishes well	Flooring, Furniture
Fagus grandifolia Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,300 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.64 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 14,900 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.72 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 5.5 / 11.9 / 17.2 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Overall good workability; it machines well, and glues, finishes, and turns well.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Overall good workability; it machines well, and glues, finishes, and turns well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “flooring, furniture, brush blocks, handles, veneer, woodenware” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Birch, yellow Domestic hardwood	Hard	Easy	Finishes well	Furniture, Trim and millwork
Betula alleghaniensis Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,260 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.62 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 16,600 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 2.01 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 7.3 / 9.5 / 16.8 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Generally easy to work with hand and machine tools, though boards with wild grain can cause grain tearout during machining operations.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Turns, glues, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “furniture, boxes, baskets, crates, wooden ware, cooperage, interior woodwork, and doors” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Butternut Domestic hardwood	Soft	Easy	Finishes well	Furniture, Cabinets, Trim and millwork
Juglans cinerea Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 490 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.38 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 8,100 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.18 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 3.4 / 6.4 / 10.6 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Butternut is easily worked with both hand and machine tools.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Butternut glues, stains, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “furniture, cabinets, paneling, interior woodwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Cherry, black Domestic hardwood	Medium	Easy	Can blotch when stained; small pores	Furniture, Trim and millwork	$$
Prunus serotina Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 950 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.50 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 12,300 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.49 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 3.7 / 7.1 / 11.5 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Moderately resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “It is stable, straight-grained, and machines well.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “it can sometimes give blotchy results” (The Wood Database) Finish: “aspen, cherry, and maple have small vessels” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 16 (Fillers and Sealers)) Good for: “furniture, fine veneer panels, and architectural woodwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $8.99 per board foot for “Cherry 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Elm, American Domestic hardwood	Medium	Tricky	Finishes well	Furniture
Ulmus americana Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 830 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.50 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 11,800 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.34 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.2 / 9.5 / 14.6 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Can be a challenge to work because of interlocked grain, especially on quartersawn surfaces.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues, stains, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “furniture and decorative panels” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Pecan (pecan hickory) Domestic hardwood	Hard	Tricky	Finishes well; open pores: fill for a smooth finish	Flooring
Carya illinoensis Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,820 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.66 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 13,700 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.73 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.9 / 8.9 / 13.6 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Difficult to work, with tearout being common during machining operations if cutting edges are not kept sharp; the wood tends to blunt cutting edges.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues, stains, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Hardwoods such as ash, hickory, oak, and walnut are known for large vessels” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 16 (Fillers and Sealers)) Good for: “tool and implement handles and flooring” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Hickory, shagbark Domestic hardwood	Hard	Tricky	Finishes well; open pores: fill for a smooth finish	Furniture
Carya ovata Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,880 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.72 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 20,200 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 2.16 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 7.0 / 10.5 / 16.7 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Difficult to work, with tearout being common during machining operations if cutting edges are not kept sharp; the wood tends to blunt cutting edges.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues, stains, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Hardwoods such as ash, hickory, oak, and walnut are known for large vessels” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 16 (Fillers and Sealers)) Good for: “dowels, gymnasium apparatuses, poles, and furniture” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Locust, black Domestic hardwood	Hard	Tricky	Finishes well	Outdoor
Robinia pseudoacacia Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,700 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.69 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 19,400 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 2.05 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.6 / 7.2 / 10.2 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Very resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “its high density and hardness can make it more difficult to machine when compared to other domestic hardwoods” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Responds very well to both lathe turning and steam bending; glues and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “fence posts, poles, railroad crossties, stakes” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Maple, red Domestic hardwood	Medium	Moderate	Can blotch when stained; small pores	Furniture
Acer rubrum Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 950 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.54 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 13,400 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.64 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.0 / 8.2 / 12.6 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Fairly easy to work with both hand and machine tools” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Turns, glues, and finishes well, though blotches can occur when staining” (The Wood Database) Finish: “aspen, cherry, and maple have small vessels” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 16 (Fillers and Sealers)) Good for: “furniture, veneer, wooden ware” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Maple, sugar Domestic hardwood	Hard	Moderate	Can blotch when stained; small pores	Flooring, Furniture, Cabinets	$$
Acer saccharum Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,450 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.63 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 15,800 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.83 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.8 / 9.9 / 14.7 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Fairly easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though slightly more difficult than soft maple due to hard maple’s higher density.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Turns, glues, and finishes well, though blotches can occur when staining” (The Wood Database) Finish: “aspen, cherry, and maple have small vessels” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 16 (Fillers and Sealers)) Good for: “flooring, furniture, cabinets, cutting boards” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $8.99 per board foot for “Hard White Maple 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Oak, northern red Domestic hardwood	Hard	Easy	Finishes well; open pores: fill for a smooth finish	Flooring, Furniture, Trim and millwork	$
Quercus rubra Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,290 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.63 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 14,300 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.82 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.0 / 8.6 / 13.7 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (“Rated as non-durable to perishable”, The Wood Database) Workability: “Produces good results with hand and machine tools, though it has fairly high shrinkage values, resulting in mediocre dimensional stability, especially in flat sawn boards.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues, stains, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Hardwoods such as ash, hickory, oak, and walnut are known for large vessels” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 16 (Fillers and Sealers)) Good for: “flooring, furniture, general millwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $5.99 per board foot for “Red Oak 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Oak, white Domestic hardwood	Hard	Easy	Finishes well; open pores: fill for a smooth finish	Furniture, Flooring, Trim and millwork, Boats	$$
Quercus alba Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,360 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.68 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 15,200 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.78 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 5.6 / 10.5 / 16.3 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Produces good results with hand and machine tools, though it has fairly high shrinkage values, resulting in mediocre dimensional stability, especially in flat sawn boards.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues, stains, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Hardwoods such as ash, hickory, oak, and walnut are known for large vessels” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 16 (Fillers and Sealers)) Good for: “planking and bent parts of ships and boats … furniture, flooring, pallets … doors, and millwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $9.99 per board foot for “White Oak (Flat Sawn) 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Sweetgum Domestic hardwood	Medium	Easy	Finishes well	Furniture, Trim and millwork
Liquidambar styraciflua Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 850 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.52 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 12,500 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.64 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 5.3 / 10.2 / 15.8 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Generally easy to work, though planing can produce tearout due to interlocked grain.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Turns, glues, stains, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “furniture, interior molding, and millwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Sycamore, American Domestic hardwood	Medium	Easy	Finishes well	Furniture, Flooring
Platanus occidentalis Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 770 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.49 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 10,000 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.42 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 5.0 / 8.4 / 14.1 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Overall, Sycamore works easily with both hand and machine tools, though the interlocked grain can be troublesome in surfacing and machining operations at times.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Sycamore turns, glues, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “furniture, boxes (particularly small food containers), pallets, flooring, handles, and butcher blocks” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Walnut, black Domestic hardwood	Medium	Easy	Finishes well; open pores: fill for a smooth finish	Furniture, Cabinets, Trim and millwork	$$
Juglans nigra Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,010 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.55 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 14,600 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.68 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 5.5 / 7.8 / 12.8 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Typically easy to work provided the grain is straight and regular.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues, stains, and finishes well (though walnut is rarely stained).” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Hardwoods such as ash, hickory, oak, and walnut are known for large vessels” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 16 (Fillers and Sealers)) Good for: “furniture, architectural woodwork, and decorative panels” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $12.99 per board foot for “Natural Walnut 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Yellow-poplar Domestic hardwood	Soft	Easy		Furniture, Trim and millwork, Cabinets	$
Liriodendron tulipifera Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 540 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.42 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 10,100 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.58 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.6 / 8.2 / 12.7 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Very easy to work in almost all regards, one of Poplar’s only downsides is its softness.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “furniture, interior molding, siding, cabinets” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $4.99 per board foot for “Poplar 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Eastern redcedar Domestic softwood		Easy	Finishes well	Outdoor	$
Juniperus virginiana Janka hardness from The Wood Database (a different test basis from the handbook’s modified Janka figures, so no band): 900 lbf (The Wood Database) Specific gravity: 0.47 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 8,800 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 0.88 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 3.1 / 4.7 / 7.8 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Overall, Aromatic Red Cedar is easy to work, notwithstanding any knots or irregularities present in the wood.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Aromatic Red Cedar glues and finishes well, though in many applications, the wood is left unfinished to preserve its aromatic properties.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “used for fence posts. Lumber is manufactured into chests, wardrobes, and closet lining” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $6.99 per board foot for “Aromatic Cedar 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Western redcedar Domestic softwood	Soft	Easy	Finishes well	Outdoor, Trim and millwork
Thuja plicata Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 350 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.32 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 7,500 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.11 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 2.4 / 5.0 / 6.8 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Easy to work with both hand or machine tools” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “exterior siding, decking, interior woodwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Douglas-fir, Coast Domestic softwood	Medium	Moderate	Finishes well	Trim and millwork
Pseudotsuga menziesii Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 710 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.48 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 12,400 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.95 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.8 / 7.6 / 12.4 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Moderately resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Typically machines well, but has a moderate blunting effect on cutters.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Accepts stains, glues, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “sashes, doors, laminated beams, general millwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Hemlock, western Domestic softwood	Soft	Easy	Finishes well	Flooring, Furniture
Tsuga heterophylla Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 540 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.45 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 11,300 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.63 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.2 / 7.8 / 12.4 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Overall working properties are good, but because of the disparity between the soft earlywood and the hard latewood, sanding can create dips and uneven surfaces.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues, stains, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “flooring, furniture” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Pine, eastern white Domestic softwood	Soft	Easy	Finishes well	Furniture, Trim and millwork
Pinus strobus Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 380 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.35 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 8,600 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.24 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 2.1 / 6.1 / 8.2 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (“The heartwood is rated as moderate to low in decay resistance.”, The Wood Database (we show the lower end of this range)) Workability: “Eastern White Pine is easy to work with both hand and machine tools.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “sashes, doors, furniture, interior woodwork, knotty paneling” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Pine, loblolly Domestic softwood	Soft	Moderate	Finishes well	Trim and millwork
Pinus taeda Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 690 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.51 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 12,800 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.79 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.8 / 7.4 / 12.3 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Overall, Loblolly Pine works fairly well with most tools, and it glues and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Overall, Loblolly Pine works fairly well with most tools, and it glues and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “interior woodwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Pine, ponderosa Domestic softwood	Soft	Easy	Finishes well	Trim and millwork, Cabinets
Pinus ponderosa Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 460 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.40 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 9,400 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.29 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 3.9 / 6.2 / 9.7 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Ponderosa pine works well with both hand and machine tools.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “sashes, doors, blinds, molding, paneling, interior woodwork, and built-in cases and cabinets” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Redwood, young-growth Domestic softwood	Soft	Easy	Finishes well	Trim and millwork
Sequoia sempervirens Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 420 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.35 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 7,900 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.10 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 2.2 / 4.9 / 7.0 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Moderately resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Typically easy to work with hand tools or machinery, but planer tearout can occur on figured pieces with curly, wavy, or irregular grain.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “siding, sashes, doors, blinds, millwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Spruce, Sitka Domestic softwood	Soft	Easy	Can blotch when stained	Furniture, Trim and millwork, Boats
Picea sitchensis Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 510 (FPL Table 5-3b) Specific gravity: 0.40 Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 10,200 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.57 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.3 / 7.5 / 11.5 (FPL Table 4-3) Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly or nonresistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Easy to work, as long as there are no knots present.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues and finishes well, though it can give poor (blotchy and inconsistent) results when being stained due to its closed pore structure.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “furniture, planing-mill products, sashes, doors, blinds, millwork, and boats” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Afrormosia Imported hardwood	Hard	Easy	Finishes well	Boats, Flooring, Furniture, Trim and millwork	$$$ (quartersawn)
Pericopsis elata Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,560 (FPL Table 5-5b) Specific gravity: 0.61 (green vol.) Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 18,400 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.94 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 3.0 / 6.4 / 10.7 (FPL Table 4-4) Heartwood decay resistance: Resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “In nearly all regards, afrormosia is easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though surfacing boards with interlocking grain may cause tearout.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Afrormosia turns, glues, stains, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “boat construction, joinery, flooring, furniture, interior woodwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $18.99 per board foot for “Afrormosia (Quarter Sawn) 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Bubinga Imported hardwood	Hard	Easy	Finishes well	Turning and carving, Flooring, Furniture, Cabinets	$$$
Guibourtia spp. Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 2,690 (FPL Table 5-5b) Specific gravity: 0.71 (green vol.) Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 22,600 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 2.48 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 5.8 / 8.4 / 14.2 (FPL Table 4-4) Heartwood decay resistance: Moderately resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Easy to work overall, though depending upon the species bubinga can have silica present, which can prematurely dull cutting edges.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Turns and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “turnery, flooring, furniture components, cabinetwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $24.99 per board foot for “Bubinga 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Courbaril Imported hardwood; also called jatoba	Hard	Tricky	Finishes well	Flooring, Turning and carving, Furniture, Cabinets
Hymenaea courbaril Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 2,350 (FPL Table 5-5b) Specific gravity: 0.71 (green vol.) Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 19,400 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 2.16 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.5 / 8.5 / 12.7 (FPL Table 4-4) Heartwood decay resistance: Resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Jatoba is considered difficult to work with on account of its density and hardness, and has a moderate blunting effect on tool cutters.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “However, Jatoba glues, stains, turns, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “flooring, turnery, furniture and cabinetwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2)
Goncalo alves Imported hardwood	Hard	Moderate	Finishes well	Flooring, Furniture, Cabinets, Turning and carving	$$$
Astronium graveolens Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 2,160 (FPL Table 5-5b) Specific gravity: 0.84 (green vol.) Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 16,600 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 2.23 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.0 / 7.6 / 10.0 (FPL Table 4-4) Heartwood decay resistance: Very resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Goncalo alves is generally not too difficult to work, despite its high density.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Goncalo alves turns and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “Flooring, veneers, furniture, cabinetry, carving, turned objects” (The Wood Database) Price band: $16.99 per board foot for “Goncalo Alves 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Ipe Imported hardwood	Hard	Tricky	Finishing can be tricky	Outdoor, Turning and carving	$$$
Tabebuia spp., lapacho group Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 3,680 (FPL Table 5-5b) Specific gravity: 0.92 (green vol.) Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 25,400 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 3.14 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 6.6 / 8.0 / 13.2 (FPL Table 4-4) Heartwood decay resistance: Very resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Overall, ipe is a difficult wood to work, being extremely hard and dense, with high cutting resistance during sawing.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Straight-grained wood turns well, though the natural powdery yellow deposits (called lapachol) can sometimes interfere with polishing or finishing the wood.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “decks, railroad crossties, turnery, tool handles” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $16.99 per board foot for “Ipe 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Iroko Imported hardwood	Hard	Moderate	Finishes well	Boats, Flooring, Furniture, Cabinets	$$
Chlorophora spp. Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,260 (FPL Table 5-5b) Specific gravity: 0.54 (green vol.) Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 12,400 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.46 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 2.8 / 3.8 / 8.8 (FPL Table 4-4) Heartwood decay resistance: Resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Also, deposits of calcium carbonate are sometimes present, which can have a significant dulling effect on cutters.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Iroko glues and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “boat building, piles, other marine work … joinery, flooring, furniture, veneer, and cabinetwork” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $12.99 per board foot for “Iroko 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Mahogany, African Imported hardwood	Medium	Easy	Finishes well	Furniture, Cabinets, Trim and millwork, Boats	$$ (quartersawn)
Khaya spp. Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 830 (FPL Table 5-5b) Specific gravity: 0.42 (green vol.) Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 10,700 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.40 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 2.5 / 4.5 / 8.8 (FPL Table 4-4) Heartwood decay resistance: Moderately resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Generally easy to work, though tearout can be a problem if the grain is interlocked.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Glues, turns, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “furniture and cabinetwork, interior woodwork, boat construction” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $9.99 per board foot for “African Mahogany (Quarter Sawn) 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Mahogany, true Imported hardwood	Medium	Easy	Finishes well	Furniture, Cabinets, Trim and millwork, Boats, Turning and carving	$$
Swietenia macrophylla Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 800 (FPL Table 5-5b) Specific gravity: 0.45 (green vol.) Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 11,500 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.50 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 3.0 / 4.1 / 7.8 (FPL Table 4-4) Heartwood decay resistance: Resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Typically very easy to work with both hand and machine tools.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Turns, glues, stains, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “fine furniture and cabinets, interior woodwork, pattern woodwork, boat construction … turnery, carving” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $12.99 per board foot for “Genuine Mahogany 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Purpleheart Imported hardwood	Hard	Tricky	Finishes well	Turning and carving, Cabinets, Furniture, Flooring	$$
Peltogyne spp. Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,860 (FPL Table 5-5b) Specific gravity: 0.67 (green vol.) Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 19,200 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 2.27 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 3.2 / 6.1 / 9.9 (FPL Table 4-4) Heartwood decay resistance: Very resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Working with purpleheart can present some unique challenges” (The Wood Database) Finish: “takes finishes well” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Good for: “turnery, marquetry, cabinets, fine furniture, parquet flooring” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $14.99 per board foot for “Purple Heart 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Sapele Imported hardwood	Hard	Tricky	Finishes well	Furniture, Cabinets, Flooring	$$
Entandrophragma cylindricum Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,510 (FPL Table 5-5b) Specific gravity: 0.55 (green vol.) Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 15,300 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.82 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.6 / 7.4 / 14.0 (FPL Table 4-4) Heartwood decay resistance: Moderately resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Sapele can be troublesome to work in some machining operations, (i.e., planing, routing, etc.), resulting in tearout due to its interlocked grain.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Sapele has a slight blunting effect on cutters, but it turns, glues, and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “furniture and cabinetwork, joinery, and flooring” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $9.00 per board foot for “Sapele 4/4 FAS, Figure Type: None, Flat Sawn, 4.00″ to 8.50″ wide” (Hearne Hardwoods, checked Oct 29, 2026)
Spanish-cedar Imported hardwood	Soft	Easy	Finishing can be tricky	Trim and millwork, Cabinets, Furniture, Boats	$$
Cedrela spp. Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 600 (FPL Table 5-5b) Specific gravity: 0.41 (green vol.) Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 11,500 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.44 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 4.2 / 6.3 / 10.3 (FPL Table 4-4) Heartwood decay resistance: Resistant (FPL Table 14-1) Workability: “Spanish Cedar is easy to work with both hand and machine tools.” (The Wood Database) Finish: “natural gum pockets … can clog and gum up saw blades, and make finishing the wood a challenge” (The Wood Database) Good for: “millwork, cabinets, fine furniture, boat building” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $11.99 per board foot for “Spanish Cedar 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)
Teak Imported hardwood	Medium	Moderate	Finishes well	Boats, Furniture, Flooring	$$$
Tectona grandis Hardness (modified Janka), lbf: 1,000 (FPL Table 5-5b) Specific gravity: 0.55 (green vol.) Bending strength (MOR), lbf/in²: 14,600 Stiffness (MOE), million lbf/in²: 1.55 Shrinkage green to ovendry, % (radial / tangential / volumetric): 2.5 / 5.8 / 7.0 (FPL Table 4-4) Heartwood decay resistance: Very resistant (“its heartwood is rated as very durable”, The Wood Database) Workability: “teak contains a high level of silica (up to 1.4%) which has a pronounced blunting effect on cutting edges” (The Wood Database) Finish: “Despite its natural oils, teak usually glues and finishes well.” (The Wood Database) Good for: “boats, furniture, flooring” (Wood Handbook, Chapter 2) Price band: $69.99 per board foot for “Teak 4/4 Lumber” (Woodworkers Source, checked Oct 25, 2026)

Price band is a rough guide from suppliers’ posted prices for 4/4 lumber (Woodworkers Source on Oct 25, 2026; Hearne Hardwoods for sapele on Oct 29, 2026); prices vary by region, grade, width and supplier, and some species are listed only quartersawn. Prices are shown for comparison only; we don’t sell lumber or endorse any seller.

Photo credits

Face grain photos come from Wikimedia Commons, shared under the Creative Commons license or public domain dedication listed with each photo and cropped for this page, and from The Wood Database, as credited under each photo. If you own an image here and want it removed or credited differently, email hello@sawdustsmart.com.

What the labels mean

Hardness: how well the wood resists dents. Soft is under 700 lbf, Medium is 700 to 1,199 lbf, and Hard is 1,200 lbf or more on the handbook’s side hardness test (a modified Janka test). These bands are Sawdust Smart’s own, not the handbook’s.
Workability: we apply the same fixed word rules to the “Workability” note on each species’ page at The Wood Database, checked in this order. Tricky if the note calls the wood difficult to work or machine, a difficult wood to work, a challenge or troublesome to work, or says it has unique challenges. Moderate if it says fairly easy, fairly well, not too difficult or mixed, or names moderate or pronounced blunting, or moderate or significant dulling, of cutters. Otherwise Easy if it says easy to work, easily worked, works easily, works well, machines well, good results, good workability or that its working properties are good. No match, no label.
Finish: we apply fixed word rules to the same Wood Database note. Can blotch when stained if it mentions blotching. Finishing can be tricky if it says something in the wood can interfere with finishing or make finishing a challenge. Finishes well if it says the wood finishes well. If the note says nothing about finishing, we use the Wood Handbook’s species description. Open pores and small pores come from the Wood Handbook’s list of woods with large and small pores; open-pored woods may need a grain filler for a smooth finish.
Good for: uses the Wood Handbook lists for the species that a woodworker is likely to care about (from The Wood Database’s “Common Uses” where the handbook lists none). It is a list of what the wood is used for, not a guarantee it suits your project.
Price band: the price per board foot of Woodworkers Source’s standard 4/4 (1 inch rough) lumber for the species (checked Oct 25, 2026), not knotty, paint-grade, roasted, figured or premium boards. $ is under $8.00, $$ is $8.00 to $14.99 and $$$ is $15.00 or more. Prices change and vary by region, grade and seller, so use the band only to compare species. On Oct 25, 2026, Woodworkers Source sold sapele 4/4 only as figured Ribbon Stripe, so sapele’s band uses Hearne Hardwoods’ plain (no figure) flat-sawn 4/4 FAS price for 4″ to 8.5″ widths instead (checked Oct 29, 2026); wider boards cost more. Species that supplier did not sell as 4/4 lumber that day have no price band. Price band is a rough guide from suppliers’ posted prices for 4/4 lumber (Woodworkers Source on Oct 25, 2026; Hearne Hardwoods for sapele on Oct 29, 2026); prices vary by region, grade, width and supplier, and some species are listed only quartersawn. Prices are shown for comparison only; we don’t sell lumber or endorse any seller.
The numbers: the exact figures behind the labels, plus weight (specific gravity), strength, stiffness, shrinkage and decay resistance, and the source of each label.

What is left out

Where we found no source for a label, we leave it out rather than guess. Where the handbook gives no decay rating, we use The Wood Database’s rating and say so. We don’t mix The Wood Database’s hardness figures into the handbook’s hardness column or bands; where it gives a range of decay resistance, we show the lower end. This table doesn’t cover health effects. Many wood dusts can irritate skin, eyes and lungs or cause allergies, and some species are known sensitizers; wood dust is classed as a human carcinogen. Use dust collection and a dust mask or respirator rated for fine dust. Some species are protected under CITES or local law; check that any wood you buy is legally sourced.

Sources

Hardness bands use side hardness from Table 5-3b (domestic) and Table 5-5b (imported). Workability and finish labels quote each species’ page at The Wood Database. Uses quote the species descriptions in Chapter 2 of the handbook, and the pore notes quote Chapter 16 (Fillers and Sealers). Price bands use Woodworkers Source’s listed prices on October 25, 2026, except sapele, which uses Hearne Hardwoods’ price on October 29, 2026. Turn on “Show the numbers and sources” to see the source of each label, with a link. The other handbook figures come from Tables 4-3, 4-4, 5-3b, 5-5b and 14-1. The handbook says its imported-wood figures come from world literature, that they may not represent species averages, and that “the appropriateness of these properties to represent a species is not known.” Treat them as rough guides.

Average values for clear, straight-grained samples, for comparison only. They are not design values for structural use. Lumber varies by tree, region and grade.

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What the labels mean

What is left out

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