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Wood Species Table: Janka Hardness, Density and Typical Furniture Use

Janka hardness and density are the two numbers furniture buyers and production engineers use to compare species before they commit to a design. This table gathers both for 22 common woods and adds typical furniture use.

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Species	Type	Janka hardness (lbf)	Approx. air-dry density (kg/m3)	Typical furniture use
Red oak	Hardwood	1,290	705	Chairs, cabinets, flooring
White oak	Hardwood	1,360	755	Tables, outdoor and mission furniture
Hard (sugar) maple	Hardwood	1,450	705	Butcher blocks, school and office furniture
Soft maple	Hardwood	950	545	Painted furniture, drawer parts
Black walnut	Hardwood	1,010	610	Premium tables, case goods
Black cherry	Hardwood	950	580	Fine case goods, bedroom sets
White ash	Hardwood	1,320	675	Chair frames, bent parts
Shagbark hickory	Hardwood	1,880	830	Tool handles, rustic furniture
Yellow birch	Hardwood	1,260	690	Drawer sides, plywood face veneer
American beech	Hardwood	1,300	720	Bentwood chairs, workbenches
Teak	Hardwood	1,155	655	Outdoor furniture, marine decking
Genuine mahogany	Hardwood	800	545	Fine furniture, veneers
Sapele	Hardwood	1,410	640	Doors, cabinets, veneers
Rubberwood	Hardwood	980	560	Knock-down furniture, cribs
Yellow poplar	Hardwood	540	455	Painted frames, hidden parts
Red alder	Hardwood	590	450	Cabinet doors, stained furniture
Basswood	Hardwood	410	415	Carving, blinds, light parts
Eastern white pine	Softwood	380	350	Country furniture, moldings
Ponderosa pine	Softwood	460	450	Millwork, knotty pine furniture
Douglas fir	Softwood	660	530	Beams, rustic tables, framing
Western red cedar	Softwood	350	370	Outdoor furniture, chests
Hickory and pecan (generic)	Hardwood	1,820	750	Heavy-duty seating, cabinets

Janka hardness is the force in pounds-force to embed an 11.3 mm steel ball to half its diameter, so a higher number is harder. Density varies with moisture, growth rate and region, so treat both columns as approximate and check the supplier grading data for purchasing.

Lumber lot tracking review

Optional: a short review of how species, grade and moisture are tracked on your raw material lots.

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How to use the table

Filter by type to separate hardwood from softwood, or type a use such as chair or outdoor to see candidates. Sort by Janka to rank species by dent resistance. A table top that will see daily use should sit in the upper half of the list, while hidden frame parts can use softer, cheaper wood. Density tells you shipping weight, how heavy the finished piece will feel, and how hard the wood will be on tooling.

Higher Janka means more dent resistance and tougher machining
Higher density means heavier freight and heavier finished goods
Match species to the exposure of each part, not the whole product

Hardness, machining and finishing

Harder species such as hard maple and hickory dull cutters faster, need sharper tooling and often need pre-drilling for screws. Open-grain species such as oak and ash need grain filler for a smooth lacquer finish, while closed-grain maple and cherry take finish evenly but can blotch under stain. Teak and some tropical woods contain oils that can interfere with glue and some finishes, so test adhesion before you commit a production run.

Common mistakes and ERP notes

A frequent mistake is treating Janka as a measure of strength in bending. It measures surface hardness only. Another is using a single density for weight and freight calculations when moisture content changes it. In ERP, hold species, grade and moisture content as item attributes so raw lumber, kiln-dried stock and finished parts can be costed and traced separately.

Janka is surface hardness, not bending strength
Moisture changes weight, so record it with the lot
Hold species and grade as structured attributes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Janka hardness test?

The Janka test measures the force needed to press an 11.3 mm steel ball into wood to half its diameter. The result in pounds-force ranks species by resistance to denting and wear. It does not measure how strong the wood is in bending or compression.

Is oak harder than maple?

Hard maple at about 1450 lbf is harder than red oak at about 1290 lbf and white oak at about 1360 lbf. Soft maple, at roughly 950 lbf, is notably softer than all three, so species naming matters when you buy.

Which woods suit outdoor furniture?

Teak, white oak and western red cedar are common outdoor choices because of their natural decay resistance. Even so, finish, drainage design and end-grain sealing affect life more than species alone.

Why do density values differ between sources?

Density depends on moisture content, growth conditions, heartwood share and region. Published values are averages at a stated moisture level, so small differences between sources are normal. Use your supplier's graded values for contracts and freight.

If lumber species, grade and moisture are tracked in spreadsheets outside your ERP, we can show how to bring them into lot-controlled item data.

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