About Janka Hardness

Janka hardness ratings are a measure of the hardness of wood, produced by a variation on the Brinell hardness test. The test measures the force required to push a steel ball with a diameter of 11.28 millimeters (0.444 inches) into the wood to a depth of half the ball's diameter. The results are stated in various ways in different countries, which can lead to confusion, especially since the name of the actual units employed is often not attached. In the United States, the measurement is in pounds-force.

The most common use of Janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring. Essentially this measures a wood's density and thus its dent resistance – so the higher the number the less likely a floor is to dent. It’s important to understand that while hardwood floors are tough; when it comes to indentations no floor is impervious to damage. Certain species of wood, are less likely to dent, but when they do, harder species will have shallow dents when compared to average or softer species of wood.

Hardness Rating & Species
3680 Brazilian Walnut (Ipe)
3540 Brazilian Teak (Cumaru)
3280 Tiete Rosewood
3170 Rosewood
3060 Lapacho
3040 Angelim
3000 Brazilian Rosewood
2990 African Pearwood
2947 Amendoim
2890 Ironwood
2473 Spotted Gum
2350 Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba)
2300 Caribbean Rosewood
2200 Santos Mahogany (Cabreuva)
2170 Asian Rosewood
2160 Tiger Wood
2140 Sucupira
2090 Purple Heart
2048 Asian Pine
2040 Pradoo
2025 Sydney Blue
1980 African Rosewood
1950 Pyinkado
1925 Merbau
1910 Jarrah
1820 Pecan
1820 Hickory Pecan
1770 Doussie
1770 Afzelia
1725 Padauk
1725 African Oak
1710 Kempas
1654 Brazilian Hickory
1640 Thatch
1640 Balau
1630 African Wenge
1600 Peroba
1570 Timborana
1500 Brazilian Maple
1500 African Sapele
1500 Brazilian Maple
1450 Maple
1450 North American Maple
1410 Natural Bamboo
1375 Australian Cypress
1360 White Oak
1320 Ash
1300 Beech
1290 Angelique
1290 African Walnut
1290 Angelique Teak
1290 Red Oak
1260 Yellow Birch
1260 Kambala
1260 Iroko
1260 Birch
1260 Yellow Birch
1195 Nyatoh
1155 Tiete Chestnut
1155 Teak
1155 True Teak
1125 Brazilian Eucalyptus
1120 Carbonized Bamboo
1018 Curupixa
1010 Walnut
1010 Black Walnut
1010 African Cherry
1010 North American Walnut
950 Cherry
950 North American Cherry
880 Tauari
880 Bangkirai
870 Pine
830 Elm
800 Larch
800 Honduran Mahogany
800 Mahogany
765 African Cedar
650 Douglass Fir
540 Chestnut
420 White Birch
410 Basswood
200 Cork