Janka Scale

The Janka hardness scale is the flooring industry’s standard for determining the durability and wear-resistance of natural hardwood. For example, Brazilian Walnut is one of the strongest with a rating of 3680, while at the other end, California Redwood only rates at 420. This means that the walnut has far superior resistance to scratches, stains, indentations and overall wear, and would be ideal for areas that get a lot of foot traffic. The Janka ratings are determined by the amount of force (pounds per sq. inch) required to embed a small steel ball to half its diameter in the wood sample. After a number of tests are performed, the results are averaged to arrive at the value assigned to each species. However, keep in mind that the Janka value assigned to each type of wood is not absolute, and will vary depending on temperature, humidity, elevation, soil, subspecies, and other factors. The ratings are intended as approximate values only.

Name Native Country Botanical Name Rating Alt Name Alt Name Alt Name Alt Name
African Cedar Africa Guarea cedrata 2000 - 2600 Bosse      
African Mahogany West Africa Khaya, ivorensis 800 - 830 Honduras Mahogany Swietenia Mahogany    
African Pearwood Africa Baillonella toxisperma 2990 - 3680 Moabi      
African Rosewood Tropical West Africa Guibourtia, demeusei 1980 - 2690 Bubigna      
African Walnut Tropical West Africa Lovoa trichilioides 1500 Sapelle, Boire Mpengwa, Anamemila Apopo, Sida Bombulu, Dibetou
Alder Pacific Coast of North America Alnus Rubra 590 Oregon Alder Pacific Coast Alder Red Alder Western Alder
Amendoim Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil Pterogyne, nitens 1340 - 1912 Ybyario      
American Beech United States Fagus, grandifolia 1300 Carolina Beech,Gray Beech Red Beech,Ridge Beech Stone Beech,White Beech Winter Beech
American Cherry North America Prunus, Serotina 950 Black Cherry North American Cherry    
Angelim Pedra Brazil Hymenolobium petraeum 3040 Caramate Mirarema Sapupira Amarela   
Australian Cypress Queensland and New South Wales, Australia Callitrus, glauca 1375 - 1461 Cypress Pine      
Bamboo Asia Phyllostachys spp. 1180 - 1380 Chinese Timber Bamboo Chinese Thorny Bamboo Moso Bamboo Sweet Shoot Bamboo
Bangkirai Indonesia Shorea Laevis 1798 Anggleam Balau Benuas Kumus, Penapak
Basswood North America Tilia Americana 410 Linden      
Beech North America Fagus grandifolia 1300        
Black Walnut North America Juglanes nigra 1010 Eastern Black Walnut American Walnut    
Blackwood Southeast Asia Dalbergia Latifolia 1720 Indian Rosewood Malabar Shisham Sitsal
Bloodwood Venezuela, Peru, Panama, Brazil Brosimum, rubescens 2900 - 3300 Satinae Cardinal Wood Pau Brazil  
Boire   Lovoa trichilioides          
Bolivian Cherry Brazil, Peru, Central America, Mexico Manilkara, bidentata 3190 - 3650 Massarasanduba Chico Zapote Quinilla  
Bolivian Rosewood Brazil, Peru, Central America, Mexico Machaerium, sclieroxylon 1780 Morado Moradillo Santos Palisander  
Boreal Northern United States and Canada Populus Balsamifera 1023 Balm Cottonwood Hackmatack Poplar, 
Brazilian Cherry Central and Tropical South America Hymenaea, courbaril 2760 - 2820 Jatoba Paquio Guapinol  
Brazilian Ebony Latin America Diospyros, spp 3220 - 3692        
Brazilian Eucalyptus Australia Eucalyptus grandis 1125 Flodded Gum Rose Gum Scrub Gum Ribbon Gum
Brazilian Redwood Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Peru Manilkara bidentata 3190 Macaranduba Peraju    
Brazilian Rosewood Brazil Dalbergia nigra 2720 - 3000 Bahia Rosewood Cabiuna, Caviuna Jacaranda, Palisander Rio Rosewood
Brazilian Teak South America Dipteryx, odorata 3540 Cumaru Almendrillo    
Brazilian Walnut South America Tabebuia, spp 3680 - 3700 Ipe Cortez Lapacho  
Brazlian Maple South America Balfourodendron, riedelianum 1500 Guatambu Pau Marfin    
Brushbox Australia Lophostemon Confertus 2135 Pink Box Scrub Box    
Bubinga Central Africa Guibourtia Demeusei 1980 African Rosewood Buvenga Essingang Ovang, Waka
California Redwood California Sequoia sempervirens 420 Coast Redwood      
Cameron Southern Mexico and Central America Samanea pedicellaris 1543 - 1940 Alazano, Camaron Conejo, degame guaybo, Harino Lemonwood, Surra
Caribbean Heart pine Carbbien Pinus caribaea 1240 - 1280 Honduras Longleaf Pine      
Caribbean Rosewood Belize / Mexico Metopium, browneii 2300 Chechen Poison Wood    
Caribbean Walnut Belize, Mexico, Guatemala Lysiloma, bahamensis 1400 T'Zalam      
Cedar North America Cedrus Atlantica 900 Eastern Cedar      
Cocobolo Pacific regions of Central America Dalbergia Retusa 1136 Funera Granadillo Nambar Nicaragua Rosewood
Coffee Bean North America Gymnocladus dioicus 1390 Chicot Coffee Nut Coffeetree Kentucky Mahogany
Curupixa Central and South America Micropholis Venulosa 1490 Apixuna Caimitillo Grumixava Hacano
Douglas Fir British Columbia Pseudotsuga Menziesii 660 Coast Douglas Fir Douglas Tree Interior Douglas Fir  
Doussie West and Central Africa Afzelia, spp 1770 - 1810 Afzelia  Apa    
Eastern White Pine North America Pinus Strobus 380 - 870 White Pine Northern Pine Soft Pine Weymouth Pine
Ebony              
Hard Maple North America Acer, saccharum 1450 - 1770 Sugar Maple Black Maple    
Heart Pine North America Pinus spp. 870 - 1225 Honduras Heart Pine      
Hemlock Canada and United States Tsuga canadensis