This tool ranks 35 wood flooring species by Janka hardness, compares each one to red oak (the trade's reference species, at about 1,290), and lets you filter by origin, search by name, sort, and compare up to four species side by side.
Every figure below is approximate and comparative, not a certified specification for a specific plank. A Janka rating is a lab result that shifts with the moisture content of the wood sample tested, which board or cut was used, and which laboratory ran the test. In the United States, the modified Janka ball procedure most widely cited for flooring is standardized under ASTM D1037, built on the small-clear-specimen baseline method defined in ASTM D143. Use the numbers here to compare species against each other, the way the trade actually uses them, not as a guaranteed spec for the boards in your order.
Six species carried in our glossary have no Janka figure we could verify to a published source, and are deliberately excluded here rather than estimated: Chinese Birch, Silver Maple, Soft Maple, Bolivian Rosewood, Patagonian Rosewood, Red Grandis.
| Species | Janka (approx.) | Relative hardness | vs. Red Oak (1,290) | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazilian Walnut (Ipe) | 3,680 lbf | 185% harder than Red Oak | South American | |
| Grey Ironbark | 3,600 lbf | 179% harder than Red Oak | Australian | |
| Brazilian Teak (Cumaru) | 3,500 lbf | 171% harder than Red Oak | South American | |
| Massaranduba | 3,190 lbf | 147% harder than Red Oak | South American | |
| Purpleheart | 2,520 lbf | 95% harder than Red Oak | South American | |
| Spotted Gum | 2,470 lbf | 91% harder than Red Oak | Australian | |
| Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba) | 2,350 lbf | 82% harder than Red Oak | South American | |
| Santos Mahogany | 2,200 lbf | 71% harder than Red Oak | South American | |
| Tigerwood | 2,160 lbf | 67% harder than Red Oak | South American | |
| Sucupira | 2,140 lbf | 66% harder than Red Oak | South American | |
| Blackbutt | 2,100 lbf | 63% harder than Red Oak | Australian | |
| Brushbox | 2,000 lbf | 55% harder than Red Oak | Australian | |
| Jarrah | 1,910 lbf | 48% harder than Red Oak | Australian | |
| Amendoim | 1,900 lbf | 47% harder than Red Oak | South American | |
| Tallowwood | 1,900 lbf | 47% harder than Red Oak | Australian | |
| Merbau | 1,900 lbf | 47% harder than Red Oak | Other imported | |
| Hickory | 1,820 lbf | 41% harder than Red Oak | North American | |
| Garapa | 1,700 lbf | 32% harder than Red Oak | South American | |
| Acacia | 1,700 lbf | 32% harder than Red Oak | Other imported | |
| Wenge | 1,620 lbf | 26% harder than Red Oak | Other imported | |
| Hard Maple | 1,450 lbf | 12% harder than Red Oak | North American | |
| Sapele | 1,410 lbf | 9% harder than Red Oak | Other imported | |
| Australian Cypress | 1,375 lbf | 7% harder than Red Oak | Australian | |
| White Oak | 1,360 lbf | 5% harder than Red Oak | North American | |
| Tasmanian Oak | 1,350 lbf | 5% harder than Red Oak | Australian | |
| White Ash | 1,320 lbf | 2% harder than Red Oak | North American | |
| American Beech | 1,300 lbf | 1% harder than Red Oak | North American | |
| Red Oak | 1,290 lbf | Benchmark species (Red Oak) | North American | |
| Yellow Birch | 1,260 lbf | 2% softer than Red Oak | North American | |
| Teak | 1,070 lbf | 17% softer than Red Oak | Other imported | |
| Black Walnut | 1,010 lbf | 22% softer than Red Oak | North American | |
| American Cherry | 950 lbf | 26% softer than Red Oak | North American | |
| Genuine Mahogany | 800 lbf | 38% softer than Red Oak | Other imported | |
| Douglas Fir | 660 lbf | 49% softer than Red Oak | North American | |
| Eastern White Pine | 380 lbf | 71% softer than Red Oak | North American |
Comparing selected species
What this does not tell you
Janka measures one thing: resistance to denting from a point load, such as a dropped pan or a rolling chair leg. It does not measure scratch resistance, which comes from the finish or wear layer sitting on top of the wood, not the species underneath. It does not measure dimensional stability, since some of the hardest species on earth still move with humidity. It does not measure finish durability, milling quality, or how an engineered floor's veneer will hold up in daily use. See our full hardwood species and Janka hardness guide for that fuller picture, including trade names that disguise what you are really buying and how to weigh hardness in an actual buying decision.
Frequently asked questions
Why do published Janka numbers differ between charts and retailers?
Because a Janka rating is a lab result, not a fixed constant: it shifts with the moisture content of the sample tested, which specific board or cut was used, and which laboratory ran the test. The modified Janka ball procedure most commonly cited for flooring in the US is standardized under ASTM D1037, built on the small-clear-specimen baseline method defined in ASTM D143. Treat every figure here, and everywhere else, as approximate and comparative, not a certified spec for the exact boards you buy.
What does a result like “5% harder than red oak” actually mean?
Red oak, at about 1,290 on the Janka scale, is the trade's common reference species. Every comparison in this tool is the difference between a species' Janka figure and that 1,290 benchmark, expressed as a share of it: a species at 1,360 is roughly 5% harder, a species at 950 is roughly 26% softer. It is a way of comparing species to a familiar baseline, not a separate measurement.
Why are only 35 species included here?
Six species carried in our glossary have no Janka figure we could verify to a published source, and this tool deliberately excludes them rather than estimating a number: Chinese Birch, Silver Maple, Soft Maple, Bolivian Rosewood, Patagonian Rosewood, Red Grandis. Every species shown in this tool has a figure drawn from the same sourcing this site's species guide uses.
Does a higher Janka number mean a better floor?
No. Janka measures resistance to denting only, not scratch resistance, finish durability, or dimensional stability, so a harder species is not automatically the better choice for a given room. See our hardwood species and Janka hardness guide for the fuller picture of what the number does, and does not, tell you.
Educational tool, not professional advice. This comparison estimates relative hardness only; it is not a certified spec for any specific plank and is not a substitute for a supplier's or installer's own documentation. Last verified: 20 August 2026. See our Disclaimer & Terms.