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Different woods behave differently under load, weather and wear. Janka hardness and density tell you most of what you need to pick a species for a job.

Species	Janka (lbf)	Density	Outdoor durability	Best for
White Oak	1360	48	Very good	Flooring, furniture, outdoor
Hard Maple	1450	42	Poor	Cutting boards, worktops, floors
Walnut	1010	41	Moderate	Fine furniture, gun stocks
Mahogany	800	35	Very good	Boat decks, outdoor furniture
Cherry	950	42	Poor	Cabinetry, fine furniture
Teak	1070	52	Excellent	Marine, outdoor furniture
Birch	1210	43	Poor	Plywood, painted cabinetry
Poplar	400	29	Poor	Paint-grade mouldings
Cedar (red)	350	25	Excellent	Cladding, decks, fencing
Douglas fir	900	34	Moderate	Structural framing, decks
Southern Pine	1330	42	Moderate	Framing, treated lumber base
Spruce (SPF)	510	30	Poor	Framing, studs

Janka measures resistance to denting, not overall strength. The hardest woods are also the hardest to work and the most expensive. For most projects the right choice is the species that is easy to machine, stable and available near you.

Outdoor durability ranking

From best to worst with no treatment: teak and ipe, then western red cedar and mahogany, then southern pine (treat it), then Douglas fir, then SPF. "Durability" here means resistance to rot and insects, not to weathering — no species holds its colour outdoors without a finish.

Where to buy

Compare current pricing across major suppliers — prices vary by region and season.

hardwood boards cedar planks mahogany lumber

Related tools

• Lumber weight chart
• Hardwood yield
• Board foot