Wood Floor Hardness by Species

Janke Chart

Use this Janke Chart to see the hardness of the various woods used to make hardwood floors.

The Janka (or side) hardness test measures the force required to embed a .444-inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. By the same token, it is also a good indicator of how hard or easy a species is to saw or nail. Pine, for example, has a Janka hardness rating of 12225. Santos Mahogany, is approximately twice as hard with a rating of 2200.

Comments are closed.