Types of Wood

American Softwood Janka Scale

• Red Cedar - 900

• Yellow Pine - 870 (Common decking material, located in the south)

• Douglas Fir -710 (Common in furniture like bed frames)

• Hemlock -540

• Cypress -510

• Sitka Spruce - 510

• Panderosa Pine - 460

• Redwood - 420

• Sugar Pine - 380

• White Pine - 380 (This is the common wood at home improvement stores)

• Western Cedar - 350

• White Cedar - 320

American Hardwood Janka Scale

• Hickory, Pecan - 1,820

• Hard Maple - 1,450 (Common in cutting boards)

• White Oak - 1,360 (Common in outdoor furniture)

• Beech - 1,300

• Red Oak - 1,290 (Common in flooring)

• Yellow Birch - 1,260

• Green Ash - 1,200 (Endangered due to Ash Borer Beetle)

• Black Walnut - 1,010

• Soft Maple - 950 (Common in low grade furniture and home improvement stores)

• Cherry - 950

• Hackberry - 880

• Gum - 850

• Elm - 830

• Sycamore - 770

• Alder - 590

• Yellow Poplar - 540 (Common wood for trim and more, takes paint well)

• Cottonwood - 430

• Basswood - 410 (Common in carvings)

• Aspen - 350