What's the Hardest Wood in the World?

Australian Buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii) is often reported as the world’s hardest wood, with a Janka hardness of approximately 5,060 lbf.

This flowering plant is native to Australia and known for its extreme durability and high density. It’s so tough that it draws comparisons to the South American “axe-breaker” wood (quebracho) known for extreme hardness

Native to South America, these trees produce some of the hardest commercially available wood. Often referred to as quebracho or "axe-breaker," its Janka hardness exceeds 4,500 lbf.

It's water-resistant and used in construction and railway ties.

This rare hardwood has historical evidence of use in shipbuilding and tool making. Lignum vitae literally means "wood of life" and can reach up to 4,500 lbf on the Janka rating system.

It's also used for luxury items and musical instruments, but is now considered an endangered species.

Snakewood has a unique appearance with reddish brown color and black streaks, making it popular for decorative uses. It’s extremely dense and expensive, with high demand for knife handles and instrument bows.

Sometimes called Brazilian walnut, ipe wood scores around 3,600 lbf on the Janka scale. It’s known for water resistance, insect attack resistance and being incredibly durable.

It’s commonly used for decking and outdoor construction.

Known as one of the most expensive woods in the world, African blackwood has a high Janka rating and is used in high-end musical instruments.

Despite its extreme hardness, African blackwood is prized for detailed carving and can be polished to a lustrous finish. It's another species under threat due to limited supply.

This dense wood grows in the Sonoran Desert and has remarkable durability. It’s dark, rich in color and highly resistant to decay. Not commonly used in flooring, it’s instead sought after for carvings and luxury goods.

Another South American hardwood, Brazilian teak has a Janka hardness of about 3,300 lbf. It offers high density and water resistance, making it a favorite for flooring and heavy-use furniture.

This bright-yellow wood has a Janka rating of over 2,000 lbf and is valued for its crushing strength and grain stability. It’s often used for fence posts, bows, and other specialty items.

This tough hardwood scores high on the Janka hardness test and resists rot and insects. Its strength and durability make it a popular alternative to tropical hardwoods for outdoor use.

The Janka test measures how many pounds force (lbf) it takes to embed a steel ball into wood. Higher ratings mean harder woods.

Common hardwoods like oak have Janka ratings around 1,300 lbf, whereas the hardest woods in the world can reach over 5,000 lbf.

From construction to carving, choosing the right wood affects everything from performance to aesthetics. And while softest woods like pine have their place, the world’s hardest woods stand out for their power and prestige.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.