The Janka hardness chart rates wood species by how much force (in lbf) is needed to embed a steel ball halfway into the wood. Higher numbers mean harder wood — essential for choosing the right hardwood flooring species for your home or commercial space. Filter by suitability, search by name, or compare two species side by side.
Wood Species
| Species | Janka (lbf) | Flooring Use | Compare |
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Janka Scale Reference
The Janka hardness test embeds a 0.444 in (11.28 mm) steel ball to half its diameter and records the required force in lbf. Tested per ASTM D1037 standard.
How to Use the Janka Hardness Chart
This free Janka hardness chart helps you choose the right hardwood species for your flooring project. Whether you're comparing domestic and exotic options or simply want to know how Red Oak stacks up against Hard Maple, this reference covers 22+ species with ratings, flooring suitability guidance, visual color descriptions, and country of origin.
Step 1: Browse or Search for a Species
Type a species name in the search box to filter the table instantly — try "oak", "maple", or "cherry". You can also sort the table by Janka rating (ascending or descending) or by species name alphabetically by clicking the column headers. By default, species are sorted from softest to hardest so you can see the full spectrum at a glance.
Step 2: Filter by Flooring Suitability
Use the suitability filter buttons — Excellent, Good, Fair, or Not recommended — to narrow the list to species appropriate for your use case. For high-traffic areas like hallways and living rooms, filter to Excellent. For bedrooms or low-traffic spaces, Good-rated species may suffice and often offer more color variety or lower cost.
Step 3: Compare Two Species
Click the + button in the Compare column to add a species to the side-by-side comparison panel. Select up to two species to see their Janka ratings, hardness bars, flooring use, color, and origin displayed together. This makes it easy to evaluate trade-offs between popular options like Red Oak vs. White Oak, or Hard Maple vs. Hickory. Click Clear to reset the comparison.
Understanding the Janka Rating
The Janka hardness test measures the force (in pounds-force, lbf) required to embed a 0.444-inch steel ball halfway into the wood. A higher number means harder wood that better resists dents, scratches, and wear. The scale typically ranges from around 100 lbf (Balsa) to over 3500 lbf (Cumaru, Ipe). For residential flooring, most designers recommend species above 1000 lbf, with Red Oak (1290 lbf) being the benchmark most other species are compared against.
Choosing by Activity Level
Light residential use (bedroom, study): species 900–1300 lbf work well. Standard residential (living room, dining room): 1200–1600 lbf is ideal. High-traffic residential (entryway, kitchen): aim for 1500 lbf or above. Commercial spaces: consider species above 1800 lbf. Keep in mind that hardness is only one factor — moisture resistance, grain stability, and refinishability matter too, especially for kitchens or humid climates.
Domestic vs. Exotic Species
North American species like Red Oak, White Oak, Hard Maple, and Hickory are widely available, cost-effective, and easy to refinish. Exotic species such as Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba), Ipe, and Cumaru offer extreme hardness but are typically more expensive, harder to source sustainably, and may be more difficult to sand and refinish. Always verify FSC certification when purchasing exotic hardwoods.
FAQ
Is this Janka hardness chart free?
Yes, completely free with no account required. All data is built into the page and works offline — nothing is sent to any server.
Is my data private?
Yes. Everything runs entirely in your browser. No data is collected or transmitted.
What is the Janka hardness test?
The Janka hardness test measures how much force (in pounds-force, lbf) is needed to embed a 0.444-inch steel ball halfway into a wood sample. Higher numbers mean harder wood. It was developed by Gabriel Janka in 1906 and is the industry-standard method for rating wood hardness for flooring applications.
What Janka rating is good for flooring?
For residential flooring, a Janka rating of 1000 lbf or above is generally recommended. Species like Red Oak (1290 lbf) and Hard Maple (1450 lbf) are popular choices. High-traffic commercial spaces often use species above 1800 lbf, such as Hickory or Brazilian Cherry. Anything below 900 lbf tends to dent and scratch easily under normal foot traffic.
Is Red Oak or White Oak harder?
White Oak (1360 lbf) is slightly harder than Red Oak (1290 lbf). Both are excellent flooring choices and among the most popular hardwoods in North America. White Oak also offers better moisture resistance, making it a preferred option for kitchens and bathrooms.
What is the hardest wood for flooring?
Among commonly available flooring species, Cumaru (3540 lbf) and Ipe/Brazilian Walnut (3510 lbf) are the hardest. Strand-woven bamboo, though technically a grass, can reach 3000+ lbf. These ultra-hard materials resist denting extremely well but are more difficult and expensive to install and refinish.
Can I use softwood species for flooring?
Softwoods like Pine and Douglas Fir can be used in low-traffic residential areas, but they dent and scratch much more easily than hardwoods. Eastern White Pine (380 lbf) is sometimes used in historic restoration projects for its character, but modern installations typically use species with at least 1000 lbf for durability.
Does a higher Janka rating mean harder to refinish?
Generally yes — harder floors require more effort and sharper tooling to sand and refinish. Very hard exotics like Ipe (3510 lbf) can be difficult for standard sanding equipment. However, their extreme hardness means they need refinishing far less often than softer species.