For any wood carver, new or old, picking the right wood to carve is important. While we may want a specific look to the wood that only certain wood species can offer, we have to really consider how hard this wood is to carve as well.
There are lots of factors that can make wood harder to carve, like moisture, wood grain, knots, sap, and age, but one factor that needs to be considered is wood hardness. A common, and very practical, hardness scale to use is the Janka Wood Hardness Scale.
In short, Janka hardness measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear. This plays a factor in how resistant the wood is to cutting with our carving tools. This is measured by seeing how much force is required to push a 0.44 in (11.28 mm) diameter steel ball into the sample of wood.
Using this measurement in addition to other wood factors can help you get perspective on how difficult the wood will be to carve before you buy it or even start the project.
Common Carving Woods and Their Hardness
There are lots of different types of woods out there, which will be shown further on, but these are some of the most common woods I see people carving with today. These are within range of what I find myself able to carve by hand and what most people use.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Janka Hardness (kN) | Janka Hardness (lbf) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balsa | Ochroma pyramidale | 0.4 | 90 |
| Pine – Eastern White | Pinus strobus | 1.7 | 380 |
| Basswood (Linden) | Tilia americana | 1.8 | 410 |
| Butternut | Juglans cinerea | 2.2 | 490 |
| Poplar | Liriodendron tulipifera | 2.4 | 540 |
| Lime | Tilia x europaea | 3.1 | 700 |
| Birch | Betula populifolia | 3.4 | 760 |
| Elm – American | Ulmus americana | 3.7 | 830 |
| Tupelo | Nyssa aquatica | 3.9 | 880 |
| Cherry | Prunus serotina | 4.2 | 950 |
| Walnut – American | Juglans nigra | 4.5 | 1,010 |
| Walnut – Europian | Juglans regia | 5.4 | 1,220 |
Wood Hardness Scale
Of course, there are hundreds of species of trees out there. So here is a list of species from around the world to help you find what you are looking for.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Janka Hardness (kN) | Janka Hardness (lbf) |
|---|---|---|---|
| African blackwood | Dalbergia melanoxylon | 16.32 | 3,670 |
| African Padauk – Vermillion | Pterocarpus soyauxii | 8.8 | 1,970 |
| Afrormosia | Pericopsis elata | 6.9 | 1,560 |
| Albarco | Cariniana spp. | 4.5 | 1,020 |
| Alder – European | Alnus glutinosa | 2.9 | 650 |
| Alder – Nepalese | Alnus nepalensis | 7.4 | 1,690 |
| Alder – red | Alnus rubra | 2.6 | 590 |
| Alder – white | Alnus rhombifolia | 5.9 | 1,320 |
| Andiroba | Carapa guianensis | 5 | 1,130 |
| Angelin | Andira inermis | 7.8 | 1,750 |
| Angelique | Dicorynia guianensis | 5.7 | 1,290 |
| Apple | Malus sylvestris | 7.7 | 1,730 |
| Ash – black | Fraxinus nigra | 3.8 | 850 |
| Ash – blue | Fraxinus quadrangulata | 9 | 2,030 |
| Ash – green | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | 5.3 | 1,200 |
| Ash – oregon | Fraxinus latifolia | 5.2 | 1,160 |
| Ash – pumpkin | Fraxinus profunda | 4.4 | 990 |
| Ash – white | Fraxinus americana | 5.9 | 1,320 |
| Aspen – bigtooth | Populus grandidentata | 1.9 | 420 |
| Aspen – quaking | Populus tremuloides | 1.6 | 350 |
| Avodire | Turraeanthus africanus | 4.8 | 1,080 |
| Azobe | Lophira alata | 14.9 | 3,350 |
| Bald cypress | Taxcodium distichum | 2.3 | 570 |
| Balsa | Ochroma pyramidale | 0.4 | 90 |
| Banak | Virola spp. | 2.3 | 510 |
| Basswood – American | Tilia americana | 1.8 | 410 |
| Basswood – Carolina | Tilia caroliniana | 1.8 | 410 |
| Beech – American | Fagus grandifolia | 5.8 | 1,300 |
| Benge | Guibourtia arnoldiana | 7.8 | 1,750 |
| Birch – Alaska paper | Betula neoalaskana | 3.7 | 830 |
| Birch – Alder-leaf | Betula alnoides | 3.7 | 830 |
| Birch – downy | Betula pubescens | 4.1 | 930 |
| Birch – gray | Betula populifolia | 3.4 | 760 |
| Birch – paper | Betula papyrifera | 4 | 910 |
| Birch – river | Betula nigra | 5.6 | 1,260 |
| Birch – silver | Betula pendula | 5.4 | 1,210 |
| Birch – sweet | Betula lenta | 6.5 | 1,470 |
| Birch – yellow | Betula alleghaniensis | 5.6 | 1,260 |
| Blackwood – African | Dalbergia melanoxylon | 16.3 | 3,670 |
| Blackwood – Australian | Acacia melanoxylon | 5.2 | 1,160 |
| Blackwood – Burmese | Dalbergia cultrata | 14.9 | 3,350 |
| Blackwood – Malaysian | Diospyros ebonasea | 14.1 | 3,180 |
| Bloodwood – conduru – cardinal wood | Brosimum rubescens | 14 | 2,900 |
| Boxelder | Acer negundo | 3.2 | 720 |
| Bubinga | Guibourtia spp. | 12 | 2,690 |
| Buckeye – yellow | Aesculus octandra | 1.6 | 350 |
| Buckthorn – cascara | Rhamnus purshiana | 4.6 | 1,040 |
| Bulletwood | Manilkara bidentata | 14.2 | 3,190 |
| Butternut | Juglans cinerea | 2.2 | 490 |
| Catalpa – northern | Catalpa speciosa | 2.4 | 550 |
| Catalpa – southern | Catalpa bignonioides | 2.4 | 550 |
| Cativo | Prioria copaifera | 2.8 | 630 |
| Cedar – Alaska | Chamaecyparis nootkatensis | 2.6 | 580 |
| Cedar – atlantic white | Chamaecyparis thyoides | 1.6 | 350 |
| Cedar – Port Orford | Chamaecyparis lawsoniana | 3.2 | 720 |
| Cedar – yellow | Cupressus nootkatensis | 2.6 | 580 |
| Ceiba | Ceiba pentandra | 1.1 | 240 |
| Chalviande | Virola spp. | 2.1 | 481 |
| Cherry – black – American | Prunus serotina | 4.2 | 950 |
| Cherry – Brazilian | Castenea dentata | 10.4 | 2,350 |
| Cherry – wild – European | Prunus avium | 5.1 | 1,150 |
| Chestnut – American | Castenea dentata | 2.4 | 540 |
| Chinkapin – giant | Castanopsis chrysophylla | 3.2 | 730 |
| Cocobolo – Cocabolo – Cocobola | Dalbergia retusa | 14.1 | 2,960 |
| Coffeetree – Kentucky | Gymnocladus dioicus | 6.2 | 1,390 |
| Cottonwood – balsam poplar | Populus balsamifera | 1.3 | 300 |
| Cottonwood – black | Populus trichocarpa | 1.6 | 350 |
| Cottonwood – eastern | Populus deltoides | 1.9 | 430 |
| Courbaril | Hymenaea courbaril | 10.5 | 2,350 |
| Cuangare | Dialyanthera spp | 1.7 | 380 |
| Cypress – Australian | Callitris glaucophylla | 6 | 1,375 |
| Cypress – Mexican | Cupressus lustianica | 2 | 460 |
| Degame | Calycophyllum candidissimum | 8.6 | 1,940 |
| Determa | Ocotea rubra | 2.9 | 660 |
| Dogwood | Cornus florida | 9.6 | 2,150 |
| Douglas-fir – coast | Pseudotsuga menziesii | 3.2 | 710 |
| Douglas-fir – interior north | Pseudotsuga menziesii | 2.7 | 600 |
| Douglas-fir – interior south | Pseudotsuga menziesii | 2.3 | 510 |
| Douglas-fir – interior west | Pseudotsuga menziesii | 2.9 | 660 |
| Ebony – African – Gaboon – Nigerian | Diospyros crassiflora | 14.1 | 3,220 |
| Ebony – black and white – pale moon | Diospyros malabarica | 7.9 | 1,790 |
| Ebony – Ceylon – East Indian | Diospyros cebenum | 10.8 | 2,430 |
| Ebony – Macassar – striped | Diospyros celebica | 14.1 | 3,220 |
| Ebony – mun | Diospyros mun | 13.4 | 3,000 |
| Ebony – persimmon – white | Diospyros virginiana | 10.2 | 2,300 |
| Ekki – azobe | Lophira alata | 14.3 | 3,220 |
| Ekop | Tetraberlinia tubmaniana | 4.1 | 910 |
| Elder – blue | Sambucus cerulea | 3.7 | 840 |
| Elm – american | Ulmus americana | 3.7 | 830 |
| Elm – cedar | Ulmus crassifolia | 5.9 | 1,320 |
| Elm – rock | Ulmus thomasii | 5.9 | 1,320 |
| Elm – slippery | Ulmus rubra | 3.8 | 860 |
| Elm – winged | Ulmus alata | 6.8 | 1,540 |
| Fir – balsam | Abies balsamea | 1.8 | 400 |
| Fir – California red | Abies magnifica | 2.2 | 500 |
| Fir – grand | Abies grandis | 2.2 | 490 |
| Fir – noble | Abies procera | 1.8 | 410 |
| Fir – pacific silver | Abies amabilis | 1.9 | 430 |
| Fir – subalpine | Abies lasiocarpa | 1.6 | 350 |
| Fir – white | Abies concolor | 2.1 | 480 |
| Goncalo alves | Astronium graveolens | 9.6 | 2,160 |
| Granadillo | Platymiscium yucatanum | 10.9 | 2,450 |
| Greenheart | Chlorocardium rodiei | 10.5 | 2,350 |
| Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | 3.9 | 880 |
| Hemlock – eastern | Tsuga canadensis | 2.2 | 500 |
| Hemlock – mountain | Tsuga mertensiana | 3 | 680 |
| Hemlock – western | Tsuga heterophylla | 2.4 | 540 |
| Hickory – bitternut | Carya cordiformis | 6.7 | 1,500 |
| Hickory – nutmeg | Carya myristicaeformis | 5.74 | 1,290 |
| Hickory – pecan | Carya illinoensis | 8.1 | 1,820 |
| Hickory – pignut | Carya glabra | 9.5 | 2,140 |
| Hickory – shagbark | Carya ovata | 8.4 | 1,880 |
| Hickory – shellbark | Carya lacinosa | 8.1 | 1,810 |
| Hickory – water | Carya aquatica | 6.9 | 1,550 |
| Hickory. mockernut | Carya tomentosa | 8.8 | 1,970 |
| Holly – American | Ilex opaca | 4.5 | 1,020 |
| Honeylocust | Gleditsia triacanthos | 7 | 1,580 |
| Hophornbeam – eastern | Ostrya virginiana | 8.3 | 1,860 |
| Hornbeam – American | Carpinus caroliniana | 7.9 | 1,780 |
| Hura | Hura crepitans | 2.4 | 550 |
| Ilomba | Pycnanthus angolensis Exell | 2.7 | 610 |
| Incense-cedar | Libocedrus decurrens | 2.1 | 470 |
| Ipe | Handroanthus spp. (lapacho group), Brazilian walnut | 15.6 | 3,510 |
| Iroko | Chlorophora spp. | 5.6 | 1,260 |
| Jarrah | Eucalyptus marginata | 8.5 | 1,910 |
| Jelutong | Dyera costulata | 1.7 | 390 |
| Juniper – alligator | Juniperus deppeana | 5.2 | 1,160 |
| Kaneelhart | Licaria spp. | 12.9 | 2,900 |
| Kapur | Dryobalanops spp. | 5.5 | 1,230 |
| Karri | Eucalyptus diversicolor | 9.1 | 2,040 |
| Katalox – Mexican Royal Ebony | Swartzia spp. (S. cubensis) | 16.3 | 3,660 |
| Kempas | Koompassia malaccensis | 7.6 | 1,710 |
| Keruing | Dipterocarpus spp. | 5.6 | 1,270 |
| Koa – Hawaiian koa | Acacia koa | 5.2 | 1,170 |
| Lacewood – Brazilian lacewood | Panopsis spp. (P. rubescens and P. sessilifolia) | 3.7 | 840 |
| Larch – western | Larix occidentalis | 3.7 | 830 |
| Laurel – California | Umbellularia californica | 5.6 | 1,270 |
| Laurel – mountain | Kalmia latifolia | 8 | 1,790 |
| Lignum vitae | Guaiacum spp. | 20 | 4,500 |
| Limba | Terminalia superba | 2.2 | 490 |
| Locust – black | Robinia pseudoacacia | 7.6 | 1,700 |
| Macawood | Platymiscium spp. | 14 | 3,150 |
| Madrone – Pacific Madrone | Dalbergia retusa | 6.5 | 1,460 |
| Magnolia – cucumber tree | Magnolia acuminata | 3.1 | 700 |
| Magnolia – southern | Magnolia grandiflora | 4.5 | 1,020 |
| Magnolia – sweetbay | Magnolia virginiana | 3.6 | 810 |
| Mahogany – African | Khaya spp. | 3.7 | 830 |
| Mahogany – Santos – Cabreuva | Myroxylon balsamum | 9.8 | 2,200 |
| Mahogany – true | Swietenia macrophylla | 3.6 | 800 |
| Manbarklak | Eschweilera spp. | 15.5 | 3,480 |
| Manni | Symphonia globulifera | 5 | 1,120 |
| Maple – bigleaf | Acer macrophyllum | 3.8 | 850 |
| Maple – birdseye | Acer saccharum | 6.4 | 1,450 |
| Maple – black | Acer nigrum | 5.2 | 1,180 |
| Maple – red | Acer rubrum | 4.2 | 950 |
| Maple – silver | Acer saccharimum | 3.1 | 700 |
| Maple – sugar (hard) | Acer saccharum | 6.4 | 1,450 |
| Marishballi | Lincania spp. | 15.9 | 3,570 |
| Merbau | Intsia spp. | 6.7 | 1,500 |
| Mersawa | Anisoptera spp. | 5.7 | 1,290 |
| Mesquite | Prosopis spp. | 10.4 | 2,345 |
| Mora | Mora spp. | 10.2 | 2,300 |
| Myrtlewood | Umbellularia californica | 5.65 | 1,270 |
| Oak – black | Quercus velutina | 5.4 | 1,210 |
| Oak – bur | Quercus macrocarpa | 6.1 | 1,370 |
| Oak – cherrybark | Quercus falcata var pagodifolia | 6.6 | 1,480 |
| Oak – chestnut | Quercus prinus | 5 | 1,130 |
| Oak – laurel | Quercus laurifolia | 5.4 | 1,210 |
| Oak – live | Quercus virginiana | 12.9 | 2,680 |
| Oak – northern red | Quercus rubra | 5.7 | 1,290 |
| Oak – overcup | Quercus lyrata | 5.3 | 1,190 |
| Oak – pin | Quercus palustris | 6.7 | 1,510 |
| Oak – post | Quercus stellata | 6 | 1,360 |
| Oak – scarlet | Quercus coccinea | 6.2 | 1,400 |
| Oak – shumard | Quercus shumardii | 5.8 | 1,290 |
| Oak – southern red | Quercus falcata | 4.7 | 1,060 |
| Oak – swamp chestnut | Quercus michauxii | 5.5 | 1,240 |
| Oak – swamp white | Quercus bicolor | 7.2 | 1,620 |
| Oak – water | Quercus nigra | 5.3 | 1,190 |
| Oak – white | Quercus alba | 6 | 1,360 |
| Oak – willow | Quercus phellos | 6.5 | 1,460 |
| Obeche | Triplochiton scleroxylon | 1.9 | 430 |
| Okoume | Aucoumea klaineana | 1.7 | 380 |
| Opepe | Nauclea diderrichii | 7.3 | 1,630 |
| Osage orange – horse apple | Maclura pomifera | 12.3 | 2,760 |
| Ovangkol | Guibourtia ehie | 5.9 | 1,330 |
| Para-angelim | Hymenolobium excelsum | 7.7 | 1,720 |
| Parana-pine | Araucaria augustifolia | 3.5 | 780 |
| Pau marfim – Patagonian maple | Balfourodendron riedelianum | 6.7 | 1,500 |
| Paulownia – royal paulownia | Paulownia tomentosa | 1.33 | 300 |
| Pedauk – African | Pterocarpus soyauxii | 8.6 | 1,970 |
| Peroba de campos | Paratecoma peroba | 7.1 | 1,600 |
| Peroba rosa | Aspidosperma spp., peroba group | 7.7 | 1,730 |
| Persimmon – common | Diospyros virginiana | 10.2 | 2,300 |
| Pilon | Hyeronima spp. | 7.6 | 1,700 |
| Pine – Caribbean | Pinus caribaea | 5.5 | 1,240 |
| Pine – eastern white | Pinus strobus | 1.7 | 380 |
| Pine – heart | Pinus resinosa | 5.5 | 1,225 |
| Pine – jack | Pinus banksiana | 2.5 | 570 |
| Pine – Jeffrey | Pinus jeffreyi | 2.2 | 500 |
| Pine – limber | Pinus flexilis | 1.9 | 430 |
| Pine – loblolly | Pinus taeda | 3.1 | 690 |
| Pine – lodgepole | Pinus contorta | 2.1 | 480 |
| Pine – longleaf | Pinus palustris | 3.9 | 870 |
| Pine – Monterey | Pinus radiata | 3.3 | 750 |
| Pine – ocote | Pinus oocarpa | 4 | 910 |
| Pine – pinyon | Pinus edulis | 3.8 | 860 |
| Pine – pitch | Pinus rigida | 2.8 | 620 |
| Pine – pond | Pinus serotina | 3.3 | 740 |
| Pine – ponderosa | Pinus ponderosa | 2 | 460 |
| Pine – sand | Pinus clausa | 3.3 | 730 |
| Pine – shortleaf | Pinus echinata | 3.1 | 690 |
| Pine – slash | Pinus elliotti | 3.4 | 760 |
| Pine – spruce | Pinus glabra | 2.9 | 660 |
| Pine – sugar | Pinus lambertiana | 1.7 | 380 |
| Pine – Table Mountain | Pinus pungens | 2.9 | 660 |
| Pine – virginia | Pinus virginiana | 3.3 | 740 |
| Pine – western white | Pinus monticola | 1.9 | 420 |
| Pine. red | Pinus resinosa | 2.5 | 560 |
| Piquia | Caryocar spp. | 7.7 | 1,720 |
| Poplar | Liriodendron tulipifera | 2.4 | 540 |
| Primavera | Tabebula donnell-smithii | 2.9 | 660 |
| Pulgande | Dacryodes spp. | 3 | 666 |
| Purpleheart | Peltogyne spp. | 8.3 | 1,860 |
| Ramin | Gonystylus bancanus | 5.8 | 1,300 |
| Red cedar – eastern | Juniperus virginiana | 4 | 900 |
| Red cedar – southern | Juniperus silicicola | 2.7 | 610 |
| Red cedar – western | Thuja plicata | 1.6 | 350 |
| Redwood – old growth | Sequoia sempervirens | 2.1 | 480 |
| Redwood – second growth | Sequoia sempervirens | 1.9 | 420 |
| Robe | Tabebul spp., roble group | 4.3 | 960 |
| Rosewood – Amazon | Dalbergia spruceana | 12 | 2,700 |
| Rosewood – Brazilian | Dalbergia nigra | 12.4 | 2,790 |
| Rosewood – Burmese | Dalbergia oliveri | 12.1 | 2,710 |
| Rosewood – Honduran | Dalbergia stevensonii | 9.8 | 2,200 |
| Rosewood – Indian – East Indian | Dalbergia latifolia | 10.9 | 2,440 |
| Rosewood – Siamese | Dalbergia cochinchinensis | 10.8 | 2,430 |
| Rosewood – Yucatan – Madagascar | Dalbergia madagascariensis | 12.1 | 2,720 |
| Rosewood – Yucatan – Panama | Dalbergia tucurensis | 5.4 | 1,210 |
| Sajo | Campnosperma panamensis | 1.9 | 425 |
| Sande | Brosimum spp., utile group | 4 | 900 |
| Santa maria | Calophyllum brasiliense | 5.1 | 1,150 |
| Sapele | Entandrophragma cylindricum | 6.7 | 1,510 |
| Sassafras | Sassafras albidum | 2.8 | 630 |
| Sepetir | Pseudosindora palustris | 6.3 | 1,410 |
| Serviceberry | Amelanchier spp. | 8 | 1,800 |
| Shorea | Shorea spp., baulau group | 7.9 | 1,780 |
| Shorea – dark red meranti | Shorea spp., lauan-meranti group | 3.5 | 780 |
| Shorea – light red meranti | Shorea spp., lauan-meranti group | 2 | 460 |
| Shorea – white meranti | Shorea javanica, lauan-meranti group | 5.7 | 1,140 |
| Shorea – yellow meranti | Shorea spp., lauan-meranti group | 3.4 | 770 |
| Silverbell – Carolina | Halesia carolina | 2.6 | 590 |
| Snakewood – letterwood – amourette | Brosimum guianense | 16.9 | 3,800 |
| Sourwood | Oxydendrum arboreum | 4.2 | 940 |
| Spanish-cedar | Cedrela spp. | 2.7 | 600 |
| Spruce – black | Picea mariana | 2.3 | 520 |
| Spruce – Engelmann | Picea engelmanni | 1.7 | 390 |
| Spruce – red | Picea rubra | 2.2 | 490 |
| Spruce – Sitka | Picea sitchensis | 2.3 | 510 |
| Spruce – white | Picea glauca | 2.1 | 480 |
| Sucupira | Diplotropis purpurea | 9.5 | 2,140 |
| Sucupira | Bowdichia brasiliensis | 12.2 | 2,750 |
| Sumac – staghorn | Rhus typhina | 3 | 680 |
| Sweetgum | Liquidambar styraciflua | 3.8 | 850 |
| Sycamore – american | Platanus occidentalis | 3.4 | 770 |
| Tamarack | Larix laricina | 2.6 | 590 |
| Tanoak | Lithocarpus densiflorus | 6.3 | 1,420 |
| Teak | Tectona grandis | 4.4 | 1,000 |
| Tornillo | Cedrelinga cateniformis | 10.2 | 2,299 |
| Tree-of-heaven | Ailanthus altissima | 7.7 | 1,731 |
| Tulapueta | Osteophloeum platyspermum | 2.3 | 512 |
| Tupelo – black | Nyssa sylvatica | 3.6 | 810 |
| Tupelo. water | Nyssa aquatica | 3.9 | 880 |
| Wallaba | Eperua spp. | 9.1 | 2,040 |
| Walnut – black | Juglans nigra | 4.5 | 1,010 |
| Wenge | Millettia laurentii | 8.4 | 1,930 |
| White-cedar – northern | Thuja occidentalis | 1.4 | 320 |
| Willow – black | Salix nigra | 1.6 | 360 |
| Witch hazel | Hamamelis virginica | 6.8 | 1,530 |
| Yellow poplar | Liriodendron tulipifera | 2.4 | 540 |
| yew – Pacific | Taxus brevifolia | 7.1 | 1,600 |