Weight can be one of the most important characteristics when choosing the appropriate wood for carpentry or construction work as this feature is usually related to the hardness and strength of the material.
Therefore, below we show you the 10 heaviest kinds of wood in the world.
But as always, we recommend you visit the article on basic concepts of wood to clear up any doubts you may have about this material.
Top 10 heaviest kinds of wood in the world
10. Verawood or Guayacan garrapo (Bulnesia arborea)
This wood is native to South and Central America and is relatively abundant in countries such as:
- Brazil.
- Colombia.
- Venezuela.
- Guyana.
- Surinam.
Density
The density of Guayacán garrapo is 1,192 Kg/m3.
Color
It is a wood of olive green color in most cases, though it can be dark brown.
Durability
Verawood is a very resistant material, which is why it is widely used outdoors, especially due to its high concentration of oils.
Conservation Status
According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the Bulnesia Arborea is an endangered species due to indiscriminate logging and the overexploitation to which it has been subjected.
Uses
- Exterior carpentry (doors, window frames).
- Lathing.
- Boat building.
- Formerly used in structural construction (in countries where it is native due to its abundance).
- Guaiac oil (or guaiacol), widely used in the perfumery, is extracted from Vera wood.
- Organic solvents, varnishes, and paints of dark tones are elaborated with its resin.
9. Kingwood or Violetwood (Dalbergia cearensis)
This species is native to Brazil.
Density
Violetwood has a density of 1200 kg/m3.
Color
Heartwood or mature and usable wood
It is reddish brown in color, although it can sometimes have a purple tinge with black lines as a pattern.
Sapwood or young wood (usually not used)
Pale yellow is well distinguished from heartwood.
Durability
It is resistant to humidity and withstands very well being outdoors and also resists termites very well.
Workability
As a dense wood, it can wear out tools easily and regularly. In addition, as it has so many oils, gluing is complicated, but it gives a very good finish.
Conservation Status
According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Dalbergia cearensis has international trade restrictions due to the deterioration of the species habitat.
Uses
- Luxury joinery.
- Dental veneers and laminates (dentistry).
- Billiard sticks.
- Handles for tools.
- Lathing.
Note: Violetwood is classified as a “sensitizer” or sensitizing agent, which means that it can induce allergic reactions and the more you are exposed to its particles, the greater the intensity of the allergic reaction it causes.
8. Dessert Ironwood (Olneya tesota)
This species belonging to the Fabaceae family is native to all of western Mexico and the southern United States. This species is too small to be a large-scale timber species.
Density
Ironwood has a density of 1,208 kg/m3.
Color
Heartwood
The color ranges from yellow with orange shades to dark brown with purple or black lines as a pattern.
Sapwood
Yellow, easily distinguishable from the heartwood.
Workability
This wood is very difficult to handle because of its high density, which makes it very resistant to knives and saws. Because of this and the small amount of wood that can be extracted from the tree, this species is restricted to the production of small pieces.
Conservation Status
Olneya tesota has not been listed by the IUCN as an endangered species.
Uses
- Lathing.
- Carving.
- Elaboration of handicrafts.
- Handles for knives.
- Elaboration of mineral coal.
7. Azulillo wood, Granadillo or Snakewood (Brosimum guianense)
This shrub’s habitat is distributed throughout the tropical zones of the Americas; the largest number of specimens are located in:
- Mexico.
- Costa Rica.
- The Antilles.
- Colombia.
- Venezuela.
- Bolivia.
Density
Snakewood has a density of 1212 kg/m3.
Color
Brown with black lines and patches with a design similar to the skin of a snake.
Conservation status
Snakewood is listed by the IUCN as a species of the least concern.
Uses
The main use of this wood is in the elaboration of soundboards for violins.
However, in some areas of the Caribbean, the bark of the Brosimum guianense tree is used as an analgesic agent and in general as an input for the elaboration of natural medicines.
6. Lead tree wood (Cobretum imberbe)
Lead tree is a species native to the southeastern region of Africa and is most commonly found in countries such as:
- South Africa.
- Namibia.
- Tanzania.
Also, this wood is not readily available and is rarely found outside of Africa.
Density
A lead tree has a density of 1215 kg/m3.
Color
Heartwood
It is brown in color but may have red or even black tones.
Sapwood
Pale yellow is easily distinguishable from the heartwood.
Durability
It is a very durable wood and resists weathering very well. It has also been reported to have excellent resistance to insects and moisture.
Workability
Leadwood is a difficult wood to work on. In fact, its wood is so dense that if very sharp tools are not used, it tends to crack in contact with the blade.
State of conservation
The lead tree is not on the red list of threatened species.
Uses
- Carving.
- Lathing.
- Cabinetmaking.
Charcoal making, as the wood, burns very slowly. But this is only done with trees that for some reason do not reach a great height.
Keep in mind that the tree can reach 20 meters in normal conditions.
5. Willow-leaf red Quebracho or Quebracho colorado chaqueño (Schinopsis balansae)
This South American species is particularly present in Paraguay.
Density
Quebracho wood has a density of 1235 kg/m3.
Color
Heartwood
It has a color that can reach the red frank.
Durability
Quebracho is considered a very durable wood.
Workability
Quebracho wood is difficult to work on due to its high density and hardness.
Conservation status
Due to the overexploitation of Quebracho since the end of the 19th century, the population of the species has seen a great reduction.
In fact, according to the IUCN, the Quebracho is considered a threatened species, although some reports place it as an endangered species in certain areas of Paraguay and Argentina.
Uses
Although quebracho has been used from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day, especially in construction and luxury cabinetmaking, the main reason why it has become endangered is due to exploitation in the tannery sector (production of leather goods).
This has occurred because Quebracho wood has a high concentration of tannins, chemical substances that protect the tree from blows and pest attacks.
In fact, 38% of Quebracho wood weight is given by the concentration of tannins.
Therefore, tannins prevent the skins from rotting and turning into hides. In addition, tannins were used in the past to dye the skins.
4. Roughbark Lignum-vitae or Guaiacwood (Guaiacum officinale)
This species is native to the Caribbean region and northern South America and is widely found in countries such as Venezuela. Its exportation to the European continent dates back to the XVI century.
As a curious fact, the Guaiacum is the national tree of the Bahamas.
Density
The density of guaiacwood is 1257 kg/m3.
Color
Greenish brown that can almost turn black.
Durability
It is considered one of the most resistant and heavy woods in the world.
Conservation status
The IUCN through the CITES convention has declared this species as an endangered species, which is why it is protected in the countries where it is native.
Uses
In addition to its timber uses, the medicinal uses of this species have also been the reason for its overexploitation. In fact “Lignum vitae” means tree of life in Latin.
On the other hand, guaiacwood has been used extensively in shipbuilding due to its high concentration of oils and its resistance to humidity.
3. African blackwood of Granadillo (Dalbergia melanoxylon)
This wood is distributed especially in countries such as:
- Angola.
- Congo.
- Kenya.
- Mozambique.
- Tanzania.
Density
The density of Granadillo is 1270 kg/m3.
Color
This wood is easily recognized by its particular dark shade, as it can be dark brown or black.
Durability
Considered to be very durable, Granadillo is very resistant to weathering, so it stands the test of time very well. It is also moderately resistant to humidity.
Workability
It is very difficult to work because, apart from being very dense, it is very hard.
It is usual for black Granadillo wood to wear the edge of tools very quickly. However, it has a very good finish and perhaps for this reason it is very desirable for carving work.
Conservation status
This species is considered near threatened by the IUCN, although it is expected to become an endangered species in a few years if exploitation continues at the current rate.
Uses
Due to its hardness and density, this wood is widely used in blacksmithing as it can be used to make excellent handles for tools.
It is also widely used in the manufacture of percussion instruments, as well as wind instruments such as flutes, oboes, and clarinets.
This is due to the fact that thanks to its almost zero permeability to water, it doesn’t allow the condensation that occurs inside these instruments, and, therefore, they last longer in optimal conditions.
2. Itín wood, Carandá or Tiger Beard (Prosopis kuntzei)
This species is native to the central and southern regions of South Africa; most specimens are found in countries such as:
- Argentina.
- Paraguay.
- Bolivia.
- Brazil.
It is usually used as a substitute for ebony wood because it shares some of its characteristics, especially its color.
However, you must first consider that not much wood is extracted from this tree since it usually does not exceed 10 meters in height (it is a small tree) so its wood is not very easy to get.
Also, the pieces that are marketed are small most of the time and it is difficult to find large pieces without defects.
Density
Caranda wood has a density of 1275 kg/m3.
Color
Heartwood
It is dark brown in color with occasional purple patches so dark that they appear black to the naked eye.
Sapwood
Pale yellow.
Durability
Itín or Carandá is a durable wood, especially resistant to the passage of time because it is very well preserved over the years. It has a medium resistance to humidity and fungal attack.
Workability
In general terms, it is a relatively easy wood to work on despite its high density.
Only sawing and nailing usually present problems, so it is recommended to use very sharp equipment and always use a drill.
Conservation status
According to the IUCN, this is a species of least concern.
Uses
- Floor manufacturing.
- Manufacture of mineral charcoal, since it burns slowly and favors combustion.
- Lathing.
- Elaboration of cabinets and closets.
- Crafts
1. Ironwood (Krugiodendron ferreum)
Ironwood is a tree native to the sub-humid forests of the Caribbean, although it covers the territories of countries such as:
- United States.
- Mexico.
- Costa Rica.
- The Antilles.
Density
Ironwood has a density of 1355 kg/m3.
Color
It has a color ranging from orange to light brown.
Durability
Ironwood is said to be very durable, especially outdoors. It also ages very well and preserves its natural appearance for many years.
Conservation status
Not listed in the IUCN.
Uses
- Manufacture of cabinets.
- Alternative medicine (the extract of its leaves and bark is used to treat pains such as backache and mouth infections).
The weight-density relationship
Density is the ratio between the weight or mass of a substance and the volume it occupies and is expressed in kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m3) or gram per cubic centimeter (gr/cm3).
In addition, due to the molecular structure of wood, this material behaves like a sponge and traps or releases water depending on the humidity in the environment.
This property of trapping or releasing water according to the environment humidity is known as hygroscopy and it is important to know it because wood is heavier when it is freshly cut (green wood) and lighter when it is dry.
Therefore, keep in mind that when we talk about the weight of the wood we are referring to its density.
The list of woods that we are going to show is based on the weight of dry wood, or with a maximum moisture content of 12%, since this is the wood that can be worked with.
However, it is good for you to know that due to the hygroscopic properties of wood, there may be changes in the density values shown here, when compared with other listings.
This is because the studies to determine the density of each wood species have been done in laboratories, that is, in a controlled environment.
However, the behavior of each wood in an everyday environment such as a sawmill or woodworking shop will be more or less different because the environmental conditions will not be the same.
Also, remember that woods that exceed 1000kg/m3 are considered very heavy as is the case of the woods we are going to list below.
Another thing to keep in mind is that often the woods with the highest density are the hardest and most resistant, as there is a relationship between density, hardness and durability.
However, remember that this does not apply to all cases because, for example, ironwood (described above) is a wood with a high density, but in the list of the hardest woods it does not even enter the top 5.
On the other hand, a wood less dense than ironwood, such as black granadillo, is much harder.
In other words, although density, hardness and durability are closely related, they are not directly proportional.
Final notes
As we made clear in the article on the hardest woods on the planet, the data recorded here should be used only as a reference guide and not be taken as absolute.
For, at the moment of making the measurements, several external factors come into play that can alter the results, such as:
- The ambient humidity. As we mentioned at the beginning, wood behaves differently according to the percentage of humidity in the environment.
- If the wood is dry or wet.
- How many times the measurement has been taken and how many times it has been checked and also under what conditions.
- The number of sources recording the findings.
- Where the tree grew.
- How old the tree was at the time it was felled (remember that the slowest or oldest trees are the ones with the highest density).
- What level of radiation the tree was exposed to during its life and when it was cut down.
- The concentration of nutrients in the soil (this is a determining factor in the growth and thickness of the trunk).
Therefore, you may find different listings with different woods.