The Janka (or side) hardness test measures the force required to embed a .444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. This is one of the best measures of the ability of wood species to withstand denting and wear. It is also a good indicator of how hard a species is to saw or nail.
The higher the number, the harder the wood.
| Douglas Fir | 660 |
| So. Yellow Pine (loblolly & short leaf) | 690 |
| So. Yellow Pine (longleaf) | 870 |
| Black Cherry | 950 |
| Teak | 1000 |
| Black Walnut | 1010 |
| Heart Pine | 1225 |
| Iroko – Kambala | 1260 |
| Yellow Birch | 1260 |
| Red Oak (Northern) | 1290 |
| American Beech | 1300 |
| Ash | 1320 |
| White Oak | 1360 |
| Australian Cypress | 1375 |
| Hard maple | 1450 |
| Brazilian Maple | 1500 |
| Zebrawood | 1575 |
| Wenge | 1630 |
| Kempas | 1710 |
| African Pedauk | 1725 |
| Bamboo | 1800 |
| Hickory/Pecan | 1820 |
| Purpleheart | 1860 |
| Jarrah | 1910 |
| Merbau | 1925 |
| Sydney Blue | 2023 |
| Brushbox | 2135 |
| Tigerwood | 2160 |
| Santos Mahogany | 2200 |
| Mesquite | 2345 |
| Brazilian Cherry | 2350 |
| Spotted Gum | 2473 |
| Bloodwood | 2900 |
| Tiete Rosewood | 3200 |
| Brazilian Teak | 3540 |
| Brazilian Walnut | 3620 |