Hardwood · West and Central Africa

Sapele

Entandrophragma cylindricum

Reddish brown with striking ribbon stripe.

Janka hardness1,410 lbf

Density (12% MC)42.0 lb/ft³

Weight per board foot3.5 lb

Rot resistanceModerate

Workability3/5

Price$$$

Hardness compared

White pine Yellow Poplar Black Cherry Red Oak Sapele Hard Maple Shagbark Hickory Jatoba

A popular mahogany alternative. Interlocked grain tears out — use a high-angle plane or scraper.

Typical uses: Furniture, doors, instruments, veneer.

Tangential coefficient (flatsawn)	0.00256 per 1% MC
Radial coefficient (quartersawn)	0.00165 per 1% MC
T/R ratio	1.55 (stays flat well)
12" flatsawn board, 6% → 11% MC	0.154" (≈ 3.9 mm)

Wood & Materials Beginner

3 min readOct 17, 2026

Wood & Materials Intermediate

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