Hardwood · Central Africa

Wenge

Millettia laurentii

Dark chocolate brown with near-black streaks.

Janka hardness1,930 lbf

Density (12% MC)54.0 lb/ft³

Weight per board foot4.5 lb

Rot resistanceVery high

Workability2/5

Price$$$$

Hardness compared

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

Splintery — splinters can become infected. Coarse grain needs filling for a smooth finish.

Typical uses: Accents, flooring, turnings, veneer.

Tangential coefficient (flatsawn)	0.00300 per 1% MC
Radial coefficient (quartersawn)	0.00200 per 1% MC
T/R ratio	1.50 (stays flat well)
12" flatsawn board, 6% → 11% MC	0.180" (≈ 4.6 mm)

Wood & Materials Intermediate

3 min readOct 17, 2026