You might think oak or hickory is tough, but when it comes to the hardest wood in the world, they don’t even come close. Wood hardness is measured using the Janka hardness test, which tells us how much force it takes to embed a steel ball halfway into a wood sample. This Janka hardness rating is the go-to standard for ranking the world’s hardest woods.
Let’s explore the most durable, dense, and downright axe-breaking woods on Earth.
**Australian Buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii)**
Often reported as the world’s hardest wood, Australian Buloke has a Janka hardness of approximately 5,060 lbf. This flowering plant is native to Australia and is known for its extreme durability and high density. It’s so tough that it draws comparisons to the South American “axe-breaker” wood, quebracho, which is also renowned for its extreme hardness.
This rare hardwood has historical evidence of use in shipbuilding and tool making, showcasing its long-standing reputation for toughness.
**Lignum Vitae**
Literally meaning “wood of life,” Lignum Vitae can reach up to 4,500 lbf on the Janka rating system. It is prized not only for its hardness but also for its use in luxury items and musical instruments. However, due to overharvesting, it is now considered an endangered species.
**African Blackwood**
Known as one of the most expensive woods in the world, African blackwood also boasts a high Janka rating. It is commonly used in high-end musical instruments due to its ability to be finely carved and polished to a lustrous finish. Despite its extreme hardness and beauty, African blackwood faces threats due to limited supply and environmental pressures.
These woods represent some of the toughest, densest, and most sought-after materials on the planet—combining beauty, durability, and rarity in unique ways.
https://science.howstuffworks.com/hardest-wood-in-the-world.htm
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