How Hard are Hardwoods?

Each hardwood species has unique physical properties, and when it comes to hardness, the U.S. species vary widely. For example, the hardest commercially available hardwood is hickory, and it is five times harder than aspen, one of the "soft hardwoods."

Ask your flooring or design professional whether a particular species is suited for your intended use.

Species (Kiln-dried)	Pressure To Mar (in pounds)
Hickory, Pecan Hard Maple White Oak Beech Red Oak Yellow Birch Green Ash Black Walnut Soft Maple Cherry Hackberry Gum Elm Sycamore Alder Yellow Poplar Cottonwood Basswood Aspen	1,820 1,450 1,360 1,300 1,290 1,260 1,200 1,010 950 950 880 850 830 770 590 540 430 410 350

Source: Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material, USDA, Washington, D.C.