Ipe
Handroanthus spp.
Hardness
Very hard; tough on tools but extremely wear-resistant.
Overview
One of the hardest decking woods available, prized for exterior durability but brutal on tools without pre-drilling.
Commonly built
- Deck boards
- Outdoor stairs
- Fencing
- Boardwalks
Appearance
Olive brown to blackish-brown, darkening to silver-gray outdoors if left unfinished.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Extremely dense, always pre-drill for screws and nails or expect splitting. Dulls blades quickly; carbide tooling recommended.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn ipe panel moves roughly 0.44 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content). Use the wood movement calculator to run your own board size and moisture range.
How much does Ipe move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Ipe?
Ipe has a Janka hardness of 3510 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Ipe suitable for outdoor use?
Ipe stands up reasonably well outdoors, especially with a protective finish and regular maintenance.
How easy is Ipe to work with?
Ipe has Difficult workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Ipe move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn ipe panel moves roughly 0.44 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Finishing notes
Extremely dense and oily, a difficult wood to film-finish: outdoors it is almost always left to weather gray or maintained with a penetrating hardwood-deck oil rather than a film finish, which won't adhere or last. If finishing indoors, solvent-wipe first like teak. Very slow to accept any penetrating finish.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used ipe, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.