Teak
Tectona grandis
Hardness
Medium-hard; a versatile range for most furniture.
Overview
The gold standard for outdoor and marine furniture. Natural oils shrug off water and rot without any finish at all.
Commonly built
- Patio furniture
- Cutting boards
- Boat decking
- Outdoor benches
Appearance
Golden to medium brown, sometimes with darker streaks; ages to a silvery 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
Natural silica content dulls blades faster than the hardness number suggests. Oils can interfere with glue and finish adhesion, wipe surfaces with solvent before bonding.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn teak panel moves roughly 0.31 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 Teak move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Teak?
Teak has a Janka hardness of 1000 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Teak suitable for outdoor use?
Teak stands up reasonably well outdoors, especially with a protective finish and regular maintenance.
How easy is Teak to work with?
Teak has Good workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Teak move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn teak panel moves roughly 0.31 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Finishing notes
Very oily, which is the key finishing fact: the natural oils interfere with finish adhesion and cure, so wipe the surface with a solvent (mineral spirits or acetone) immediately before finishing, and use finishes that tolerate oily woods. Outdoors it is traditionally left unfinished to weather to silver-gray, or maintained with teak oil; a hard film finish outdoors tends to fail as the wood moves and oils resist adhesion.
Glue-up notes
Natural oils resist glue adhesion. Wipe joint surfaces with acetone or mineral spirits right before glue-up for a reliable bond.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used teak, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.