Hardness Scale

The Janka hardness test is a measurement of the force necessary to embed a .444-inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood. It is the industry standard for gauging the ability of various species to tolerate denting and normal wear, as well as being a good indication of the effort required to either nail or saw a particular type of wood.

Please note that this is just a partial list containing some of the most popular choices in wood flooring as well as some of the more exotic wood species.

Janka Hardness Scale Organized by Wood Flooring Species