hardwood · Entandrophragma cylindricum
Sapele wood properties
Also known as: sapelli, sapeli mahogany.
| Type | hardwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Entandrophragma cylindricum |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 1,790,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.67 |
| Density (approx) | 42 lb/ft³ (3.5 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 1,360 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 7.2% / 5.2% |
| Region | Tropical Africa |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of Sapele weighs about 13.9 lb (roughly 42 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 1,360 lbf is harder than about 63% of the woods in our database.
Uses and working notes
Common uses: furniture, cabinetry, flooring, musical instruments, boatbuilding, veneer.
Durability: Decay resistance runs from moderate to high; only limited protection against borers.
Workability: Interlocked grain can tear out when planing or routing; reacts with iron and stains, but turns, glues and finishes well.
Use this data
Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to Sapele:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE, SG (12% MC), Janka and shrinkage from The Wood Database (cites USDA FPL Wood Handbook). Sapele is not listed in the FPL/Hoadley dimensional change coefficient table, so CT/CR are omitted. Uses, region, durability and workability summarized from The Wood Database. Price indicative.
Values shown as estimates rather than sourced constants: typicalPricePerBF_usd.
Sources
These calculators are for planning and estimation. Engineering results (shelf sag, wood movement) use published average material properties; real boards vary by grade, grain, moisture and defects. Verify load-bearing designs with a professional.