Honduran Mahogany
Swietenia macrophylla · hardwood · Central/South America · low movement
- Janka hardness 800 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 31 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.45 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 4.1%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 3%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.4 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes The reference furniture wood: carves, planes, and glues superbly, and its 1.4:1 spread with tiny totals is why 200-year-old mahogany doors still close. CITES-listed — verify the paper trail.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for honduran mahogany across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 1/16″ (0.053″) | 1/32″ (0.039″) |
| 12″ | 3/32″ (0.105″) | 1/16″ (0.077″) |
| 24″ | 7/32″ (0.211″) | 5/32″ (0.154″) |
| 36″ | 5/16″ (0.316″) | 7/32″ (0.231″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to honduran mahogany:
Typical swings:
Honduran Mahogany questions
How much does honduran mahogany move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn honduran mahogany board moves about 3/32″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 1/16″. Its tangential shrinkage is 4.1% and radial 3% (green to ovendry) — a low-movement wood.
How hard is honduran mahogany?
Honduran Mahogany rates about 800 lbf on the Janka scale — softer than red oak but sturdy (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 31 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is honduran mahogany good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.4:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is unusually balanced, so panels stay flatter than most. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Black Tupelo (Blackgum) · American Elm · American Sycamore · Black Ash · Bigleaf Maple · Sweetgum
Shrinkage, specific gravity, and hardness from the Wood Handbook, FPL-GTR-282 (2021 edition), USDA Forest Products Laboratory (public domain). Values are species averages — individual boards vary with growth conditions and how they were dried.