Sapele rough sawn lumber
Warm reddish-brown alternative with furniture and millwork appeal.
View optionIroko Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Iroko is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameMilicia excelsa and M.
Janka hardness1,190 lbf
Average dried weight41.2 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Iroko?
Iroko is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Tropical Africa. It is useful when the project calls for veneer, flooring, furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, turned items, and other small specialty wood items
For SEO and customer usefulness, this page separates the science from the buying decision: appearance, working behaviour, durability, project fit, and then the right Kingma shopping path.
Scientific nameMilicia excelsa and M.
DistributionTropical Africa
ShrinkageRadial: 3.3%, Tangential: 4.8%, Volumetric: 8.8%, T/R Ratio: 1.5 More images | Identification
DurabilityIroko is very durable, and is resistant to both rot and insect attack; it’s sometimes used as a substitute for genuine teak (Tectona grandis) .
Iroko colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood is usually a yellow to golden or medium brown, with color tending to darken over time. Pale yellow sapwood is clearly demarcated from the heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is interlocked and sometimes irregular; medium to coarse texture with good natural luster. Unfinished wood surfaces can feel greasy/oily to the touch.
Working notes
In the shop, generally easy to work, with the exception of its interlocked grain, which may cause some tearout during surfacing operations. Also, deposits of calcium carbonate are sometimes present, which can have a significant dulling effect on cutters.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, iroko has been reported as a sensitizer .
Iroko should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Iroko
Best projects
Veneer, flooring, furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, turned items, and other small specialty wood items
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying Iroko from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Cherry lumber collection
Domestic warm-colour alternative when the customer wants easier sourcing and workability.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
Iroko FAQ
What is Iroko best used for?
Iroko is best considered for veneer, flooring, furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, turned items, and other small specialty wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Iroko beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell Iroko?
Use the buying section on this page. If an exact product is not listed, the linked alternatives are included only when they make practical sense for colour, grain, or project use.