Sapele rough sawn lumber
Warm reddish-brown alternative with furniture and millwork appeal.
View optionJatoba Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Jatoba 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 nameHymenaea courbaril
Janka hardness2,690 lbf
Average dried weight57 lb/ft³
Best fitFlooring
Overview
Why choose Jatoba?
Jatoba is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Central America, southern Mexico, northern South America, and the West Indies. It is useful when the project calls for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, tool handles, shipbuilding, railroad ties, turned objects, and other small specialty 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 nameHymenaea courbaril
DistributionCentral America, southern Mexico, northern South America, and the West Indies
ShrinkageRadial: 4.2%, Tangential: 8.0%, Volumetric: 12.1%, T/R Ratio: 1.9
DurabilityJatoba is rated as being very durable in regards to rot resistance, and is also resistant to termites and most other insects.
Jatoba colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood varies from a light orangish brown to a darker reddish brown, sometimes with contrasting darker grayish brown streaks. Color tends darken upon exposure to light.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is typically interlocked, with a medium to coarse texture. Good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, jatoba is considered difficult to work with on account of its density and hardness, and has a moderate blunting effect on tool cutters. Jatoba also tends to be difficult to plane without tearout due to its interlocking grain.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Jatoba has been reported to cause skin irritation.
Jatoba should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Jatoba
Best projects
Flooring, furniture, cabinetry, tool handles, shipbuilding, railroad ties, turned objects, and other small specialty 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 Jatoba 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.
Jatoba FAQ
What is Jatoba best used for?
Jatoba is best considered for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, tool handles, shipbuilding, railroad ties, turned objects, and other small specialty items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Jatoba 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 Jatoba?
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.