Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionOkoume Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
Okoume 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 nameAucoumea klaineana
Janka hardness400 lbf
Average dried weight27 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose Okoume?
Okoume is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Central Africa (primarily Gabon). It is useful when the project calls for veneer, plywood, boatbuilding, musical instruments, furniture, and interior millwork
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 nameAucoumea klaineana
DistributionCentral Africa (primarily Gabon)
ShrinkageRadial: 4.6%, Tangential: 7.1%, Volumetric: 12.2%, T/R Ratio: 1.5 More images | Identification
DurabilityRated as non-durable; poor insect resistance.
Okoume colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood ranges from a pale pink to light brown. Color darkens with age.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is straight to wavy or slightly interlocked. Texture is medium, with good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, high silica content has a pronounced blunting effect on cutters. Planing and shaping may produce tearout or fuzzy surfaces.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, okoume has been reported to cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation, as well as other effects such as asthma-like symptoms, coughing, and conjunctivitis (pink eye).
Okoume should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Okoume
Best projects
Veneer, plywood, boatbuilding, musical instruments, furniture, and interior millwork
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 Okoume 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.
Live edge slabs
Use when the customer cares more about slab format and visual impact than this exact species.
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.
Okoume FAQ
What is Okoume best used for?
Okoume is best considered for veneer, plywood, boatbuilding, musical instruments, furniture, and interior millwork. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Okoume 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 Okoume?
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.