4/4 Sapele rough sawn lumber
Direct route for Sapele boards; Kingma product handles may use the Sapelle spelling.
View optionSapele Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Ribbon-grain exotic hardwood
Sapele 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 nameEntandrophragma cylindricum
Janka hardness1,360 lbf
Average dried weight42 lb/ft³
Best fitFurniture
Overview
Why choose Sapele?
Sapele is a ribbon-grain exotic hardwood. Its natural range is Tropical Africa. Typical projects include furniture, cabinetry, doors, millwork, veneer, musical instruments, trim, and figured feature panels.
Scientific nameEntandrophragma cylindricum
DistributionTropical Africa
ShrinkageRadial 5.2% · Tangential 7.2% · T/R 1.4
DurabilityRated moderately durable to durable, but best performance still comes from proper detailing and finish choice.
Sapele colour, grain, and figure
Golden to reddish brown heartwood that darkens with age, often showing ribbon stripe, mottled, pommele, or other figure.
Interlocked grain is common and creates the ribbon-striped look on quartersawn faces; texture is medium to fine with good natural luster.
Working notes
Machines well with sharp tools, but interlocked grain can tear out during planing. Pre-drilling and careful sanding help deliver a cleaner furniture finish.
Sapele dust may irritate skin or breathing for some people; use dust collection and PPE.
Sapele should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Sapele
Best projects
Furniture, cabinetry, doors, millwork, veneer, musical instruments, trim, and figured feature panels.
Use caution
Beginner projects that require tearout-free hand planing, exterior exposure without a design and finish plan, or customers expecting a true mahogany replacement without colour variation.
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 Sapele 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.
8/4 Sapele rough sawn lumber
Use when thicker furniture parts, legs, or substantial components are needed.
View option8/4 Pomelle Sapele rough sawn lumber
A figured option when dramatic surface movement is the buying priority.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
Cherry is the closest domestic warmth substitute but is softer and finer-grained. Walnut is darker and less ribboned. African Mahogany or similar reddish exotics may be alternatives when available.
Sapele FAQ
Is Sapele the same as mahogany?
No. Sapele is in the mahogany family and can resemble mahogany, but it is a distinct species group with its own ribbon figure, density, and working behaviour.
Why does Sapele show stripes?
The striped look usually comes from interlocked grain, especially on quartersawn faces.
Is Sapele good for furniture?
Yes. Sapele is widely used for furniture, cabinetry, doors, millwork, and decorative panels when its reddish colour and figure fit the design.