Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry)
Hymenaea courbaril · hardwood · Central/South America · moderate movement
- Janka hardness 2,350 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 54 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.77 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 8.5%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 4.5%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.9 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes Flooring-famous for hardness; blushes deep red with light. Tough on knives and jointer beds — take shallow passes.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for jatoba (brazilian cherry) across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 3/32″ (0.109″) | 1/16″ (0.058″) |
| 12″ | 7/32″ (0.219″) | 1/8″ (0.116″) |
| 24″ | 7/16″ (0.437″) | 7/32″ (0.231″) |
| 36″ | 21/32″ (0.656″) | 11/32″ (0.347″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to jatoba (brazilian cherry):
Typical swings:
Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) questions
How much does jatoba (brazilian cherry) move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn jatoba (brazilian cherry) board moves about 7/32″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 1/8″. Its tangential shrinkage is 8.5% and radial 4.5% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.
How hard is jatoba (brazilian cherry)?
Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) rates about 2,350 lbf on the Janka scale — noticeably harder than red oak (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 54 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is jatoba (brazilian cherry) good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.9:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is moderate. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Persimmon · Purpleheart · Pignut Hickory · African Padauk · Wenge · Shagbark Hickory
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.