Sapele
Scientific name: Entandrophragma cylindricum
Overview
Sapele is a premium African hardwood prized for its rich reddish-brown color, fine grain, and excellent working characteristics. Often compared to genuine mahogany, Sapele offers similar aesthetics with greater hardness and strength.
Widely used in furniture, cabinetry, and architectural millwork, Sapele balances beauty and performance, making it a favorite among both fine woodworkers and commercial manufacturers.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Sapele
- Scientific Name: Entandrophragma cylindricum
- Region: African Hardwoods (West & Central Africa)
- Tree Size: 100–150 ft tall, 3–6 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 42 lbs/ft³ (675 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 1,410 lbf
- Color: Medium to dark reddish brown, often with a coppery sheen
- Grain: Interlocked
- Texture: Fine to medium
Identification Characteristics
Sapele is most easily identified by its interlocked grain, which often produces a distinctive ribbon-stripe figure when quartersawn. The color ranges from warm reddish brown to deeper mahogany tones, darkening slightly with age and exposure to light.
Key identification traits include:
- Ribbon-striped figure on quartersawn surfaces
- Consistent reddish-brown coloration
- Fine, uniform texture
- Subtle chatoyance under finish
Working Properties
Sapele is generally considered moderately easy to work, though its interlocked grain requires attention.
- Machines well with sharp tools
- Tear-out may occur when planing against the grain
- Glues, stains, and finishes reliably
- Sands to a smooth surface
- Stable once properly dried
Its workability and finish quality make it suitable for both hand and machine woodworking.
Safety Note
Dust from Sapele can cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation in some individuals. Proper dust collection, eye protection, and respiratory protection are recommended during machining and sanding.
Common Uses
Sapele is widely used in both decorative and structural applications, including:
- Furniture and cabinetry
- Architectural millwork and paneling
- Doors and window frames
- Musical instruments
- Veneer and plywood
It is often selected as a mahogany alternative where durability is a priority.
Sustainability & Notes
Sapele is listed under CITES Appendix II, meaning international trade is monitored to help ensure sustainable harvesting. Availability remains good, but responsible sourcing is important.
Buyers should seek suppliers that document legal and sustainable sourcing practices.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
African Mahogany – A closely related hardwood with similar reddish-brown color and workability, commonly used in furniture, cabinetry, and millwork.
Makore – A dense African hardwood with a finer texture and deeper reddish tone, often used in high-end furniture and decorative veneers.
Bosse – A medium-density African hardwood with similar color and grain, frequently used in cabinetry, veneers, and interior woodworking.
Related Guides
Hardwood vs Softwood
Understand the fundamental differences between hardwood and softwood species, including structure, growth, and common uses.
African Mahogany vs. Genuine Mahogany – Compare African Mahogany and Genuine Mahogany, including color, grain, workability, stability, durability, availability, and how each species performs in furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, and fine woodworking.
Understanding Chatoyance in Wood
Explore Understanding Chatoyance in Wood to learn how grain orientation and reflected light can create the shifting visual depth seen in highly figured examples of this species.
Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
Sapele is highly regarded by collectors for its refined appearance, strength, and potential for decorative figure. Well-seasoned material typically exhibits a rich reddish-brown tone that deepens subtly with age and finishing, often accompanied by a fine, lustrous surface.
Boards with pronounced ribbon stripe, interlocked grain, or subtle figuring are especially sought after and are frequently reserved for furniture, veneer, and architectural applications. More uniform, straight-grained material is commonly used for structural components or secondary elements, though it remains visually attractive compared to many hardwoods.
Older, properly dried stock is particularly desirable, as Sapele’s interlocked grain can benefit from extended seasoning to improve stability and reduce movement. Collectors often favor boards that have fully acclimated, making them better suited for long-term storage, curated wood libraries, or showcase pieces where both appearance and predictability matter.
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Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.
When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.
Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
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Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Related Tools & Products:
• Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler, Natural Finish (16 oz) for filling cracks, holes, gouges, and imperfections before sanding, staining, or painting woodworking projects
https://amzn.to/3R3eCCg
• DEWALT DPG82 Concealer Anti-Fog Safety Goggles for protecting your eyes from sawdust, wood chips, and flying debris during cutting, sanding, and routing
https://amzn.to/4uTlqQZ
• WORKPRO Folding Roller Stand with Adjustable Height for supporting long boards, plywood, and lumber during table saw, miter saw, and woodworking operations
https://amzn.to/4eKR2lO
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