Moabi
Scientific name: Baillonella toxisperma
Overview
Moabi is a large, slow-growing African hardwood prized for its strength, stability, and rich pinkish-red to reddish-brown coloration. Native to Central and West Africa, it has long been used in furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and heavy interior applications.
In addition to its visual appeal, Moabi is valued for its excellent dimensional stability and resistance to wear, making it suitable for demanding uses where both appearance and performance matter.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Moabi
- Scientific Name: Baillonella toxisperma
- Region: African Hardwoods (Central & West Africa)
- Tree Size: 130–200 ft tall, 4–7 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 53 lbs/ft³ (850 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 1,980 lbf
- Color: Pinkish brown to reddish brown, often darkening with age
- Grain: Straight to interlocked
- Texture: Medium to coarse
Identification Characteristics
Moabi is most easily identified by its warm reddish coloration, fine texture, and substantial weight. Freshly cut material may appear lighter pink, gradually deepening to a richer red-brown tone over time.
Key identification traits include:
- Pinkish-red to reddish-brown heartwood
- Fine, even texture
- Straight to mildly interlocked grain
- Heavy, dense feel
Working Properties
Moabi is considered moderately difficult to work due to its density, but it behaves predictably with proper tooling.
- Machines well with sharp tools
- Interlocked grain may cause minor tear-out
- Glues and finishes reliably
- Sands to a smooth surface
- Excellent stability once properly dried
Its stability makes it especially suitable for large panels and wide boards.
Safety Note
Dust from Moabi may cause skin or respiratory irritation in some individuals. Proper dust extraction, eye protection, and respiratory protection are recommended during machining and sanding.
Common Uses
Moabi is commonly used in applications that require durability and refined appearance, including:
- Furniture and cabinetry
- Flooring and stair components
- Architectural millwork
- Interior paneling
- Turned objects
Its strength and stability make it well suited for large furniture components and flooring.
Sustainability & Notes
Moabi is considered a sensitive species due to slow growth rates and harvesting pressure in some regions. Availability may be limited, and sourcing is often regulated at a national or regional level.
Buyers should prioritize legally harvested material and work with suppliers that support responsible forest management.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Makore – A dense African hardwood with similar reddish-brown coloration and fine texture, commonly used for high-end furniture and decorative veneers.
Sapele – Another African hardwood valued for its strength and decorative ribbon grain, often used in furniture, flooring, and architectural millwork.
African Mahogany – A widely used tropical hardwood known for its good workability and warm reddish tone, commonly used in cabinetry and furniture.
Related Guides
How to Identify Exotic Hardwood by Grain Pattern
Studying grain structure and color variation helps distinguish African hardwoods used in furniture and decorative woodworking.
Density & Hardness Explained (Janka Scale Guide)
Understanding hardness ratings helps explain the durability and working properties of hardwood species.
Machining Dense Tropical Hardwoods
Dense tropical hardwoods require sharp tools and careful machining techniques to achieve clean cuts and smooth finishes.
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
Moabi is valued by collectors for its color consistency, density, and long-term stability. Well-seasoned boards often develop a deeper, richer tone that enhances their visual appeal over time.
Collectors typically favor boards with uniform coloration and straight grain for large surfaces such as tabletops or flooring, while pieces with subtle figure or tonal variation are often reserved for accent work. Because of its density, properly dried stock is especially desirable to minimize movement and checking.
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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.
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