Yellow Balau
Scientific name: Shorea glauca
Overview
Yellow Balau is a dense and durable Southeast Asian tropical hardwood trade group commonly harvested from Malaysia, Indonesia, and surrounding regions. Similar to Red Balau, the wood is valued for its strength, wear resistance, and exterior durability, making it widely used in decking, heavy construction, marine applications, and outdoor woodworking. Yellow Balau generally displays lighter golden-brown coloration compared to the darker tones found in Red Balau.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Yellow Balau
- Scientific Name: Shorea glauca
- Region: Asian Hardwoods
- Tree Size: 100–200 ft tall, 4–6 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 50 lbs/ft³ (800 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 1,710 lbf
- Color: Yellow brown to golden brown
- Grain: Straight to interlocked
- Texture: Medium to coarse
Identification Characteristics
Yellow Balau is recognized by its dense structure, golden-brown coloration, and strong durability characteristics. The wood commonly displays ribbon figure on quartersawn surfaces caused by interlocked grain.
Key identification traits include:
- Golden brown to yellow brown coloration
- Dense and heavy structure
- Straight to interlocked grain
- Medium to coarse texture
- Ribbon stripe figure on quartersawn surfaces
Working Properties
Yellow Balau can be moderately difficult to machine because of its density and silica content. Sharp carbide tooling is recommended for best results. The wood performs exceptionally well in demanding exterior conditions.
- Dense and moderately difficult to machine
- Can dull tools quickly
- Excellent wear resistance
- Very durable in exterior environments
- Can produce tearout in interlocked grain areas
Safety Note
Wood dust may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation. Use proper dust collection and respiratory protection during machining and sanding.
Common Uses
Yellow Balau is commonly used in heavy-duty woodworking and outdoor construction applications.
- Decking
- Outdoor furniture
- Marine construction
- Heavy timber construction
- Exterior millwork
- Industrial flooring
- Boardwalks
- Structural applications
Sustainability & Notes
Yellow Balau includes multiple Shorea species harvested throughout Southeast Asia. Sustainable forestry and responsible sourcing are increasingly important due to pressure on tropical Dipterocarp forests and rising demand for durable exterior hardwoods.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Red Balau – Typically darker in coloration while sharing similar density and durability characteristics.
Yellow Meranti – Considerably lighter and easier to machine than Yellow Balau.
Bangkirai – Another dense tropical Southeast Asian hardwood frequently used for decking and outdoor construction.
Related Guides
Best Woods for Outdoor Use – Covers hardwood species commonly selected for exterior durability and weather resistance.
Machining Dense Tropical Hardwoods – Explains tooling and machining considerations for dense exotic hardwoods.
Understanding CITES & Protected Species – Discusses international regulations and sustainability considerations affecting tropical hardwood trade.
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
Yellow Balau is primarily valued for its structural durability and representation within Southeast Asian tropical construction hardwoods rather than decorative rarity. Dense, quartersawn samples with strong ribbon figure are often the most visually appealing for collectors.
Share Your Photos of This Species
Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?
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.
Love This Species?
Enjoy learning about this wood species?
Help support the continued growth of Exotic Woods of the World by participating in our Adopt a Species program. Your support helps fund species research, educational content, photography, videos, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Support Forest Conservation
This species is part of the growing Exotic Woods of the World reference archive, dedicated to documenting and preserving knowledge of the world’s wood species.
Through the Adopt a Species program, visitors can help support ongoing species research, educational content, photography, video production, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Contributions help fund the continued expansion of this archive while promoting sustainable forestry education and the long-term appreciation of the world’s forests.
Interested in supporting this species? Visit our Adopt a Species and Conservation Partners pages to learn more.
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:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Share This Wood Species
Stay Connected
Follow the latest species additions, educational resources, videos, conservation initiatives, and major project milestones through our Site Updates archive.
The Site Updates archive provides a permanent record of new content, library growth, and future developments across Exotic Woods of the World.