Hard Maple
Acer saccharum
Family: Sapindaceae
Quick Facts
Wood Type
Hardwood
Native Range
North America
Avg. Dried Weight
44 lb/ft³
Janka Hardness
1,450 lbf
Decay Resistance
Non-Durable
Typical Color
White / Straw
Stability
Medium
Outdoor Suitability
Poor
Workability
Moderate
Availability
Commercially Available
CITES
Unlisted
IUCN
Least Concern
Did You Know?
- •Hard Maple is harder than 58% of the 137 species in our database.
- •Hard Maple can produce both figured and burl wood, making select pieces highly prized by turners and veneer collectors.
Janka Hardness Scale
Hard
Overview
Professional Summary
Hard Maple (Acer saccharum), also known as Sugar Maple, is the hardest and most commercially important North American maple. With a Janka hardness of 1,450 lbf and a pale, creamy-white color, it's the standard for hardwood flooring in gymnasiums and commercial spaces, as well as butcher blocks, cutting boards, and musical instruments.
In Plain English
Hard Maple is the classic light-colored hardwood — think basketball courts, bowling alleys, and kitchen cutting boards. It's extremely hard, wears beautifully, and has a clean, bright appearance. One of the hardest domestic hardwoods available.
Appearance
Technical Properties
Movement Predictor
Estimate how much a Hard Maple board changes width as moisture content changes.
+0.127 in (3.23 mm)
Linear estimate using tangential shrinkage (9.9%, green to oven-dry) and a 28% fiber saturation point. Real movement varies by board, finish, and grain; not a design value.
Sources, Conditions & Safety
Sources checked: 2026-09-30. This is not independent testing or certification.
Measurement conditions
Clear, straight-grained small specimens per USDA FPL testing. Strength and hardness values at 12% moisture content; specific gravity on green-volume basis at the stated moisture content; shrinkage from green to oven-dry, as a percentage of green dimension. Averages — individual boards vary.
Specific gravity, strength, stiffness, compression, hardness, and shrinkage values were checked against the USDA Wood Handbook tables listed on this date. T/R ratio is calculated from the tabulated shrinkage values; metric displays are unit conversions. Average dried weight, the safety note, descriptions, ratings, conservation listings, and images are not covered by these sources and remain unverified.
- Wood Handbook (2021), Chapter 5: Mechanical properties of wood — Table 5-3b
Primary reference · USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory · Accessed 2026-09-30
Supports: Row "Maple, sugar": specific gravity (green-volume basis, green and 12% MC), modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, compression parallel to grain, and side hardness at 12% moisture content.
- Wood Handbook (2021), Chapter 4: Moisture relations and physical properties of wood — Table 4-3
Primary reference · USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory · Accessed 2026-09-30
Supports: Row "Maple, sugar": radial, tangential, and volumetric shrinkage from green to oven-dry. T/R ratio derived from these values.
Wood dust & sensitivity
Published woodworking references report irritation and respiratory reactions associated with maples, including skin irritation, runny nose, and asthma-like effects. Do not infer that maple dust is harmless from its use in cutting boards.
Use dust extraction and appropriate protective equipment; consult occupational-safety guidance. This is not medical advice or food-contact approval.
Durability & Performance
Workability
Common Uses
The top choice for hardwood flooring (especially high-traffic areas), butcher blocks, cutting boards, bowling pins, gymnasium floors, and musical instruments. Figured maple commands high prices for guitar tops and furniture.
Sustainability & Trade
Listings are reference information, not proof of legal sourcing or certification. Verify current trade rules and supplier documentation before buying; absence of a note does not mean unrestricted trade.
Can yellow over time with certain finishes, especially oil-based polyurethane. Tends to blotch with pigmented oil stains. Pre-stain conditioner recommended for even color absorption.
Native Distribution
Find Substitutes
AI-powered alternative species matching
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Species with similar characteristics and uses
Look-Alike Species
Woods with a similar white / straw color that are easily confused with Hard Maple. Recorded differences are shown where data exists; confirm identification with end-grain examination.
- • Softer (Janka 67 lbf)
- • Lighter (9 lb/ft³)
- • Decay: Perishable
- • Texture: Medium to coarse
- • Softer (Janka 410 lbf)
- • Lighter (26 lb/ft³)
- • Decay: Perishable
- • Softer (Janka 430 lbf)
- • Lighter (28 lb/ft³)
- • Texture: Fine to medium
- • Texture: Medium to coarse