- Species
- Tectona grandis
- Janka
- About 1,070 lbf
- Density
- About 655 kg/m³
- Stability
- High
- Relative cost
- Premium
- Target moisture
- 10 to 12 percent for outdoor furniture, 8 to 10 percent for interior parts
Materials / Plantation and tropical hardwood
Teak: Plantation Supply, Legal Sourcing and How to Specify It
A naturally oily, durable tropical hardwood. The reference species for outdoor furniture, decking and boat trim. Most supply today is plantation grown, and legal sourcing needs real paperwork.
Teak is a tropical hardwood native to South and Southeast Asia. Its heartwood contains natural oils and silica, which give it a stable, smooth surface and high resistance to decay, insects and water. Left unfinished, it weathers to silver gray. That is why it has been used for decks, boat trim and outdoor furniture for centuries.
Two kinds of teak reach the market. Old-growth or natural forest teak is slow grown, dense, dark and rich in oil. Today it is scarce and closely regulated. Plantation teak is grown in Asia, Africa and Central and South America and harvested younger. It has more sapwood, a lighter and more variable color and lower oil content. Both are Tectona grandis, but they perform differently, so quotes should say which one you get.
Legal sourcing is part of the specification, not an add-on. Import rules such as the US Lacey Act and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) put the burden on the importer to know where the timber came from and that it was harvested legally. Teak from some origins has been the subject of sanctions and enforcement actions. Ask for the origin, the species and the documents before you place the order.
Properties
| Janka hardness | About 1,070 lbf (4,740 N), typical. Plantation stock is often somewhat lower. |
| Density at 12 percent moisture | About 655 kg/m³, typical. Varies with growth rate and origin. |
| Shrinkage, green to oven dry | About 2.5 percent radial, 5.8 percent tangential, typical. Low movement for its density. |
| Grain and texture | Straight to slightly wavy grain, coarse uneven texture, oily feel |
| Color | Golden to medium brown heartwood, darkens with age. Pale sapwood. Weathers to silver gray outdoors. |
| Heartwood durability | Very durable. Resists decay and insects. Sapwood is not durable. |
| Silica content | Contains silica, which dulls cutting tools quickly |
Typical published values for wood at about 12 percent moisture. Individual boards and panels vary.
Grades you will see on a quote
The grade decides how much clear wood you pay for. Name it on the RFQ and ask for photos of what the factory calls that grade.
- Old-growth or natural forest teakDense, dark, high oil content, few knots. Scarce, closely regulated and at the top of the price range.
- Plantation teak, grade A (trade grade)Heartwood only, few or no knots, even golden color. Used for visible outdoor furniture and boat trim.
- Plantation teak, grade B (trade grade)Mostly heartwood with some sapwood and small knots allowed. A common grade for outdoor furniture.
- Plantation teak, grade C (trade grade)More sapwood, knots and color variation. Used for hidden parts and painted or rustic products.
- Grade names vary by millA, B and C teak grades are trade terms with no single published standard. Agree on a sapwood limit, a knot limit and photos.
- Quarter sawn decking stockVertical grain strips for decks and boat decks. Wear evenly and move less. Priced at a premium.
Where teak works
Products and parts where it earns its price, and where another material is the better buy.
Outdoor furniture
Chairs, tables, benches and loungers. Can be left unfinished to weather gray or oiled to keep the color.
Decking and deck tiles
Residential and marine decks. Quarter sawn heartwood wears best.
Boat parts and marine trim
Rails, grab handles, cockpit grates and trim, where water resistance matters.
Bathroom furniture
Shower benches, bath mats and vanity parts in wet interiors.
Interior furniture and veneer
Mid-century style furniture and veneered panels for a warm brown finish.
Garden structures
Planters, pergola parts and gates in heartwood stock.
Where it is a poor fit
- Products where price is the main driver. Acacia or thermally modified wood can cover many outdoor uses at a lower cost.
- Orders where the origin and harvest legality cannot be documented. The importer carries the legal risk.
- High gloss film finishes outdoors. The natural oils can affect adhesion, and film finishes peel as the wood moves.
In the factory
How teak behaves in machining, gluing, finishing and drying. These points explain most price and quality differences between quotes.
- MachiningMachines cleanly but the silica dulls steel tools fast. Carbide tooling and planned sharpening keep tolerance and surface quality.
- GluingThe natural oils can weaken bonds. Wipe surfaces with a solvent such as acetone just before gluing, glue soon after machining and use an adhesive rated for oily woods and outdoor exposure.
- FinishingOften left unfinished or oiled. Coatings need a compatible primer or a product made for oily tropical woods. Test adhesion on the actual stock.
- DryingDries fairly well with little degrade. Thick stock and plantation wood with more sapwood need a controlled schedule.
At each process step
- 03Finger jointing and edge gluingNatural oils can weaken the bond. Surfaces are often wiped with solvent just before gluing, and PUR or epoxy is common for outdoor use.
- 04Planing and mouldingContains silica that dulls steel knives quickly. Carbide or diamond tooling is common on long runs.
- 10Sanding and finishingNatural oils can weaken adhesion of film finishes. Surfaces are often wiped with solvent before coating.
Hardness compared
Teak against the other solid woods buyers ask about. Hardness matters for tops, floors and parts that take knocks. For legs, frames and hidden parts, stability and price usually matter more.
- Hard maple1,450
- Beech1,450
- White oak1,360
- Ash1,320
- Red oak1,290
- Yellow birch1,260
- Acacia1,100
- Teak1,070
- Black walnut1,010
- Rubberwood980
- Cherry950
- Radiata pine710
- Poplar540
How to specify teak
Example RFQ lines you can adapt.
- Plantation teak, Tectona grandis, grade A, heartwood only on show faces, kiln dried to 10 to 12 percent, origin stated on quote.
- Teak outdoor dining chair, mortise and tenon joints with outdoor-rated adhesive, stainless steel fasteners, unfinished.
- Quarter sawn teak deck strips, heartwood only, no knots, legal origin documents provided before shipment.
What to check on samples
Approve one sample in writing and keep it as the reference for every shipment.
- Sapwood content on show faces against your stated limit
- Origin, species and legality documents matching the actual shipment
- Glue joints after a water soak or boil test on sample parts
- Color and grain mix across a stack of samples
- Moisture readings on finished parts
- Fastener material: stainless or brass, never bare steel
Alternatives to teak
When price, supply or the use case points elsewhere.
- AcaciaA much lower cost plantation hardwood for outdoor sets. Less durable and needs more care.
- White oakDurable heartwood for outdoor use with a finish. Heavier and moves more than teak.
- Thermally modified woodHeat treated ash, pine or other species with improved durability and stability. Lower cost, but more brittle.
Products often made in teak: table tops and countertops, kitchenware and small wood goods.
Product lines in teak: cutting boards.
Questions about teak
Related guides:
- Compliance Rules That Apply to Manufactured Wood Products
- Choosing a Wood Finish for Manufactured Wood Products
- Thermally Modified Wood: Where It Works, Where It Fails and What to Ask
Reference: Wikipedia: Teak
Is plantation teak as good as old-growth teak?
It is the same species but usually less dense, with more sapwood and lower oil content. Well graded plantation heartwood performs well outdoors. Ask for heartwood only on exposed parts.
What do I need to import teak legally?
Rules depend on your market. In the US, the Lacey Act prohibits trade in illegally harvested wood and requires an import declaration for many wood products. In the EU, the EUDR requires due diligence on origin and legality. Ask the factory for species, origin and harvest documents, and check current rules with your customs adviser.
Why do glue joints fail in teak?
The natural oils on the surface can stop the adhesive from bonding. Wiping with a solvent just before gluing and using an adhesive rated for oily woods solves most of it.
Does teak need a finish outdoors?
No. Unfinished teak weathers to silver gray and stays sound. An oil or sealer keeps the golden color but needs regular maintenance.
Why is teak so expensive?
Old-growth supply is scarce and regulated. Plantation trees take decades to reach saw log size and yields of clear heartwood are low. Silica also raises machining cost.
Other plantation and tropical hardwoods
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