15 Most Expensive Wood for Furniture in the World

If you like a RICH mahogany then you’re gonna love 15 most expensive wood for furniture in the world.

When I was 10, I had this balsam wood turtle. It was one of my most prized possessions. I kept it on my shelf with my other important objects: blown glass marbles, an old squirt bottle of Holy Water, some track and field medals among other things. I couldn’t believe this thing could be made of wood and yet so lightweight. I boggled my 10-year-old mind. I guess that’s the first time I really considered that there could be different types of wood. Sure, it took me 10 years, but I made up for it by spending a few months getting really into whittling. And by “getting really into,” I mean talking to one hobbyist–a science teacher named Mr. Carton–and checking out two books from the middle school library.

Wood is one of the world’s most versatile natural resources. It is used in making the most important things at home and in the office–mainly furniture. Furniture which holds our bodies and our meals and our books and our balsam wood turtles and inexplicable squirt bottles of Holy Water. There are many types of wood used in making furniture. There are affordable ones, which is what we usually see on the market, like oak and maple. Then, there are wood types that belong to the 15 most expensive wood for furniture in the world.

This is the reason why there are some pieces of furniture can cost more than the others, even when they look just the same–materials matter. Furniture pieces of the same style can be priced differently, most especially when they are made of different types of wood. Wood prices vary on strength and exoticness. The more unique a wood is, whether it is by color or streaks, the more expensive it is. In the same way, the stronger a wood is, the higher the possibility that it is also priced higher. Rare woods can cost so much, even for just a single board, which is understandable since they cannot just be bought everywhere.

In searching for the 15 most expensive wood for furniture in the world, we have noticed that expensive wood types tend to smell more fragrant, and are less likely to be infested by mites and other wood-eating insects even after a long time. Take that, termites. They cost more than all the other types, but seem to be well worth every penny in the long run. They are naturally more durable and more flexible, which makes them more appropriate to be used in making furniture.

Another reason for differences in wood prices is the location of their origin. Most wood prices are written from the American perspective. When a specific wood type has to be sourced somewhere far, the price for that one is naturally more expensive than the ones being imported from nearer countries. And if you’re interested in expensive seating options that aren’t just wooden, check out the 10 Most Expensive Furniture Brands in the World.

In ranking the most expensive wood for furniture, we used data from ABC News Point and Success Story. Rankings from both websites were then averaged, which brought us to these results.

15. Mahogany

Price per board feet: $8

Mahogany trees grow well in tropical countries, and basically anywhere in the world. Though not entirely rare, it grows best in dry and wet tropical forests, and has a great color that makes it a great choice to be used in making furniture. It also has a notably sweet scent on its bark, which also adds up to its overall value. Despite the sweet scent, it’s less good for a snack than you’d think.

14. Rosewood

Price per board feet: $ 8.50

Mostly described as a decorative wood, this Indian-originating wood is mostly used in dressers and cabinets. It is said to be durable and flexible, perfect for carving intricate designs to make high-end furniture pieces. Its streaks are mostly dark purple, which is a great contrast to its rose color.

13. Snakewood

Price per board feet: $9

The name is derived from its markings that look just like snakeskin. It is one of the rarest wood types, which explains the price. It is usually reddish brown in color, with streaks of dark brown that adds to its beauty. It is usually used in cabinets and closets, and is also fine in texture.

12. Maple

Price per board feet: $10

There are quite a lot of maple tree species, the most expensive of them is the one that made it to this list of the 15 most expensive wood for furniture in the world. Curled maple is great to use in furniture because of its colors and durability. It is also said to be flexible, thus the name, which makes it a fitting choice for doors and cupboards as well.

11. Elm

Price per board feet: $10

We are continuing our list of most expensive wood for furniture in the world with Elm that has been popular in the United States a long time ago. Elm wood was primarily used in making ropes and canoes. To this day, it is also hailed as one of the most popular wood types for flooring and furniture. Easily pliable and very durable, not so fun fact: it is also used in making coffins. Yay.

10. Pink Ivory

Price per board feet: $10.50

One of the main reasons why pink ivory is expensive is because it is rare. Grown in Africa and with a high-density rate, this wood is used not just in making furniture but also in knife handles and inlays. It might also be difficult to work with this wood in boards, so it is just used in carving for furniture designs and decor.

9. Sandalwood

Price per board feet: $10.85

Talk about versatility, sandalwood is not just popular for how durable it is, but also for its essential oils. Sandalwood’s oils are often used in making perfumes and other fragrances. The wood itself has very fine texture, and has high prices due to overharvesting. Great wood, terrible incense fragrance–just trust me.

8. Purpleheart

Price per board feet: $11

One of the world’s stiffest timber, purpleheart is best used for heavy construction: boats and big furniture pieces, such as beds. Its colors when harvested look like a dull gray, which eventually turns into a lovely shade of dark purple. It is also a popular choice for flooring material.

7. Dalbergia

Price per board feet: $13.23

Like Sandalwood, Dalbergia, one of the most expensive wood for furniture in the world, is mostly popular because of its fragrant essential oils. Dalbergia trees grow well in tropical regions like Africa and Central America. The wood is usually used in making plywoods, as well as railways sleepers and high-class furniture pieces.

6. African blackwood

Price per board feet: $13.58

Priced high mainly because of its rare dark hue and the fact that it is among the most endangered wood types, African blackwood is among the hardest and heaviest wood in the world. It is usually used in musical instruments like guitars and flutes. It is also great for doors and window frames.

5. Bubinga

Price per board feet: $15.70

We are now halfway through the 15 most expensive wood for furniture in the world. Bubinga is easily one of the world’s most beautiful wood types. Its price depends on its grain pattern–where the rarer the pattern, the more expensive the wood is. Also from Africa, this wood has a wide range of colors, from red, purple, and even the darkest browns. It is used in luxurious furniture and musical instruments because of its aesthetic qualities.

4. Ebony

Price per board feet: $16.54

With incredible density, fine texture, and smooth dark finish, ebony is clearly fit to be one of the most expensive wood in the world. Its aesthetic qualities make it a great choice to be used in making high-end furniture pieces like beds and dining sets, while it is also a popular material for making musical instruments.

3. Agar wood

Price per kilogram: $8,313

Regarded highly for being one of the most ancient wood species, agar wood is dark and resinous. It is only formed in remote areas. It is only available in small pieces, but is very popular as home decor and ornaments. It has essential oils that are used as fragrances, too.

2. Lignum vitae

Price per board feet: $26.16

Often sold by the pound instead of by board, this very heavy wood is expensive because of its weight and strength. It is native to the Caribbean, and is usually used to make home furniture designs and ornaments. It is also used in making baseball bats. The high price is attributed to the fact that the trees where they come from grow slowly.

1. Bocote

Price per board feet: $28.92

With its beauty,  strength, and flexibility, there is no doubt that Bocote is a clear winner in this list. It is used in flooring and furniture making, and is also popular because of its fragrant smell. It has an initial color of a yellowish brown, which eventually darkens with time.

There are many factors contributing to the price of wood. In this case, we saw that the more expensive they are, the more durable they turn out to be. The next time you are shopping for furniture, ask what type of wood it is made from–the answer might intrigue you. If they are made of any of the 15 most expensive wood for furniture in the world, you know for sure it is a good deal.