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What is ipé wood?

The Wood Guide · The wood register

Tropical hardwood · reference

Ipé wood

Also called Brazilian walnut or lapacho. So dense that it sinks in water, so hard that you have to pre-drill every screw — and that is why it lasts for decades.

  • Handroanthus spp.
  • 1,100 kg/m³
  • Janka 15,620 N
Handroanthus spp.
Ipé close up: olive brown with fine dark stripes (Handroanthus spp.)
Ipé close up: olive brown with fine dark stripesHandroanthus spp.
Ipé wood sample (yellow lapacho) from a museum collection (Handroanthus serratifolius)
Ipé wood sample (yellow lapacho) from a museum collectionHandroanthus serratifolius
Flowering yellow lapacho tree in Bolivia (Handroanthus sp. · Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia)
Flowering yellow lapacho tree in BoliviaHandroanthus sp. · Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
In pictures · Ipé wood1 / 7
Chapter 1 · The species

Ipé wood

Also called Brazilian walnut or lapacho. So dense that it sinks in water, so hard that you have to pre-drill every screw — and that is why it lasts for decades.

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Summary

Ipé in brief

The yardstick by which other decking timber is measured. From the rainforests of Central and South America, and extreme in almost every respect.

With a dry weight of around 1,100 kg/m³, ipé is heavier than water: a small block sinks. That density explains everything that follows — the hardness, the wear resistance, the resistance to rot and insects, and the fact that an untreated ipé deck is still there after thirty years.

The colour ranges from reddish brown to olive or blackish brown, often with striking dark stripes. Untreated, it greys to silver within a season, without any loss of strength.

Janka 15,620 newtons

Janka hardness measures the force needed to press a steel ball halfway into the wood. Oak is around 5,000 N, teak around 4,500. Ipé's 15,620 N makes it three times harder than oak — and explains why a stiletto heel leaves no mark in it.

Botanical
Handroanthus spp. (formerly Tabebuia)
Other names
lapacho, Brazilian walnut
Origin
Central and South America
Dry weight
about 1,100 kg/m³ — sinks in water
Janka hardness
15,620 N
Durability
class 1 — 25 to 50 years outdoors

To be fair: working ipé is hard work. Pre-drilling is not optional but mandatory, saw blades with carbide teeth still wear noticeably, and the sawdust can irritate the skin and airways. Plan on protective equipment and on more time than you think.

Measurable

The figures that make the difference

Property Ipé For comparison
Dry weight 1,100 kg/m³ Teak 650 · oak 700 · spruce 450
Janka hardness 15,620 N Teak ±4,500 · oak ±5,000
Durability class 1 Equal to teak and azobé
Lifespan outdoors 25 to 50+ years Pressure-treated spruce 10 to 15
Fire class High Achieves the highest wood classes without treatment
Why that density explains everything

More wood fibre per cubic centimetre means less room for water, and without water no fungus can get to work. The same density keeps insects out and makes the surface hard-wearing. One property, three benefits.

Uses

What ipé is used for

Decking and boardwalks

The classic use. Ipé decks in public spaces last for decades under intensive use.

Cladding

Dimensionally stable, weather-resistant and greys beautifully — no maintenance needed if you let it turn grey.

Outdoor furniture

Heavy but practically indestructible. Ipé furniture stays where you put it, literally.

Heavily used floors

Indoors in sports halls and public spaces, where wear resistance is decisive.

Consider whether you really need it

Ipé is excellent and seldom necessary. For a garden bench or picnic table, pressure-treated spruce or acacia is more than enough, at a fraction of the price and without tropical forest. Ipé earns its place where nothing else lasts: a heavily walked deck or a jetty.

Quick answer

Frequently asked questions about ipé wood

How long does an ipé deck last?

Twenty-five years is normal, and in favourable conditions it reaches fifty years or more — without chemical treatment. That is the argument for the high purchase price.

Does ipé need to be oiled?

Not for its lifespan. If you want to keep the reddish-brown colour, oil it once or twice a year; if you leave it untreated, it turns silver grey without losing strength.

Why do I have to pre-drill ipé?

With a Janka hardness of 15,620 N, the wood is so dense that a screw without a pilot hole breaks off or splits the wood. Pre-drilling with a bit slightly thinner than the screw core is standard practice with ipé.

Does ipé really sink in water?

Yes. At about 1,100 kg/m³ it is heavier than water (1,000 kg/m³), so a dry block of ipé sinks — unusual for wood.

More in The Wood Guide

Ipé in perspective

The upper limit of what wood can do outdoors — and seldom what you need.

To The Wood Guide Tropical hardwood Best wood for decking

Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Handroanthus spp. — Philipp Zinger, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Handroanthus serratifolius — Jean-Pierre Chéreau & Roger Culos, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Handroanthus sp. · Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia — Alhen, CC BY-SA 4.0

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