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What is Kapur Wood?

The Wood Guide · The wood register

Tropical hardwood · reference

Kapur

From the rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. A hardwood that proves itself both indoors and outdoors — and that you recognise by its scent.

  • Dryobalanops aromatica
  • 40 to 60 m tall
  • Trunk 1.5 to 2 m
Dryobalanops spp.
Kapur (Dryobalanops aromatica)KapurDryobalanops aromatica
Kapur wood specimen from the Cirad xylarium, fine straight grain (Dryobalanops spp.)
Kapur wood specimen from the Cirad xylarium, fine straight grainDryobalanops spp.
In pictures · Kapur1 / 7
Chapter 1 · The species

Kapur

From the rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. A hardwood that proves itself both indoors and outdoors — and that you recognise by its scent.

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Summary

Kapur in brief

The wood of Dryobalanops aromatica and Dryobalanops oblongifolia, family Dipterocarpaceae — the same family as meranti and bangkirai.

The tree grows forty to sixty metres tall with a straight, cylindrical trunk one and a half to two metres in diameter. That yields long, straight boards without many knots — one of the reasons kapur is so versatile.

The wood is reddish brown, strong and durable, and proves itself in a wide range of uses: cladding, floors, bridges and jetties. That puts it in the middle class of tropical hardwoods — less extreme than azobé, more accessible than ipé.

The scent in the name

Aromatica is no coincidence: the wood contains aromatic resins with a camphor-like scent, especially when freshly sawn. Those same resins contribute to its natural durability — they make the wood unattractive to insects.

Botanical
Dryobalanops aromatica, D. oblongifolia
Family
Dipterocarpaceae
Origin
Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
Height
40 to 60 metres
Trunk diameter
1.5 to 2 metres
Strength in
combination of strength and durability

To be fair: kapur contains resins and tannins that react with iron to give dark stains, and that can bleed out onto light-coloured tiles when it rains. Use stainless steel, and allow for bleeding in the first months — just as with merbau.

Measurable

What characterises kapur

Strong and durable

The combination that makes it useful in construction, hydraulic engineering and interior finishing alike.

Straight, long trunks

Cylindrical and branch-free over a great height, which yields long boards without knots.

Aromatic resins

Camphor-like scent when sawn; those resins contribute to its resistance to insects.

Reddish-brown colour

Warm in tone, weathering to silver when left untreated outdoors.

Uses

What kapur is used for

Use Suitable? What to look for
Cladding Excellent Stainless fixings; watch out for bleeding
Indoor flooring Excellent Hard and hard-wearing
Bridges and jetties Good Strong and weather-resistant
Decking boards Good Generous gaps; can bleed onto light-coloured paving
Exterior joinery Good Dimensionally stable after proper drying
Permanently in water Limited Azobé and bilinga are more suitable here
Related to meranti

Kapur belongs to the Dipterocarpaceae, like meranti and bangkirai. Of the three, kapur is the strongest and most durable, meranti the lightest and easiest to work.

Quick answer

Frequently asked questions about kapur

What is kapur used for?

For cladding, floors, bridges, jetties and exterior joinery. It combines strength with durability and is available in long straight lengths.

Why does kapur smell of camphor?

Because of aromatic resins in the wood — hence the species name aromatica. Those resins contribute to its natural resistance to insects.

Can kapur bleed?

Yes, just like merbau it can wash out tannins in the first months that discolour light-coloured paving. Rinse the boards repeatedly before installation.

Is kapur the same as bangkirai?

No, but they are related. Both belong to the Dipterocarpaceae; bangkirai is heavier and is mainly used for decking.

More in The Wood Guide

Kapur in perspective

The versatile mid-range option among tropical hardwoods.

To The Wood Guide Meranti Tropical hardwood

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Dryobalanops spp. — Cirad, Programme Bois (xylarium), Public domain · Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Dryobalanops aromatica — Patrice78500, Public domain

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