What is ipé wood?
The Wood Guide · The wood register
Tropical hardwood · referenceIpé 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
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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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 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.
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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ipé in perspective
The upper limit of what wood can do outdoors — and seldom what you need.
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