Mango
Mangifera indica
Mango wood is a durable, sustainable fruitwood with honey-warm tones that machines easily and finishes smoothly for stunning furniture, carvings, and cabinetry.
Janka
Price Tier
Dent Risk
Overview
Mango is a plantation and urban-forest hardwood that shows up widely because the trees are common. Boards can range from plain to surprisingly curly around crotches and joints. Rot resistance is inconsistent and the wood is susceptible to fungal and insect attack, so it’s an interior-only bet. Silica and interlocked grain can make machining feel spicier than the hardness suggests.
Key takeaways
- Expect variability: some boards are tame, others fight like figured stock;
- Silica can dull edges quickly, so sharpen before it gets ugly;
- Keep it indoors.
At a Glance
Hardness & Heft
Color & Figure
Color: Multi / Pale to Brown
Stability & Movement
Drying: Dry carefully and watch for reaction
Workability
Plays nice with
- Glues well
- Takes finish nicely
- Interesting figure pockets
Fights you on
- Silica dulls tools
- Tearout on wild grain
- Insect/fungal risk
Finishing
- Surface Prep: Scraper, 150 to 220
- Blotch Risk: Medium
- Pores: Open
Best Uses
Great for
- Indoor furniture
- Decorative boxes
- Accent panels
Avoid for
- Outdoor exposure
- Fast production milling
- Dusty shops
Where it comes from
Buying notes
- Sold As: Lumber, slabs, furniture blanks
- Look For: Sound boards, minimal holes, figure where desired
What to Watch Out For
- Pinholes
- Fungal staining
- Reaction wood movement
Practical Alternatives
- Teak
- Pyinma
- English Oak
Shop Notes / Deeper Dive
Mango wood is a sustainable hardwood that is relatively easy to machine and carve, though its high silica content can quickly dull cutting edges. While it finishes beautifully with natural oils or wax to highlight its honey tones, the lumber must be properly kiln-dried to 6-8% moisture to prevent the significant warping or cracking that can occur in unstable environments.
Like what you see?
While I occasionally work with some of these species, availability varies widely. If you’re researching woods for a custom project, feel free to reach out.
Reference Notes: Wood grain and color can vary significantly within a species depending on growing conditions, age, and cut orientation. Images on this page are provided as general reference examples and may not represent every possible variation of the species. Geographic distribution maps illustrate typical native or commonly cultivated ranges and may not reflect every region where the species occurs today.
Additional technical data and botanical information may be referenced from sources such as the USDA Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook.