Is Sapele a hardwood?

Yes. Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) is a dense African hardwood in the Meliaceae (mahogany) family.

Is Sapele suitable for exterior use?

Yes, with finish. Sapele is moderately durable (Class 2-3) and is widely used for exterior doors, windows and cladding when sealed or oiled.

Is Sapele more expensive than Mahogany?

Typically less expensive than Genuine Mahogany, with superior availability in large stable sections.

Does Sapele darken with age?

Yes. UV exposure deepens the reddish-brown colour over the first few months.

Transcontinental Indenting Co.

Dubai · Since 1974

EST. 1974Contact punit@ticdubai.ae

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Africa hardwood·Origin: West & Central Africa

Sapele

Entandrophragma cylindricum

African Hardwood for Exterior Trim, Siding & Decking

Sapele is in the same family as Mahogany and the same genus as Utile, sharing many of their best qualities. It is an outstanding exterior wood often used for decking, siding and porch ceilings, and a mainstay of exterior door and window construction. Highly stable and easily available in wide and long boards in greater thicknesses, Sapele has quickly replaced Genuine Mahogany as the 'red wood' of choice for most applications.

Ribbon-stripe quartersawn figure

≈ twice as hard as Genuine Mahogany

Stable in long, wide and thick stock

FSC® / OLB / EUDR options

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Density

640 kg/m³ (42 lbs/ft³)

Janka Hardness

1,510 lbf (6,720 N)

Durability

Class 2-3: Moderately durable

Stability

Good (T/R ≈ 1.4)

Workability

Good; slight tearout on interlocked grain

Certification

FSC® / OLB / EUDR DDS

African Sapele Mahogany - the go-to alternative

Hailing from West Africa, Sapele contains an interlocking grain that produces light and dark ribbon stripes throughout the boards. It is commonly quartersawn to enhance these attractive ribbons, and is often used as veneer for plywood in this application. As a solid wood it is relatively stable once dry, and is frequently used in the construction of doors. Sapele is a fine exterior wood, although it is often painted in window and door applications because of its fine grain.

Working properties

Sapele takes a moulded edge very well, and the flat-sawn cut is best used for moulding applications due to its consistent appearance. Quartersawn Sapele's ribbon texture does not produce as consistent a coloration as flat sawn, but quartersawn boards offer increased stability. Sapele is a hard and dense hardwood - about twice as hard as Mahogany - but it is gentle on tools and easy to mill. The uniform grain makes it machine very evenly, and it is able to hold fine details and joinery. Note: Sapele dust can cause respiratory irritation; appropriate extraction is recommended.

Sourcing & drying

We import our Sapele from West Africa from carefully selected regions to obtain the best colours and consistencies. We import an even mix of flat-sawn and quartersawn lumber, and pay close attention to drying and re-drying to ensure stability. After arrival in Dubai, our Sapele is allowed to acclimatise to local conditions and re-dried as required for the destination market - from European 12–15% MC down to North American 6–8% MC. This slow acclimation process ensures stable, quality Sapele throughout our inventory.

Appearance

How Sapele looks & ages.

color: Medium to dark reddish-brown, often with golden lustre
grain: Interlocked, producing pronounced ribbon stripe on quartersawn faces
texture: Fine and uniform
aging: Darkens slightly with UV exposure to a richer red-brown

Lumber Specifications

Sapele mechanical properties.

Indicative values from The Wood Database, AHEC species data and USDA Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-190). Actual values vary by origin and growing conditions.

Character	Green	Dry	Units
Bending Strength (MOR)	10,233	17,895	psi
Max Crushing Strength	5,115	8,788	psi
Stiffness (MOE)	1,397	1,704	1,000 psi
Hardness (Janka)	-	1,510	lbf
Specific Gravity	0.48	0.62	-
Weight	52	42	lbs/ft³
Radial Shrinkage	-	5	%
Tangential Shrinkage	-	7	%

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Availability & Grading

How we supply Sapele.

Form

Sawn boules, KD lumber, scantlings, sliced veneer

Cut

Flat-sawn (FS) and quartersawn (QS) ribbon

Thickness

4/4 – 16/4 (26 – 100 mm)

Length

8 – 16 ft (custom on request)

Moisture content

6 – 8% (NA) / 10 – 12% (EU)

Certification

FSC® / OLB / EUDR DDS available

Other dimensions, grades and certifications available on request.

Common Applications

Where it's specified.

Exterior doors, windows & shutters
Decking, siding & porch ceilings
High-end interior joinery
Architectural mouldings
Boat building & marine trim
Rotary & sliced veneer for plywood

Why specify it

Why choose Sapele.

Mahogany-Class Look

Ribbon-stripe figure and rich red colour, a direct replacement for Genuine Mahogany.

Twice as Hard

Roughly 2× the Janka hardness of Genuine Mahogany, better for high-wear interiors.

Large Stable Boards

Available in wide, long and thick sections without warping.

Chain-of-Custody

FSC®, OLB and EUDR-compliant African supply.

How it compares

Sapele in context.

Comparison

Sapele vs Genuine Mahogany

Sapele is harder, denser and more freely : the modern industry standard.

Genuine Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is CITES II restricted with tight supply. Sapele delivers a comparable look, superior hardness and broader sections, which is why it has replaced Mahogany across architectural joinery, doors and yacht work.

Comparison

Sapele vs Utile

Utile works more easily and looks closer to Genuine Mahogany; Sapele has more figure.

Utile and Sapele are botanical cousins. Sapele shows stronger ribbon stripe and is harder; Utile is calmer in figure, easier to machine and closer in temperament to true Mahogany.

FAQ

Sapele: answered.

The questions buyers, architects and joiners ask us most often about Sapele.

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