Species guide
Hard Maple: what the numbers tell you.
What Hard Maple facts can tell you—and what they cannot.
Direct answer
Hard Maple has a Janka number of 1450 in NWFA’s chart. The chart also lists its density and shrinkage. These numbers help you compare woods. They do not tell you how your floor will look, wear, or take stain.
See the wood, then read the numbers
A photo can show character. It cannot prove the species.
Use the measured record below to compare the named wood. Then compare real samples in the room where the floor will live.
How to read these figures
Hard Maple is light in color. Its grain is tight. That can make marks or uneven color easier to see. It does not tell us what sanding, stain, or finish will work on your floor.
Sources & methodology Peer-reviewed measurements and study context
These figures come from clear-wood laboratory data in the cited peer-reviewed study. They help you compare species; your own floor’s construction, finish history, and condition still matter.
| Metric | Reported value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| NWFA Janka value | 1450 | NWFA’s published Hard Maple figure; not a scratch or dent warranty. |
| Specific gravity | 0.72 | NWFA figure. USDA FPL lists 0.63 dry for *Acer saccharum* under its own testing context. |
| Shrinkage from green to oven dry | 4.8% radial / 9.9% tangential | Reported by NWFA and consistent with USDA FPL *Acer saccharum* shrinkage data. |
| USDA FPL dry hardness | 6,450 N | For *Acer saccharum*; 92/114 in the USDA table are WML values, not hardness. |
Reviewed October 6, 2026. The paper measures clear wood in a lab. At your visit, we look at the real floor, room, and project plan.