Species guide

Pecan and True Hickory: what the numbers tell you.

Pecan and True Hickory are close, but not the same.

Direct answer

NWFA lists different density and shrinkage figures for Pecan and True Hickory. It does not give one clear Janka number for each. We leave that out instead of guessing.

PHR-supplied close view of hardwood floor boards and grain. — PHR-supplied floor photo — grain and color vary by species, board, light, and finish.

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

The source helps compare some facts. It does not give one clear hardness score for each type. We leave that number out until a clear source supports it.

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.

Reported values and study context
Metric	Reported value	Context
Specific gravity	0.69 Pecan / 0.77–0.78 True Hickory	NWFA published figures.
Shrinkage from green to oven dry	4.9/8.9% Pecan; 7.0/12.6% True Hickory	Radial/tangential figures from NWFA.
Exact Janka comparison	Held	The source does not cleanly distinguish numerical values while saying Pecan is slightly softer.
Grain descriptions	Pecan open; True Hickory closed	General NWFA visual descriptions; not an individual-board promise.

NWFA Hardwood Floors Magazine — Species Specs: Hickory/Pecan

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.