Hardwood vs Softwood: Pros, Cons & Best Uses

It’s important to understand the difference between hardwood and softwood when choosing materials for your next cladding, panelling, or decking project.

Timber is classified as either hardwood or softwood depending on its physical makeup. The characteristics of the timber alter its appearance, density, workability and longevity.

In this article, we’ll compare hardwood vs softwood, their pros and cons, and how each type of timber is used.

The main difference between hardwood and softwood is that hardwood trees are angiosperms which shed their leaves annually, while softwood trees are gymnosperms, which are evergreen and do not shed their leaves.

The classification of whether a tree is considered a hardwood or softwood comes down to how it produces seeds, not the density of the timber. Angiosperms grow fruits and flowers which contain the seeds, whereas gymnosperms produce cone-like seeds.

Despite this distinction, hardwood timber tends to be denser and more durable than softwoods, although there are notable exceptions such as Balsa.

 

Hardwood vs Softwood

This table compares the major differences between hardwood and softwood timbers:

 

Category	Hardwood Timber	Softwood Timber
Growth	Hardwood trees are slower growing. It can take 20+ years for a hardwood tree to mature.	Softwood trees are fast-growing. It takes 1-3 years for a softwood tree to mature.
Density / Durability	Most hardwood timber species are durable, high quality and are long-lasting when used in construction and architectural applications.	The lower density of softwood timber means it’s weaker and less durable than hardwood. There are several ‘hard’ softwood options, such as Cedar, Hemlock, Juniper and Yew.
Applications	Hardwood is commonly used for flooring, cladding, panelling, screens, fences, construction, boats and decking.	Softwood is commonly used for feature walls, ceilings, furniture, doors and windows.
Species	Eucalyptus, Mahogany, Blackbutt, Red Ironbark and Spotted Gum are all examples of popular hardwood timber species.	Cedar, Douglas Fir, Juniper, Yew, Pine and Hemlock are all examples of popular softwood timber species.
Sustainability	The long-lasting nature of hardwood makes them highly sustainable over the long term.	Softwood trees grow much faster than hardwood and are considered a highly sustainable material.
Appearance	Hardwood timber is available in a range of colours, finishes and will suit any contemporary style.	Softwood is a versatile timber that offers a stunning, seamless finish. It has great workability, making it suitable for a range of applications and styles.
Maintenance	Due to its durability, hardwood timber is easy to clean and maintain. It is very resistant to scratches and dents.	As softwood timber is less durable than hardwood, it requires additional maintenance and is more prone to damage.
Cost	Hardwoods are generally more expensive due to their slower rate of growth and durable properties. The extended lifespan and reduced maintenance often makes hardwood more affordable in the long run.	Softwood timbers can be cheaper than hardwood timbers, as they are faster growers and easier to source.

 

The Janka test is used to determine the hardness of timber. Janka ratings were originally developed to test whether a timber was suitable as a flooring material.

The Janka test measures how much force is required to push a blunt force into a sample of timber. The results are expressed as units of force – we measure Newtons (N) or Kilonewtons (kN) in Australia.

This table shows the Janka hardness of some common timber species:

 

 

Species	Classification	Janka Hardness
Ironbark	Hardwood	16,300 N
Spotted Gum	Hardwood	11,000 N
Blackbutt	Hardwood	9,100 N
American Oak	Hardwood	6,000 N
Hemlock	Softwood	2,200 N
Western Red Cedar	Softwood	1,600 N
Radiata Pine	Softwood	710 N
Balsa	Hardwood	310 N

 

As this table demonstrates, the hardness of the timber has little to do with its classification as a hardwood or softwood.

Nevertheless, Janka hardness is an effective way to measure the resistance of timber that’s installed as flooring, cladding, wall linings or ceiling linings.

Hardwood timber comes from angiosperm trees. Angiosperms are known for shedding their leaves each year and for spreading seeds by growing fruit and flowers.
The internal structure of angiosperm trees are designed to distribute water and nutrients throughout the wood. This increases the density and strength of the timber in most species.

Hardwood trees are deciduous, and species include:

– Eucalyptus
– Balsa
– Mahogany
– Ironbark
– Blackbutt
– Spotted Gum
– American Oak

Using hardwood timber as a construction or cladding material offers several major benefits:

– Longevity – Hardwood produces a very high quality product that offers great durability over time. Depending on its Durability Rating, hardwood timber can last for 25+ years when installed outdoors, above ground.
– Easy maintenance – Hardwood is easy to clean and scratches or dents can be repaired easily. While it requires oiling or a protective coating at regular intervals, hardwood can last for decades with minimal maintenance.
– Strength – The dense cellular structure of hardwood trees gives the timber incredible strength. This makes it suitable for load bearing, decorative and architectural applications.
– Appearance – Hardwood timber is available in a range of colours and finishes, and will suit almost any contemporary style setting.
– Resistance – Hardwood timber offers greater resistance to moisture, pests (including termites) and bushfire. With the right coating, it also provides excellent resistance against UV rays.

While hardwood is a fantastic option for most applications, it comes with several tradeoffs:

– Slow growth rate – Hardwood forests take longer to replenish due to the tree’s slower growth rate. This makes hardwood less renewable and less sustainable at the point of harvest.
– Workability – Due to its density, hardwood tends to be a lot harder to work with during manufacturing and construction.
– Cost – Hardwoods are generally more expensive. However, you get what you pay for, and the durability makes up for the additional cost.
– Refinishing – Hardwood used in high traffic areas will require refinishing down the track, which can also be quite costly.

Hardwood is commonly used for cladding, panelling, buildings, fencing, screens and outdoor decks.

It works well in residential and commercial projects, and can be used for indoor or outdoor applications. Hardwood is used when durability and strength are of utmost importance.

Softwood comes from gymnosperm trees, which do not have pores, but instead rely on medullary rays and tracheids to transport water and produce sap. This characteristic gives softwood a lower density than hardwood.

Common examples of softwood timber includes:

– Pine
– Hemlock
– Cedar
– Douglas Fir

The relatively low density of softwood provides several advantages when compared with hardwood:

– Workability – Softwood is easier to work with and can be used across a broader range of applications. It can be drilled, screwed, routed and carved relatively easily, allowing the timber to form complex shapes.
– Sustainability – Softwood trees grow much faster than hardwood, and are considered a very renewable source of material.
– Cost – These timbers tend to be cheaper due to relatively low farming and manufacturing costs.

Despite its versatility, softwood timber has a number of disadvantages for architectural and construction applications:

– Density – The lower density of softwood timber means it’s less durable, however there are some ‘hard’ softwood options with a higher density, like Juniper and Yew.
– Longevity – Softwood is less suitable for high traffic areas as it is prone to scratches and dents. With proper maintenance, most softwood species are expected to last for less than 15 years when installed outdoors, above ground.
– Fire resistance – Softwoods tend to have poor fire resistance unless treated.

Softwood timber is commonly used for feature walls, ceilings, furniture, doors and windows.

It’s a versatile building material, offers a beautiful finish, and can be used to create stunning features for residential and commercial projects.

Yes, you can change the colour of your hardwood decking or flooring by re-staining to lighter or darker wood tones. When doing this make sure you test a small section to see how the stain affects the wood before finalising your colour selection.

Softwood timber is considered more renewable than hardwood timber because it grows faster. However, hardwood is more durable and lasts significantly longer, so it’s still a sustainable option.

Pine is considered a softwood

Cedar is a softwood. Cedar varieties – including Western Red Cedar – are often used for cladding, screening, and decking

Mahogany is classified as hardwood. It’s commonly used for furniture, architectural details, boating equipment and musical instruments.

Hardwoods are generally considered more durable than softwoods due to their condensed structure. Some softwoods offer the same ‘hard’ qualities that make them suitable for applications that are subject to high levels of foot traffic.

Balsa wood is considered the softest hardwood as it has the lowest rating on the Janka hardness scale.

Juniper and Yew species are rated amongst the hardest softwood species.

With softwood’s sustainable, versatile and cost-effective qualities, it is a popular choice among many builders and designers. At Modinex, two of our most popular softwood options are Western Red Cedar and Hemlock timber.

Modinex recommends hardwoods such as Red Ironbark, Spotted Gum and Blackbutt for most design and construction applications. These timbers exhibit excellent strength, durability and natural resistance to moisture and pests.
This makes them suitable for installation in high traffic areas, as well as outdoors where they’re exposed to the elements.

Softwood timber is favoured due to its fast-growing nature. Commercially farmed softwoods like Pine can mature in as little as 1-3 years, which is several times faster than hardwood.

Hardwood trees are slow growing, which results in a denser timber. They take 20-100 years to mature completely, depending on the species and environment.