The Most Eye-wateringly Expensive Wood in the World

There is a whole array of types of wood and they are used for different purposes depending on their suitability.  Some woods are readily available and affordable so are used often in making furniture.  However some woods are extremely rare and very expensive.  Furniture from these woods is scarce as the price is prohibitive.

Here are some of the most expensive ones:

African Blackwood

African Blackwood is one of the rarest types of wood as it is very scarce.  The trees grow to about 25-40 feet high and can be found in 26 countries in central and southern Africa, growing in deciduous forest, savannas and other rock covered locations.

It is very dark with little or no visual grain and a straight and even grain. It is a very difficult wood to work with due to its dense and heavy physical properties.  Once polished it leaves a stunning lustrous finish.

It is used to make musical instruments such as clarinets and oboes, however only the most expensive ones.

 The wood sells for approximately £8,200 per kilogram

Dalbergia

Dalbergia is native to tropical regions such as Central and South America, Africa, South Asia and Madagascar

Many species of Dalbergia are valued for their decorative and often fragrant wood rich in aromatic oils. The most famous of these are the rosewoods, so-named because of the smell of the timber when cut, but several other valuable woods are yielded by the genus.

It is often used in high class furniture, railway sleepers and sports goods.

The wood sells for approximately £12 - £13 per foot

Pink Ivory

Until the Anglo -Zulu war of 1870 Pink ivory was the royal tree of the Zulu people and only members of the royal family were allowed to possess it

It grows in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique and comes from a unique, beautiful looking tree.  There aren’t many trees available so isn’t available in large quantities. 

As the name suggests it is somewhat pink in colour and therefore unique.  Pink Ivory is used in billiard cues, knife handles, furniture, trinket boxes, and other unique gift items. The wood has a truly beautiful hue to it, making it widely sought after.

The wood sells for approximately £6 - 7 per Board Feet

Ebony

Ebony is a very dark wood and either black or dark brown and most commonly yielded by several different species in the genus Diospyros.  It is extremely hard and used in expensive pieces of furniture that are able to stand the test of time as it is very hard wearing.

When polished Ebony has a mirror finish and as it is dense will sink to the bottom when put in water.

The wood sells for approximately £8,200 per kilogram

Sandalwood

Sandalwood is a class of woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and, unlike many other aromatic woods, they retain their fragrance for decades.

Sandalwood oil is extracted from the woods for use.  Both the wood and the oil produce a distinctive fragrance that has been highly valued for centuries.

Sandalwood is not the easiest type of wood to work with and relatively rare.  It has a rather unique colour that almost looks like a cherry stain with a slight pinkish hue.  It emits a rather pleasant smell, making it equal to pine or cedar wood in that respect.

It isn’t used often as it is eye wateringly expensive and outside of the price most people would want to pay for wood, however is used in high end furniture and gifts as well as in the cosmetic industry

The wood sells for approximately £16,400 per kilogram

Agar Wood

Agarwood is created when Aquilaria trees are damaged, allowing a mould to attack the timber. When harvested, the infected, dark, resinous wood is pared away from the healthy, scentless, cream coloured wood.

It produces a natural oil, featuring a special aroma.  The resin is coveted for its use in perfume and incense.  Agarwood resin is distilled to create Oud oil which is used in high end perfumes.  Oud oil is so expensive it is often known as liquid gold.

The tree from which agarwood is derived from is from South East Asia and is listed as a threatened species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

The wood sells for approximately £8,200 per kilogram