Teak and iroko can both make durable furniture, but teak is usually chosen for its naturally oily heartwood and established outdoor reputation, while iroko offers a practical African
A timber trade name is not a complete specification. Confirm botanical species, heartwood content, moisture condition, construction details, and supply-chain documentation before approving furniture materials.
Teak, *Tectona grandis*, and iroko, usually *Milicia excelsa* or *Milicia regia*, are hardwoods used for furniture. Teak is valued for oily extractives, fine-to-medium texture, and stable outdoor service. Iroko is a durable African timber with coarser, interlocked grain; performance varies with species, grade, drying, and construction.
Botanical identity matters because trade labels can conceal variation. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew lists *Tectona grandis* separately from *Milicia excelsa*. Teak commonly has golden-brown heartwood and a more even visual texture; iroko ranges from yellow to medium brown and can darken markedly. Both can produce long-lived joinery when moisture content, grain selection, fastening design, and finish match the intended indoor or outdoor exposure.
For exposed patios, teak is commonly preferred because its natural oils and silica help it tolerate repeated wetting and drying when well detailed. Iroko can also serve outdoors, but its movement, extractives, and interlocked grain make careful kiln drying, end-grain sealing, and corrosion-resistant hardware especially important.
Neither species makes a design maintenance-free. Standing water, end-grain exposure, and weak drainage shorten service life more reliably than a species name predicts. The USDA Wood Handbook explains that moisture cycling drives dimensional change in wood. Specify sloped surfaces, clearance beneath feet, breathable oil or an appropriate film finish, and 316 stainless steel near salt air. Inspect outdoor furniture at least twice each year, then renew protection according to exposure.
Teak usually presents straighter grain, smoother machining behavior, and warm honey-to-brown color that can weather silver-gray. Iroko often has more pronounced interlocking grain, a coarser surface, and yellow-brown color that deepens over time. Price is not fixed: provenance, documentation, board grade, dimensions, waste, and local supply can outweigh species averages.
Iroko’s interlocked grain can create tear-out during planing, so sharp tooling, controlled feed direction, and sample finishing are useful in production. Teak can also contain silica, which can increase tool wear. Ask the maker to show an unfinished sample alongside the specified finish, because sanding, pore filling, and sheen strongly influence the final result. A clear cost comparison should include usable yield, joinery labor, finish system, freight, and replacement parts rather than only a per-board price.
Specify botanical species, heartwood proportion, moisture-content target, drying method, board dimensions, joinery, finish, and chain-of-custody evidence before comparing quotations. For teak, distinguish plantation-grown material from reclaimed or older-stock claims. For iroko, confirm the exact *Milicia* species and origin. These details make durability, color expectations, and price comparisons more meaningful than a timber name alone.
For commercial or hospitality projects, include a written sample-approval process and define acceptable color, grain, knots, and movement. Request records for timber origin and processing, then retain them with the procurement file. FSC chain-of-custody certification can support a tracked supply claim when applicable, but it does not by itself establish furniture quality. Require moisture checks before fabrication, test the intended finish, and confirm hardware suitability for the installation environment.
Teak is generally the lower-risk choice for harsh outdoor furniture because its oily heartwood and stable reputation are well established. That does not make every teak board superior. Iroko can perform well when properly dried, designed for drainage, and maintained. Species, heartwood content, workmanship, and exposure determine the practical result.
Iroko benefits from thoughtful finishing, particularly on exposed surfaces and freshly cut end grain. A finish can slow moisture exchange and keep appearance more uniform, but it cannot correct poor drainage or unstable construction. Choose a system suited to the project, test it on sample boards, and follow the coating manufacturer’s maintenance schedule.
Ask for the botanical name, country of harvest, supplier identity, and documents that trace material through the supply chain. FSC certification can support chain-of-custody claims when applicable, while legal-import paperwork may be relevant by market. Verify documents with the certificate holder or issuing authority rather than treating a timber label as proof by itself.
Material characteristics vary by botanical species, timber grade, drying quality, design, finish, and local climate. Confirm project-specific specifications and source documentation with the supplier before purchasing.
