Iroko

Overview

Iroko (Milicia excelsa and M. regia) is a golden to medium brown wood that darkens over time and resists rot and insects. It is called African teak and is used where teak would be, outdoors and in boats. It is not related to teak.

Pros

• Very durable, resistant to both rot and insect attack.
• Generally easy to work; glues and finishes well.
• Moderate shrinkage (3.3% radial, 4.8% tangential).
• Janka 1,190 lbf, about 660 kg/m3.
• Priced below teak: $12.99 to $13.99 at one retailer.

Cons

• Calcium carbonate deposits can badly dull cutters.
• Interlocked grain tears out during surfacing.
• Reported as a sensitizer, with eye, skin and respiratory irritation the usual reactions.
• Sapwood is clearly demarcated and pale yellow.
• One species is Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Variants and subspecies

• Milicia excelsa: Near Threatened.
• Milicia regia: Vulnerable.
• African teak: a trade name also used for Afrormosia; neither is related to Teak.
• Iroko was long placed in the genus Chlorophora, per Wood Database.

Working and finishing

Use carbide tools because mineral deposits dull steel. Light cuts on interlocked grain. It glues and finishes well. For outdoor use, oil it or leave it bare to weather.

Staining and finishing colour

Takes stains and oil well, though most work stays natural and the colour darkens to a medium brown. A clear exterior finish keeps it golden for a while.

Sustainability and handling

CITES: not listed (Wood Database; APHIS CITES Timber Species Manual, checked 2026-09-30). IUCN: M. excelsa Near Threatened; M. regia Vulnerable. FSC availability is not verified here. The US Lacey Act makes it unlawful to trade wood taken or exported in breach of the source country's laws (fws.gov/law/lacey-act), so buy from dealers who can name the country and species. If a piece will be exported to or sold in the EU, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (the EUDR) requires due-diligence evidence that wood products are deforestation-free and legally produced; check its current application date with your buyer.

Ethical call: a reasonable teak alternative if you can confirm origin. Health: reported as a sensitizer. The US National Cancer Institute reports strong, consistent associations between wood-dust exposure and cancers of the nasal cavity and sinuses, so use extraction and a respirator when sanding.

Popular projects

Garden furniture, boat parts, joinery, flooring, worktops and exterior fittings.

Buying notes

One retailer lists 4/4 at $12.99 and 8/4 at $13.99 per board foot (September 2026). Check for pale sapwood and mineral deposits.