Whenever investment is mentioned, we often think of fine art, jewelry, or even high-end handbags as potential sources for good returns. However, there is another player hidden behind the curtains: exotic woods. In fact, rare and luxurious woods have become some of the most desired treasures in the world.
But what makes wood valuable?
Like fashion items matching them in value, they don’t receive their value simply from their utility. Instead, it’s the exclusivity and exquisite craftsmanship that gives these luxurious woods that premium price tag.
Let’s see through the bark and get to the root of the matter. From luxurious Bocote to captivating Snakewood (and a forest of options in between), here are the world’s most expensive woods, ranked by their board foot prices.
Purpleheart – $12/bdft
Enter the enchanting world of Purpleheart wood, where you’ll be greeted by mesmerizing shades of violet that are sure to captivate your eyes. Also known as amaranth, violetwood, or Peltogyne, this esteemed wood undergoes wild transformations in color throughout its lifecycle. Being cut initially will show you a mild grayish-purple hue, but when exposed to oxygen, Purpleheart will deepen into the lush purple shade it’s famous for.
| Native to: | Central and South America |
| Scientific Name: | Peltogyne Purpurea |
| Price: | $12/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Musical instruments, cabinetry, flooring |
Bubinga – $20/bdft
Bathe in Bubinga’s rich hues—an African hardwood known for its striking color palette ranging from deep purple or pinkish red to reddish brown. Bubinga trees are capable of growing up to five feet in diameter, which makes it possible to create a tabletop from a single slab. But be mindful that the wood is susceptible to furniture beetles, and the heartwood tends to resist preservative treatments, so its longevity will depend on the care you give it.
| Native to: | West Africa, in the Congo Basin |
| Scientific Name: | Guibourtia |
| Price: | $20/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Cabinet making, luxury furniture, stairs |
Mahogany – $25/bdft
Thanks to its rich, dark reddish-brown tones and fine straight grain, mahogany has the uncanny ability to instantly fill a room with warmth and sophistication. Whether it’s luxury homes or cherished heirlooms, few materials can hold a candle against mahogany’s timeless elegance. And even then, it never fades away. There’s no telling just how many generations will enjoy this emblem of class before passing it down again.
| Native to: | The Americas |
| Scientific Name: | Swietenia Macrophylla |
| Price: | $25/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Fine furniture, chests, boats, musical instruments |
Cocobolo – $30/bdft
Cocobolo is a wood of unrivaled luxury sourced from the heart of Central America. With its high oil content, Cocobolo lends itself to a flawless, glass-like finish that elevates any woodworking project right to the realm of fine artistry. While it may come at a premium price tag, Cocobolo continues to attract craftsmen who demand the best for their work.
| Native to: | Central America |
| Scientific Name: | Dalbergia Retusa |
| Price: | $30/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Guns and knives, fine inlay work, bowls, pipes |
Pink Ivory – $30/bdft
Pink Ivory is valued for its incredible strength and impeccable durability—with a very fine grain, it’s resistant to decay and other biological threats.The wood is nearly impossible to find even in its native country due to strict harvesting regulations. As a result, Pink Ivory holds the title of one of the rarest woods in the world. Despite its exclusivity and difficulty to work with (due to its density), artisans still go through the trouble for its remarkable beauty.
| Native to: | Southern Africa |
| Scientific Name: | Berchemia Zeyheri |
| Price: | $30/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Pool cues, wine stoppers, small boxes, knife handles |
Holy Wood – $40/bdft
Also known as Palo Santo, which means “holy wood” in Spanish, this aromatic wood holds profound significance in indigenous cultures throughout various parts of South America. People love the cleansing fragrance Holy Wood gives off when burned as incense or used during aromatherapy practices—reminiscent of pine, mint, and citrus. In fact, the wood is believed to contain spiritual and cleansing properties, used in rituals to purify spaces and drive away negative energies.
| Native to: | South America (Primarily found in Peru and Ecuador) |
| Scientific Name: | Bursera Graveolens |
| Price: | $40/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Treat pain and stress |
Bocote – $50/bdft
Bocote is an exquisite tropical hardwood hailed as ‘one of nature’s masterpieces’ (and it lives up to the title). Distinguished by distinctive colors and striking grains, the wood ranges from golden browns to deep chocolate hues. Often highlighted by dark streaks or aesthetic swirling patterns. Bocote is proof of how profound nature can be—as it fascinates every soul that comes in contact with its rich grandeur.
| Native to: | Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies |
| Scientific Name: | Cordia Elaeagnoides |
| Price: | $50/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Fine furniture, decorative veneers, turned pieces, and luxury items |
Lignum Vitae – $50/bdft
Lignum Vitae, commonly known as ironwood, is the national tree of the Bahamas. This esteemed wood stands as a testament to nature’s resilience, with remaining specimens nearly extinct and rarely found in the wild. Ironwood’s most remarkable attribute is its exceptionally high oil content, providing the wood with unmatched durability and resistance to wear (with an impressive 4,500-pound-force rating on the Janka scale of hardness).
| Native to: | Caribbean and northern coasts of South America |
| Scientific Name: | Guaiacum Officinale |
| Price: | $50/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Cricket balls, tool handles, mallet heads |
Ziricote – $65/bdft
While the name Ziricote might roll off the tongue, don’t let its simplicity fool you—the wood is anything but ordinary. Featuring a captivating dark brown color with distinct black streaks, just one look at Ziricote is enough to see that nature truly is an artist. The patterns on the wood are so intricate that each piece is a masterpiece in its own right, making Ziricote the go-to choice for a variety of luxurious furnishings.
| Native to: | Southern Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean |
| Scientific Name: | Cordia Angiocarpa |
| Price: | $65/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Furniture, gunstocks, cabinetry, specialty wood items |
Macassar – $70bd/ft
Among the most sought-after woods in the world is Macassar, famous for its exquisite dark colors and one-of-a-kind striped designs. Its exclusivity can be seen in its price. However, people still do whatever they can to get their hands on some. You will often find the wood being used for high-end woodworking projects. Whether it be through luxury furniture or decorative veneers, Macassar will add a touch of understated elegance that guarantees unbeatable craftsmanship.
| Native to: | Asia |
| Scientific Name: | Diospyros Celebica |
| Price: | $70/bdft |
| Common Uses: | High-end furniture, billiard cues, inlay work |
Red Sandalwood – $80/bdft
Red Sandalwood is a cherished (and stunning) wood with a rich history to back it up. With warm red hues that resemble an aged wine, Red Sandalwood emits a feeling of elegance that has captivated the eyes of craftsmen for centuries. Besides its looks, the wood is also known for its healing properties, since it’s believed to be anti-inflammatory and antiseptic in nature.
| Native to: | India |
| Scientific Name: | Pterocarpus Santalinus |
| Price: | $80/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Fine woodworking, medicine, aromatherapy |
Koa Wood – $100/bdft
It isn’t called a prized gem for no reason, right? Koa Wood is revered as one of the most beautiful and useful hardwoods on the planet. The wood originates from Hawaii (and trust us you can tell), as its warm, honeyed hues and intricate grain patterns resemble the island’s lush landscape—it feels as if Hawaii is in the palm of your hand.
| Native to: | Hawaii |
| Scientific Name: | Acacia Koa |
| Price: | $100/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Furniture, musical instruments |
African Blackwood – $100/bdft
Enter the world of beautiful artistry through African Blackwood’s deep, lustrous hue—desired (and demanded) by woodworkers all over the world. Hailing from arid regions in South Africa, the wood luxurizes everything it touches. With a dense composition and durable nature, African Blackwood has become the preferred choice for artisans and craftsmen who seek the best of both worlds—beauty and resilience.
| Native to: | South Africa |
| Scientific Name: | Dalbergia Melanoxylon |
| Price: | $100/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Musical instruments, ornamental objects |
Amboyna Burl – $200/bdft
Amboyna Burl gets its value from the unique burl patterns that appeal to artists and collectors alike. However, what truly distinguishes Amboyna Burl is its striking red hue that resembles fine wine or blushes on tropical sunsets—giving it the power to make anything look luxurious. Through the timelessness of such beautiful things like Amboyna Burl, we are reminded how remarkable Mother Nature truly is.
| Native to: | South East Asia (Primarily found in Indonesia) |
| Scientific Name: | Pterocarpus Indicus |
| Price: | $200/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Architectural panels, fine furniture, luxury interiors (such as private planes and yachts). |
Brazilian RoseWood – $200/bdft
It’s easy to get lost in the timeless beauty of Brazilian Rosewood—an incredibly rare timber renowned for its versatility. The dark chocolate tones (with hints of red or purple) and “spider-webbing” pattern gives both depth to each piece and a layer of luxury that will make you feel like royalty. However, Brazilian Rosewood offers much more than just looks. It’s the preferred choice by artisans for many applications because of its outstanding strength and resistance to insects and decay.
| Native to: | Coastal Brazilian Atlantic Forest |
| Scientific Name: | Dalbergia Nigra |
| Price: | $200/bdft |
| Common Uses: | High-quality furniture, decorative veneers, musical instruments |
Snakewood – $300/bdft
You can’t help but be mesmerized by the elusive allure of Snakewood—one of the rarest and most difficult to find timber on earth. What differentiates Snakewood from other types of expensive wood is its deep reddish-brown color and patterns quite like snake skin (hence the name). On top of its beautiful looks, Snakewood has other amazing qualities. For decades now, it has been known for being resistant to decay, making Snakewoodthe go-to option for creating beautiful but more importantly long-lasting masterpieces.
| Native to: | Coastal regions of Northeast South America |
| Scientific Name: | Brosimum Guianense |
| Price: | $300/bdft |
| Common Uses: | Fine furniture, inlay, decorative veneers, tool handles, specialty objects |
Agar Wood – $30,000 – $40,000/bdft
This ancient wood is prized for its beautiful scent and rare properties. Also known as gharuwood or eaglewood, Agarwood comes from the resin-infected heartwood of Aquilaria trees. The wood can only reveal its fragrant qualities once it’s been colonized with a specific type of mold. The resin is taken from these infected trees and turned into a scarce oil that can cost all the way up to six figures per kilogram.
| Native to: | Southeast Asia |
| Scientific Name: | Aquilaria Malaccensis |
| Price: | $1,000 to $100,000/kg |
| Common Uses: | Incense, perfume, medicine |
Conclusion: Timber treasures
Precious, exotic woods are found across all continents, from coastal forests to arid regions.
Here’s a quick recap of the 17 most expensive woods in the world:
- Agar Wood – $30,000 – $40,000/bdft
- Snakewood – $300/bdft
- Brazilian RoseWood – $200/bdft
- Amboyna Burl – $200/bdft
- African Blackwood – $100/bdft
- Koa Wood – $100/bdft
- Red Sandalwood – $80/bdft
- Macassar – $70bd/ft
- Ziricote – $65/bdft
- Lignum Vitae – $50/bdft
- Bocote – $50/bdft
- Holy Wood – $40/bdft
- Pink Ivory – $30/bdft
- Cocobolo – $30/bdft
- Mahogany – $25/bdft
- Bubinga – $20/bdft
- Purpleheart – $12/bdft
Frequently asked questions about expensive wood
The most expensive type of wood will depend on its rarity, demand, and quality. Some of the most expensive woods include Agar Wood, African Blackwood, and Snakewood.
While the cost of wood can fluctuate, some rare and exotic woods like Agarwood can be more expensive than gold due to its aromatic properties and extreme rarity.
Mahogany is expensive due to its high demand and quality. Additionally, Mahogany trees have become endangered in many regions, which has led to stricter regulations and higher prices.
Most people consider the Agarwood tree to be the most expensive in the world, particularly when it becomes infected with a specific type of mold, resulting in the formation of resinous wood prized for its fragrance.
