Tangiers Bedroom Collection
What Is Mango Wood?
Mango wood, scientifically known as Mangifera indica, is a hardwood from the Anacardiaceae family, the same plant family as pistachios and cashews. Originally native to India and Myanmar, mango trees now grow across tropical regions of Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and South America.
Thanks to the thriving global fruit industry, mango trees are widely cultivated, and their wood is increasingly repurposed after the trees age out of fruit production. This makes mango wood an eco-friendly material with a steady supply.
Mango wood ranks at 1,070 lbf on the Janka Hardness Scale, comparable to teak and slightly softer than oak. It is considered moderately durable and performs best indoors with a protective finish.
Grain, Color, and Spalting
Mango wood offers rich visual depth thanks to its distinctive grain and organic color variations. The grain is typically straight but can also appear interlocked or wavy, creating movement and natural contrast across each surface. This variation makes every board unique — a feature often embraced rather than minimized.
The wood’s base color ranges from light blonde to warm golden brown, with darker brown or reddish undertones appearing depending on soil conditions and age. One of mango wood’s most sought-after features is spalting, a natural process where fungi interact with the heartwood over time. This can introduce dramatic, marbled patterns in shades of gray, black, yellow, and occasionally soft pink or red.
For designers, these irregularities are part of the appeal. They add dimension, authenticity, and a lived-in look that suits both rustic and contemporary interiors. Whether used in clean silhouettes or more textured, live-edge pieces, mango’s expressive grain and coloration elevate its design potential.
Why We Use Mango Wood
We choose mango wood for its balance of quality, aesthetics, and sustainability — making it ideal for handcrafted furniture at scale.
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Affordability
Mango wood is a byproduct of the fruit industry, which makes it more cost-effective than exotic woods like mahogany or walnut. -
Workability
Easy to shape and less prone to splintering, mango wood supports detailed joinery and carving. It also takes stain well, offering finish flexibility from warm golden tones to rich, dark espresso hues. -
Durability
While unfinished mango wood is not recommended for outdoor use, our protective lacquer finishes enhance its resilience for daily use in residential or hospitality settings. -
Sustainability
We work with farmers in India to repurpose trees that no longer bear fruit. This prevents burning and waste, provides farmers with supplemental income, and allows nutrients to strengthen the wood — often resulting in denser grain and beautiful mineral streaks.
Santa Cruz Collection
Santa Cruz Collection
Mango Wood Close-Up
Nimes Collection
Maintaining Mango Wood Furniture
To keep mango wood furniture looking its best, follow these simple guidelines:
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Dust regularly with a soft, dry cloth (avoid rough stitching)
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Clean spills immediately with a dry cloth
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Avoid exposure to alcohol, perfumes, or ammonia-based cleaners
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Keep furniture out of direct sunlight or near heat sources
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Use coasters, placemats, and table runners to protect the finish
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Apply natural wax occasionally to maintain moisture and sheen
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For touch-ups, test paint or stain on an unseen area first
Final Considerations for Trade Buyers
For designers and retailers, mango wood offers an ideal blend of sustainability, visual character, and accessibility. Its affordability makes it a compelling alternative to more expensive hardwoods, while its organic charm adds instant warmth to commercial and residential interiors.
HTD’s mango collections are designed with quality craftsmanship and material integrity — giving you peace of mind when specifying pieces your clients will use every day.
Learn More About Mango Wood
If you'd like to explore mango wood in greater depth, we recommend watching this educational video from Mitch’s World of Woods.
His overview of Mangifera indica offers a thoughtful explanation of mango’s growth patterns, sustainability, and applications in furniture making.
This article is part of our series on the woods we use, detailing all pros and cons you need to know before you buy. A little education goes a long way when choosing furniture for your home.
WATCH: MITCH'S WORLD OF WOODS - MANGO WOOD |
What is Mango Wood?Mango Wood, scientific name Mangifera Indica is a hard wood that is part of the Anacardiaceae family, which includes plants like pistachio, cashe, an poison ivy. Originally native to Southeast Asia, particularly India and Myanmar, the presence of mango wood grew with the thriving mango industry. Mango wood is now found in many tropical tropical regions in Southeast Asia, the Pacific (such as Hawaii), and Brazil. |
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| Being a hard wood, mango's hardness is measured to be 1,070 pounds per foot (4,780 Newtons) on the Janka Hardness Scale, making it between Mahogany and Oak in terms of hardness. It is rated as moderately durable to perishable to rot, so outdoor use without an external protective finish is not recommended. |
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Mango wood's grain is characterized as a straight, interlocking pattern. Primary colors present in the natural wood are typically light brown to golden brown. Mango wood is also subject to spalting, which is an effect from a fungus that grows in the heartwood that results in unique patterns and colors, such as the added presence of yellows, greys, and sometimes even pink! In addition to making beautiful pieces of furniture, the lumber is also used for ukuleles, veneers, plywood, and flooring. |
Why do We Use Mango Wood?
We use mango wood for four main reasons: it's affordable, it's easy to work with, it's durable, and it's sustainable.
AFFORDABILITYDue to it being a by-product of the thriving worldwide mango industry, mango wood is plentiful supply. This leads us to being able to source the wood at a lower costs when compared to other exotic woods such as teak, mahogany, and cypress. USABILITY |
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Despite being a hard wood, Mango is very easy to work with. It does not require special tools and is less likely to crack or splinter as other woods. In addition, the wood takes well to staining and finishing, which makes it great for emulating other more expensive woods such as walnut.
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DURABILITY OF MANGO WOODWhile unfinished, mango wood is susceptible to fungus attacks. Outdoor use without an external finish is not recommended. Once finished, the density of the mango wood leads to it being able to withstand everything life can throw at it. This is why we apply our water-based lacquer finish to all pieces.
SUSTAINABILITY
The mango tree is not listed on any lists as a vulnerable species. In addition, we take extra steps to ensure that our wood is harvested 100 percent sustainably. We work with local farmers in India to harvest their wood once the trees mature past their fruit-bearing lifespan. Normally, these farmers would burn these trees down once they no longer bear fruit in order to clear space for replanting. By partnering with us, these farmers gain both extra income and have less work on their part, since we come in to harvest the lumber from these trees. It even improves the quality of the wood! Since the mango tree is no longer producing fruit, it dedicates the extra nutrients and minerals to its bark. This results in stronger lumber and the added presence of beautiful, unique mineral deposits!
Wood Care: Tips For Maintaining Your Mango Wood FurnitureIt's important to note that this is a living, breathing piece of furniture. For longer lasting furniture, proper maintenance is vital! For a piece that can truly stand for generations, consider these tips:
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