If you have tried to find an african ebony wood price online, you have probably seen numbers that make no sense next to each other. One seller quotes per kilo, another per fingerboard blank, a third per board foot. Some prices look too good to be true, and they usually are. Ebony is one of the most valuable timbers in the world, and it is also one of the easiest to misrepresent.
In this guide we explain how black ebony is priced, what makes one piece cost ten times more than another, and how to buy it legally in useful volumes. We supply ebony from Cameroon and neighbouring countries at Global Timber Trade Hub, so these figures come from our own quotes.
In short
- Our African black ebony starts from about $9,500 per m³ for standard sawn stock.
- Ebony is often sold as blanks, billets and fingerboards rather than long boards.
- Jet-black, defect-free pieces cost much more than streaked or mixed colour.
- Small sizes are normal: ebony trees are slender and the black heartwood is limited.
- Legal ebony needs a clear paper trail from a licensed concession.
- Order by size, colour grade and quantity, not just by volume.
What is African ebony?
The ebony we supply is Diospyros crassiflora, often called Gaboon ebony, Cameroon ebony or African black ebony. It grows in the rainforests of Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of Congo and nearby countries. The tree has a pale sapwood and a heartwood that ranges from jet black to dark brown with grey or brown streaks.
It is one of the densest woods in the world, at around 1,000–1,100 kg/m³. It sinks in water, polishes to a glass-like finish and holds very fine detail. That is why it has been used for centuries for musical instruments, carving, inlay and luxury objects.
African ebony wood price at a glance
| Product | Typical pricing unit | Indicative level |
|---|---|---|
| Sawn ebony lumber, mixed sizes | per m³ | from about $9,500 |
| Fingerboard blanks, jet black | per piece | premium, quoted by grade |
| Fingerboard blanks, streaked | per piece | lower than jet black |
| Turning and carving billets | per kg or per piece | depends on size and colour |
| Small offcuts for inlay and handles | per kg | most economical |
These are starting points. Your exact price depends on the factors below, and we confirm it in a written quote. See the African black ebony product page for current stock.
Why ebony is so expensive
Four things push the price up:
- Slow growth: ebony trees grow slowly and stay relatively slender, so each tree yields little timber.
- Small heartwood: only the dark core is valuable, and much of it is lost to cracks and colour defects.
- High waste in sawing: dense ebony checks easily, so sawyers lose a large share of every log.
- Strict control: harvesting and export are tightly regulated, which adds paperwork and limits volume.
Put together, a cubic metre of sellable black ebony represents far more forest work than a cubic metre of Sapele or Iroko.
Colour grades: jet black vs streaked ebony
Colour is the biggest single price driver. For many years, buyers only wanted jet-black pieces, and streaked wood was thrown away in the forest. That waste was a serious problem for the species.
Today, more instrument makers and designers accept and even prefer streaked ebony, with its natural brown and grey lines. That is good news for the forest and for your budget. Streaked pieces have the same density and stability as black ones, at a lower price.
- Grade A, jet black: uniform deep black, no visible streaks. Highest price.
- Grade B, near black: mostly black with faint streaks. Good value for most work.
- Streaked or variegated: clear brown or grey streaks. Most economical, popular for visible decorative use.
Size matters more than you think
Ebony is not like Sapele, where long, wide boards are routine. Because the trees are slender and the black heart is narrow, most ebony is sold in short, small sections. As pieces get longer and wider, the price rises much faster than the volume.
Typical product forms include:
- guitar fingerboard blanks, around 500–530 mm long;
- violin family fingerboards, tailpieces and pegs blanks;
- bridge blanks and nut blanks;
- turning squares and billets;
- short boards for knife handles, furniture inlay and small boxes.
If you need large sections, tell us early. They are rare and are quoted piece by piece.
Moisture content and drying
Ebony is very dense and dries slowly. If it dries too fast, it cracks. Properly dried ebony is worth more because the risk of checking has already been taken by the supplier. We air dry ebony slowly and seal the ends with wax. For instrument makers, we can supply blanks that have rested longer, on request.
Always ask for the moisture content in your quote. Cheap ebony is sometimes sold wet, and it can crack in your workshop weeks later.
Price per m³, per kg or per piece?
We quote sawn ebony per cubic metre so you can compare it with other hardwoods. Instrument blanks are normally priced per piece, because their value depends on colour and exact dimensions. Small offcuts for turning and inlay are often sold per kilogram.
A useful rule: one cubic metre of ebony weighs roughly one tonne. That helps when you compare a per-kilo price with our per-m³ price.
Legality: the most important part of the price
African ebony is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. It is not listed under CITES at the time of writing, but harvest and export are controlled by national forestry law. Illegal ebony has been a real problem in the past, so serious buyers now ask for full documents before they pay.
Every ebony shipment we send includes:
- proof of origin from a licensed concession or authorised harvest;
- export documents issued by the forestry and customs authorities;
- a certificate of origin and a phytosanitary certificate;
- legality and chain-of-custody documents for EUDR, UK Timber Regulation and Lacey Act due diligence.
Read our guide to CITES timber species and our sustainability page for more on how we source.
How to spot a suspicious ebony offer
- The price is far below the market for jet-black stock.
- The seller cannot name the country and region of harvest.
- No export documents are mentioned, or they arrive “later”.
- Photos show dyed wood with an even, flat black colour and no natural pores.
- The seller asks for full payment upfront by an unusual method.
Ebony vs other dark African woods
If your project needs a dark wood but not the extreme density or price of ebony, look at these alternatives:
- Wenge: dark brown to almost black, with a coarse texture. Much larger boards, far lower price. See our wenge wood price guide.
- Stained Sapele or Moabi: good for large furniture surfaces in dark finishes.
- Streaked ebony: the most honest way to get real ebony at a lower cost.
Who buys ebony from us?
Our main ebony customers are guitar and violin makers, instrument part suppliers, knife makers, pool cue makers, woodturners and luxury furniture workshops that use ebony for inlay and details. Some buy a few dozen blanks a year. Others order regular shipments for production. We handle both, but ebony is always quoted individually.
Ebony for musical instruments
Ebony is the classic material for fingerboards on violins, cellos, double basses and many guitars. Its hardness resists wear from strings and fingers, and its density gives a bright, clear tone. For fingerboards, makers usually want quartersawn or straight-grained blanks, free of cracks, dried slowly. Tell us the instrument and the exact blank size, and we will select accordingly. Our guide to African tonewood for guitars covers other species too.
Ebony for turning, carving and knife handles
Woodturners love ebony because it cuts cleanly and takes a mirror polish without any finish. Knife makers value its hardness and how good it feels in the hand. For these uses, colour streaks are often a feature, not a flaw, and short billets are perfectly fine. That makes this market a smart way to use the whole tree.
How ebony prices have changed
Over the last two decades, ebony prices have risen as legal rules tightened and supply of large jet-black logs fell. At the same time, wider acceptance of streaked ebony has eased pressure on the black grades. We expect prices for clean jet-black material to stay high, while streaked stock remains a good value option.
How to order African ebony
To get an accurate quote, send us:
- the product: lumber, blanks, billets or offcuts;
- exact dimensions and tolerances;
- colour grade: jet black, near black or streaked;
- quantity in pieces, kilograms or cubic metres;
- destination country and port, or courier address for small orders.
Ebony is often added to a mixed container with other species. For example, a guitar factory might order Limba bodies, African mahogany necks and ebony fingerboards in one shipment. Our export process page explains how that works.
Storing ebony after delivery
Keep ebony in a stable, moderately humid room, away from heaters and direct sun. Keep the wax on the ends until you cut the piece. If the blanks arrived from a humid climate, let them rest for a few weeks in your workshop before final machining. These simple steps prevent most cracks.
Sources
- Diospyros crassiflora on Wikipedia
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- The Wood Database for density and hardness data.
Related guides
- African hardwood prices per m³
- Wenge wood price
- African tonewood for guitars
- Exotic and decorative hardwoods
- How to import timber from Africa
Frequently asked questions about African ebony wood price
How much does African ebony cost per m³?
Our sawn African black ebony starts from about $9,500 per m³. Jet-black instrument blanks and large sections are quoted individually and cost more.
Why is streaked ebony cheaper?
Because demand has historically focused on jet-black wood. Streaked ebony has the same density and stability, so it is excellent value.
Is African ebony CITES listed?
At the time of writing, Diospyros crassiflora is not CITES listed, but it is IUCN Vulnerable and strictly controlled by national law. Always buy with full legality documents.
Can I order a small quantity of ebony?
Yes. We supply small blank orders as well as larger volumes for production.
Get a quote for African ebony
Send sizes, colour grade and quantity through our quote form. We will reply with a firm price, photos of the actual pieces and the legality documents that come with them.