Few woods stop people in their tracks like a large bubinga table. The deep pink-red colour, the purple veins and, on special pieces, a waterfall or pommele figure make it one of the most admired timbers in the world. That beauty comes at a cost, and the bubinga wood price can range from reasonable for plain lumber to extraordinary for a figured slab.
In this guide we explain how bubinga is priced, why two pieces of the same size can differ hugely in price, and what you need to import it legally. We supply bubinga from Central Africa at Global Timber Trade Hub, always with CITES documents.
In short
- Our bubinga lumber starts from about $2,400 per m³, FOB Central Africa.
- Large slabs and figured pieces are quoted individually and cost much more.
- Figure, width, thickness and drying are the main price drivers.
- Bubinga is CITES Appendix II listed, so every export needs a CITES permit.
- It is very dense, hard and stable once dry.
- Order by product form, size, figure and quantity.
What is bubinga?
Bubinga is the trade name for several Guibourtia species, mainly G. demeusei, G. tessmannii and G. pellegriniana. They grow in Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries. Some trees grow very large, which is why bubinga is one of the few tropical woods available as wide, single-piece slabs.
The heartwood is pinkish-red to reddish-brown with darker purple or red veins. It is dense, at around 850–900 kg/m³, and very hard, with a Janka rating of roughly 2,400 lbf.
Bubinga wood price at a glance
| Product | Pricing | Typical level |
|---|---|---|
| Sawn lumber, standard grade | per m³ | from about $2,400 |
| Kiln-dried FAS boards | per m³ | higher |
| Live-edge slabs, plain figure | per piece | quoted by size |
| Figured slabs (waterfall, pommele) | per piece | premium, quoted individually |
| Instrument blanks and turning stock | per piece or per kg | depends on figure |
For comparison with other species, see our full African hardwood prices list.
Why figure changes everything
Most bubinga has a straight to interlocked grain with attractive veining. A small share of trees produce figured wood, with patterns known as waterfall, pommele, flame or quilted. These pieces are rare and highly sought after for luxury tables and instruments.
Figured bubinga can cost several times more than plain bubinga of the same size. When you ask for a quote, tell us whether you need figure or whether straight, clean wood is fine. That one detail often makes the biggest difference to your budget.
Slabs vs lumber
Bubinga is famous for its slabs. A single slab can be over a metre wide and several metres long, enough for a conference table in one piece. Slabs are priced individually, based on:
- width, length and thickness;
- figure and colour;
- defects such as cracks, voids and bark inclusions;
- drying state;
- whether they are part of a book-matched set.
Lumber, on the other hand, is priced per cubic metre like other hardwoods. If you need boards for furniture, doors or flooring, lumber is far more economical than slabs.
Drying: a big part of the price
Thick bubinga slabs take a long time to dry. If dried too fast, they crack. Air drying followed by careful kiln drying is common, and it can take many months for thick pieces. Dry slabs ready to finish cost more than fresh-sawn ones, but they save you time and risk. Always ask for moisture readings before you buy.
CITES: what you must know about bubinga
Bubinga (Guibourtia demeusei, G. pellegriniana and G. tessmannii) has been listed in CITES Appendix II since 2017. That means every export needs a CITES export permit from the country of origin. In the EU, you also need an import permit. Annotations for the listing have changed over time, so we always check the current rules for your product before shipping.
Permits add time and cost, which is part of the bubinga wood price. But they also give you something valuable: a clear, official record that your wood is legal. Read our guide to CITES timber species for details.
How to spot risky bubinga offers
- Large slabs offered without any mention of CITES permits.
- Prices far below the market for figured wood.
- Sellers who cannot state the country of harvest.
- Pressure to pay quickly before documents are shown.
Bubinga has been the subject of illegal logging cases in the past. A careful buyer insists on documents before payment.
Working with bubinga
- Machining: use sharp carbide tools; interlocked grain can tear out.
- Gluing: bubinga can be oily; wipe joints with acetone first.
- Finishing: it polishes to a high lustre and takes oil, lacquer and hard wax oils very well.
- Health: some people react to the dust; use extraction and a mask.
- Movement: once dry, it is quite stable, but very wide slabs still need room to move.
Best uses for bubinga
- dining and conference tables;
- luxury furniture and cabinetry;
- bass guitars and drum shells;
- turned bowls, pens and knife handles;
- veneer for high-end interiors, often sold as kevazingo when rotary cut.
Bubinga vs rosewood
Bubinga is sometimes called “African rosewood”, but it is not a true rosewood. It is usually more available in large sizes and often more affordable than true rosewoods, many of which are tightly controlled. We compare them in our bubinga vs rosewood guide.
Alternatives when bubinga is too expensive
If bubinga does not fit your budget, these species offer a similar warm, reddish look:
- Padouk: vivid orange-red that mellows to brown.
- Makore: pinkish-brown with a fine, often figured grain. See our Makore wood guide.
- Moabi: reddish-brown, dense and fine-textured.
- Sapele: a more economical reddish wood with ribbon figure.
How to order bubinga
- Tell us whether you need lumber, slabs or blanks.
- Give exact sizes, or a range for slabs.
- Say whether you need figure, and what kind.
- State the moisture content you need.
- Give quantity and destination port.
For slabs, we send photos and measurements of each individual piece before you commit. For lumber, we send stock photos and moisture readings. Our export process page shows each step from quote to delivery.
Shipping slabs safely
Large slabs need careful packing. We stack them flat on level bearers with spacers, strap them firmly and protect the faces. Very large slabs may need a flat-rack or special loading. Ask your freight forwarder about the best container option for oversized pieces.
Prices over time
Since the CITES listing, supply of large bubinga slabs has become more controlled, and prices for figured pieces have risen. Plain lumber has stayed more stable. We expect this pattern to continue, with figured slabs remaining scarce and valuable.
Bubinga for musical instruments
Bubinga is a popular tonewood for bass guitar bodies and tops, electric guitar tops, drum shells and percussion. It gives a warm, focused tone with good sustain. For instruments, makers usually prefer well-dried, quartersawn or carefully selected flatsawn blanks. Read more in our guide to African tonewood for guitars.
Bubinga for tables: practical tips
- Choose slabs that have been dried slowly and checked for moisture.
- Stabilise small cracks with butterfly keys or epoxy before finishing.
- Use a base that lets the top move slightly with the seasons.
- Finish both sides equally to reduce cupping.
How a bubinga slab is priced: a worked example
Imagine two slabs, both 3 metres long, 90 cm wide and 8 cm thick. The first has a straight grain with attractive veining and a few small end checks. The second shows a strong waterfall figure across most of its surface. Both contain about the same volume of wood, roughly 0.2 m³. Yet the figured slab can easily cost several times more than the plain one. That is why we never quote slabs from a price list. We measure, photograph and grade each piece, then quote it individually so you know exactly what you are paying for.
Book-matched sets
Many table makers want book-matched pairs: two slabs cut one after the other from the same log, opened like a book so the grain mirrors in the middle. A matched set makes a wider, symmetrical top than a single slab. Matched sets cost more than two random slabs because they must come from the same log and stay together through drying and shipping. If you need a matched set, tell us at the start so we can keep pieces together from the sawmill onwards.
Minimum orders and mixed shipments
Bubinga slabs can be shipped as a small consignment or added to a container of other species. Many of our furniture customers combine a few bubinga slabs with lumber in Sapele, Iroko or Wenge. This spreads the freight cost and lets you build a whole collection from one shipment. Because bubinga needs a CITES permit, we plan the paperwork for the listed part of the shipment from the beginning.
Caring for a bubinga table
A finished bubinga table needs little care. Wipe it with a damp cloth, avoid harsh cleaners and use coasters under hot dishes. Refresh an oiled surface once or twice a year. Keep it out of strong direct sunlight, which slowly fades the pink-red tone to a warmer brown. With these simple habits, a bubinga table will look good for generations.
Sources
- Guibourtia (bubinga) on Wikipedia
- CITES Checklist
- The Wood Database for density and hardness data.
Related guides
- Bubinga vs rosewood
- CITES timber species
- Zebrawood lumber
- Exotic and decorative hardwoods
- How to import timber from Africa
Frequently asked questions about bubinga wood price
How much does bubinga cost per m³?
Our bubinga lumber starts from about $2,400 per m³, FOB Central Africa. Slabs and figured wood are priced per piece.
Why are bubinga slabs so expensive?
Wide, defect-free slabs need very large trees, long drying times and CITES permits. Figured slabs are also rare.
Do I need a CITES permit for bubinga?
Yes. Bubinga is CITES Appendix II listed, so exports need a CITES export permit, and some countries also require an import permit.
Is bubinga the same as kevazingo?
Kevazingo is the name often used for rotary-cut bubinga veneer, which shows a bold, swirling figure.
Get a quote for bubinga
Tell us the product, sizes and figure you need through our quote form. We will reply with a firm price, photos of the actual pieces and the CITES documents for your shipment.