Iroko is often the first wood people consider when teak is out of budget. It is durable, stable, golden-brown and widely available. But before you plan a deck, a garden furniture range or a run of exterior doors, you need a realistic iroko wood price, and that depends on more than the species name on the quote.
In this guide we break down how iroko is priced, what changes the cost, how much fits in a container and how to compare offers so you pay a fair price for the quality you need. We export iroko from Central Africa at Global Timber Trade Hub, and these figures come from our own quotes.
In short
- Our iroko starts from about $950 per m³ for standard sawn grade, FOB Central Africa.
- Kiln-dried FAS joinery stock, decking profiles and thick sections cost more.
- Iroko usually costs a fraction of good-quality teak.
- A 40ft container typically carries about 38–42 m³ of iroko boards.
- Iroko is not CITES listed, which keeps paperwork simple.
- Compare quotes on grade, moisture, sizes and Incoterm, not just price.
How iroko is priced
Iroko is sold per cubic metre, usually FOB a Central African port such as Douala, Kribi or Pointe-Noire. One cubic metre equals about 424 board feet, so $950 per m³ is roughly $2.24 per board foot before freight. We can also quote CFR or CIF to your port if you prefer us to arrange shipping.
Iroko wood price at a glance
| Product | Indicative level (FOB) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard sawn boards | from about $950 per m³ | General joinery, garden furniture |
| Kiln-dried FAS boards | higher | Doors, windows, worktops |
| Decking profiles | quoted by profile | Decks, boardwalks |
| Cladding profiles | quoted by profile | Facades |
| Beams and thick sections | higher | Boat frames, structures |
| Worktop staves and blanks | quoted by size | Kitchen and lab worktops |
See the iroko product page and our full African hardwood prices list.
What changes the iroko price
Grade
FAS boards are long, wide and mostly clear, and cost more. For decking and garden furniture parts, a lower grade with sound knots or shorter clear lengths can be perfectly suitable and cheaper.
Moisture content
Kiln-dried iroko at 10–14% moisture content is the right choice for doors, windows, worktops and furniture. Air-dried or fresh-sawn stock is cheaper and fine for heavy outdoor sections. See kiln dried vs air dried lumber.
Profiling
Planing and profiling into decking or cladding adds machine time and some waste, but it saves you work and freight on material you would otherwise plane away.
Section size
Wide boards, thick stock and long beams need larger, better logs, so they cost more per cubic metre.
Volume and regularity
Full containers and repeat orders on a fixed specification get better pricing than small one-off shipments.
Iroko vs teak on price
Iroko is usually much cheaper than good teak, and far cheaper than old-growth teak. Plantation teak varies a lot in quality and price. For decks, cladding, garden furniture and most exterior joinery, iroko gives similar durability at a fraction of the cost. Read our iroko vs teak guide.
Iroko vs other outdoor species
| Species | From (USD/m³, FOB) | Strength for outdoor use |
|---|---|---|
| Okan | $650 | Very hard, heavy decks and bridges |
| Tali | $650 | Value heavy decking, sleepers |
| Bilinga | $700 | Decks, cladding, marine |
| Iroko | $950 | Joinery, furniture, decks, cladding |
| Doussie | $1,350 | Premium stable decks and joinery |
Iroko sits in the middle: more expensive than the heavy construction species, but much easier to machine and finish, which matters for joinery and furniture.
Container loads and freight
Iroko weighs roughly 650–700 kg/m³ when dry. A 40ft container usually carries about 38–42 m³, limited by weight. Freight is charged per container, so the more you load, the lower the freight cost per m³. Read how much timber fits in a 40ft container and our guide to timber shipping cost.
From FOB to landed cost
Add sea freight, insurance, import duties and VAT or sales tax, customs broker and port fees, and inland transport. Divide the total by the volume to get your landed cost per cubic metre. That is the figure to compare with local timber merchants.
Iroko decking price per square metre
A useful rule of thumb: one cubic metre of 21 × 145 mm decking covers about 40–45 m² after gaps and some waste. At our starting prices, iroko decking timber therefore works out at a modest cost per square metre FOB, before freight and installation. Thicker boards cover less area. See hardwood decking cost for a full comparison.
How to compare iroko quotes
- Is it Milicia excelsa or Milicia regia iroko, or a substitute?
- What grade, and under which rules?
- What moisture content, and is it kiln dried?
- Nominal or actual measure?
- Which Incoterm and port?
- Which documents are included?
- What lead time, and how long is the price valid?
Ways to lower your iroko cost
- Accept random lengths and widths where possible.
- Use lower grades for decking and short furniture parts.
- Combine iroko with cheaper species for hidden structure, such as tali joists under an iroko deck.
- Order full containers or share a mixed container.
- Set up regular orders on a fixed specification.
Why very cheap iroko is a warning sign
Offers far below the market may involve wet timber sold as dry, substitute species, heavy sapwood or missing legality documents. Iroko with sapwood is not durable outdoors, and wet iroko will move after installation. Always ask for photos of the actual bundles, moisture readings and the document list before you pay.
Documents and legality
Iroko is not CITES listed. Every shipment we send includes the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate and legality and chain-of-custody documents. For EU buyers, we prepare the information you need for EUDR due diligence. See EUDR timber compliance.
Lead times
Standard sawn iroko can often be prepared in a few weeks. Kiln-dried FAS stock and profiled decking usually take 4–8 weeks before loading. Sea transit then takes 3–7 weeks depending on your port.
Iroko price by end use
- Garden furniture: kiln dried to 12–16%, mixed grades; good value.
- Decking: profiled boards, dried for outdoor use; priced by profile and length.
- Doors and windows: kiln-dried FAS or laminated scantlings; higher price, lower risk.
- Worktops: selected kiln-dried staves; priced by size and grade.
- Boat building: selected straight-grained stock; priced individually.
How prices are moving
Demand for teak alternatives has kept iroko prices firm in recent years. Stricter legality rules and more local processing in producer countries add cost but also improve the supply of dried, graded stock. The planned regional end of log exports from Central Africa in 2028 will push even more processing into African mills.
A worked example: pricing an iroko deck
Say a landscape contractor needs 400 m² of iroko decking in 21 × 145 mm boards, plus joists. At roughly 40–45 m² per cubic metre, the decking needs about 9–10 m³ of boards. Joists in a cheaper durable species such as tali might add another 4–5 m³. That combined order fits comfortably in a 20ft container, or can share a 40ft container with other materials. The contractor multiplies each volume by its price per m³, adds freight and duties, and divides by 400 to get the timber cost per square metre. Using tali for the hidden joists instead of iroko keeps the visible surface premium while lowering the total.
A worked example: pricing a furniture range
A garden furniture maker plans 500 benches a year. Each bench needs about 0.04 m³ of finished iroko, or roughly 0.06 m³ of rough-sawn stock after waste. That makes about 30 m³ a year, less than one 40ft container. Ordering once a year in a single container, kiln dried to 12–16%, gives the best price per m³ and keeps a stable stock of dry timber for production.
Quality you should expect for the price
At standard grade, you should expect sound boards free of rot and active insect damage, with sapwood limited or excluded, true to the sizes quoted. Iroko can contain hard calcium deposits, known as stones, that are natural to the species. At FAS grade, boards should be long, wide and mostly clear. We photograph bundles and measure moisture before loading, so you can confirm the quality before the container leaves Africa.
Who buys iroko from us?
Our iroko customers include joinery workshops, window and door makers, garden furniture manufacturers, decking and cladding contractors, worktop producers and boat yards. Many combine iroko with other species in one container to cover different product lines and to make full use of the container’s weight and space.
Our honest advice
If you are choosing between iroko and a cheaper heavy species for decking, ask yourself how the deck will be used and seen. For a family garden or hotel terrace where comfort, colour and easy fixing matter, iroko is worth the extra cost. For a public boardwalk where wear resistance and budget matter more, okan or tali may be the better buy.
Common mistakes
- Comparing FOB with CIF: compare on the same basis.
- Accepting sapwood for outdoor use: it is not durable.
- Using air-dried stock indoors: it will shrink and move.
- Forgetting freight and duties: budget the landed cost.
Sources
- Milicia excelsa on Wikipedia
- International Tropical Timber Organization for market reports.
Related guides
- Iroko vs teak
- Iroko vs oak
- Best wood for outdoor furniture
- Best hardwood for decking
- Furniture and joinery hardwoods
Frequently asked questions about iroko wood price
How much does iroko cost per m³?
Our iroko starts from about $950 per m³ for standard sawn grade, FOB Central Africa.
Is iroko cheaper than teak?
Yes, usually by a wide margin, especially compared with high-grade teak.
How much iroko fits in a 40ft container?
Typically about 38–42 m³ of boards, limited by weight.
Does iroko need a CITES permit?
No. Iroko is not CITES listed at the time of writing.
Get a firm iroko price
Send your use, grade, sizes and volume through our quote form. We will reply with a firm price, stock photos and the expected container load.