Okan decking is built for the long haul. Okan, also traded as denya, is one of the densest and most durable timbers from Central Africa, and as a deck it shrugs off heavy foot traffic, furniture, wheels and weather for decades. It is not CITES listed, it is available in good volumes and it costs much less than ipe, which is why deck builders across Europe and the Middle East have turned to it. If you want a deck that is as tough as the famous heavy hardwoods with simpler sourcing, okan decking is one of the best choices you can make.
This guide covers okan as a decking timber: its look and performance, board sizes and profiles, price per square metre, installation details for dense wood, maintenance, and how it compares with tali, ipe, iroko and composite. At Global Timber Trade Hub we supply kiln-dried okan decking sawn and profiled in Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of Congo.
In short
- Okan is very dense, hard and durable, ideal for heavy-use decks.
- Common boards are 21–28 mm thick and 120–145 mm wide.
- Kiln-dried okan decking starts from about $850 per m³ FOB.
- That is roughly $19–24 per m² FOB in board value for 21 mm boards.
- Its golden-brown colour can show a green tint at first, then weathers to grey.
- It is not CITES listed, which makes it an easy ipe alternative.
Why choose okan for a deck?
Okan’s density, around 900–950 kg per cubic metre when dry, gives it outstanding resistance to wear and dents. Its heartwood is naturally very durable, resisting rot and insects without chemical treatment. It is strong and stiff, so boards can span between joists without bounce. And because it is widely distributed and not CITES listed, supply is steadier and paperwork simpler than for ipe or doussie. For decks around restaurants, hotels, offices, marinas and public spaces, those qualities add up to a long, low-maintenance service life.
What okan decking looks like
Freshly machined okan is yellow-brown to golden brown, sometimes with a greenish tint, and boards can vary in tone. With sun exposure, the colour quickly warms and evens out to a golden or mid-brown. Unoiled, it weathers to a silver-grey within a year or two. Its texture is coarse with interlocked grain, which gives a natural, slightly textured look. If you prefer a very fine, smooth surface for barefoot areas, iroko or doussie may suit you better; for robust terraces, okan’s character fits well.
Board sizes and profiles
- Residential: 21 × 120 mm or 21 × 145 mm boards, joists about 400–500 mm apart.
- Commercial: 25–28 mm boards for heavier loads and wider spans.
- Heavy-duty: 32–45 mm planks for marinas, quays and service areas.
- Lengths: random lengths, commonly 1.8–4.5 m.
- Profiles: smooth, fine-ribbed or grooved anti-slip.
Okan decking price
Kiln-dried, profiled okan decking starts from about $850 per m³ FOB. For 21 × 145 mm boards with 5 mm gaps, one cubic metre covers roughly 40–45 m² after waste, giving a board cost of about $19–24 per m² FOB. Thicker commercial boards cost more per square metre. Add joists, fixings, freight, duties and installation for the full cost. See our okan wood price and hardwood decking cost guides.
Okan vs ipe
Ipe has long been the benchmark heavy decking wood. Since its CITES listing, its supply and paperwork have become more complex. Okan is a little less hard than ipe but similar in density class and durability, and it is not CITES listed. For most decks, okan performs as well in practice at a lower price. Its colour is lighter than ipe’s dark brown, and it weathers to a similar grey. See ipe alternatives.
Okan vs tali
Okan and tali are close relatives in performance and price. Tali often has a warmer reddish tone and profiles a little more easily; okan is golden brown and very dense. Both are very durable. The choice often comes down to colour preference and current stock. See our tali decking guide.
Okan vs composite
Composite decks need little care but can get very hot and cannot be sanded back to new. Okan stays cooler, is far stiffer and can be refreshed. Premium composite often costs as much as or more than okan. See hardwood vs composite decking.
Installing dense okan boards
Okan’s density means installation needs the right approach. Use carbide-tipped saw blades and drill bits, pre-drill every screw hole to the full depth and countersink, and use stainless steel screws or hidden clip systems designed for dense hardwoods. Leave 5–8 mm gaps between boards and at least 100–150 mm of ventilation under the deck. Keep joists off the ground on pads or pedestals, and seal cut ends. Plan for more installation time than with softwood or lighter hardwoods. Installers used to dense tropical decking will be familiar with these steps.
Reducing checking
Dense woods can develop surface checks as they weather, especially in hot, dry climates. Order kiln-dried boards, store them covered on site, oil soon after installation and avoid very wide boards in harsh sun. Small checks are normal and do not affect strength.
Maintenance
Clean the deck twice a year with a soft brush and mild deck cleaner. Oil once or twice a year with a UV-protective decking oil if you want to keep the golden colour; otherwise let it weather to grey. Avoid pressure washers. Check fixings on public decks annually.
Dust and health
Okan dust can irritate skin and airways. Cut outdoors where possible, use extraction, wear a mask and gloves.
Legal status
Okan is not CITES listed. EU buyers must meet due diligence and EU deforestation regulation requirements, and US buyers must comply with the Lacey Act. We provide legal origin documents with each shipment. See our EUDR timber compliance guide.
A worked example for a restaurant terrace
Imagine a busy waterfront restaurant with a 150 square metre terrace that seats up to two hundred guests on summer evenings. Chairs are dragged across the deck every day, waiters push service trolleys and the terrace is hosed down every night. The previous softwood deck was splintering and badly worn within eight years. The owner chooses 25 × 145 mm okan boards with a fine-ribbed face, on aluminium joists, with hidden stainless clips so there are no screw heads to catch heels. The total volume is around four to four and a half cubic metres of decking. Because okan is dense, chair legs leave few marks and the ribs keep their grip. The restaurant lets the deck weather to grey, which suits the waterfront setting, and cleans it weekly with a deck brush. Ten years later, the owner expects to replace only a handful of damaged boards rather than the whole deck, and the terrace stays open throughout the season.
Okan for marinas and walkways
Okan’s durability and wear resistance make it suitable for pontoons, jetty decks and coastal walkways, where wet conditions and heavy traffic combine. For these uses, choose thicker grooved boards, generous drainage gaps and stainless fixings rated for marine environments. Inspect decks regularly and replace worn or damaged boards promptly. See our best wood for marine construction guide.
Weight and freight
Okan is heavy, so a 20 ft container usually reaches its weight limit at around 18–22 m³ of decking. Kiln-dried decking weighs less than fresh-sawn timber. Mixing okan with lighter species helps use container space. See our timber shipping cost guide.
Ordering, lead times and payment
Tell us the board thickness and width, profile, area or volume, fixed lengths if needed, matching joists or fascias, and your destination port. Kiln-dried okan decking is usually ready to load in 6–10 weeks. For first orders, a letter of credit or a deposit with balance against copy documents protects both sides. See our letter of credit for timber guide.
Choosing between okan and lighter decks
If your deck is mainly for relaxing barefoot around a pool or on a private terrace, a lighter, finer species may feel nicer underfoot. If it is a working deck that must survive heavy use, okan’s toughness is worth its weight. Many projects use both: okan on walkways and service areas, and iroko or doussie where people sit and lie down. Mixing species by zone can also help budgets, putting premium wood where it is most appreciated.
Finishing okan
Most okan decks are left to weather, which needs no work beyond cleaning. If you prefer a warm golden tone, use a penetrating, UV-protective decking oil on clean, dry boards, wipe off any excess and repeat once or twice a year. Avoid film-forming varnishes, which crack and peel on a dense outdoor deck and can make the surface slippery when wet.
Test any oil on an offcut first, because the tone it gives can vary between products and between boards.
Common mistakes
- No pre-drilling: screws snap and boards split.
- Plain steel screws: rust and black staining.
- Poor ventilation: boards cup and decay faster.
- Expecting a fine, silky surface: okan has a coarser texture.
Our honest advice
Okan decking gives heavy-hardwood toughness and long life at a mid-range price, without CITES paperwork. Use it for busy terraces, commercial decks and public spaces, install it with proper tooling and fixings, and decide early whether to oil it or let it weather. For barefoot luxury areas, iroko or doussie may be more comfortable.
Sources
Related guides
- Okan vs azobe
- Best hardwood for decking
- Iroko decking
- Heavy construction and marine timber
- Buy okan wood
Frequently asked questions about okan decking
Is okan good for decking?
Yes. It is very dense, hard-wearing and durable outdoors.
How much is okan decking per square metre?
Roughly $19–24 per m² FOB in board value for 21 mm boards.
Is okan a good ipe alternative?
Yes. It is similar in durability and density class, not CITES listed and usually cheaper.
What colour is okan decking?
Golden brown, sometimes with a green tint at first, weathering to silver-grey.
Get an okan decking price
Send us your board size, profile, deck area and destination through our quote form. We will reply with a firm price and lead time.