Sipo and African mahogany are two of the most important mahogany-type woods in the joinery trade. Both have a warm reddish-brown colour, both machine well and both are trusted for windows, doors, stairs and fine furniture. But they come from different genera, they behave a little differently in the workshop and, importantly, African mahogany is listed on CITES while sipo is not. Comparing sipo vs african mahogany helps joiners, furniture makers and importers decide which to use, or how to combine them.
In this guide we compare the two on appearance, stability, hardness, durability, working properties, finishing, legal status, supply, lead times and price, and work through an example for a window and door manufacturer. At Global Timber Trade Hub we supply both species from Central Africa.
In short
- Both are reddish-brown mahogany-type woods used for joinery and furniture.
- Sipo is a little denser and harder; African mahogany is lighter and softer.
- Both are very stable when properly dried.
- African mahogany (khaya) is CITES Appendix II listed; sipo is not.
- Sipo starts from about $900 and African mahogany from about $950 per m³ FOB.
- Sipo is often the simpler choice for regular joinery supply.
Quick comparison
| Property | Sipo (utile) | African mahogany (khaya) |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Entandrophragma utile | Khaya spp. |
| Colour | Reddish-brown, even | Pink to reddish-brown |
| Grain | Interlocked, calm stripe | Interlocked, ribbon or roe |
| Density (dry) | about 600–650 kg/m³ | about 500–550 kg/m³ |
| Hardness | Medium | Medium-soft |
| Stability | Very good | Very good |
| Durability | Moderate | Moderate |
| CITES | Not listed | Appendix II |
| From (USD/m³, FOB) | $900 | $950 |
Appearance
Sipo is a medium to dark reddish-brown with a fairly even colour and a calm stripe on quarter-sawn faces. It looks uniform across many parts, which suits runs of windows, doors and cabinets. African mahogany starts paler and pinker and darkens to a classic reddish-brown, often with a more lively ribbon or roe figure and a slightly coarser feel. Both darken attractively with age. If you want calm uniformity, sipo; for the classic mahogany look and figure, African mahogany.
Stability and hardness
Both woods are prized for stability, which is why they are used for windows and doors that must stay straight. Sipo is a little denser and harder, so it resists dents slightly better on door frames, handrails and furniture edges. African mahogany is lighter, which helps on large doors and boat parts where weight matters. Neither is a hard-wearing floor or worktop wood.
Durability
Both are moderately durable. They perform well in painted or stained windows and doors when finished and maintained properly, but they are not ideal for decks, ground contact or unprotected garden furniture. Many manufacturers pair either species with a more durable sill timber, such as iroko or moabi. See our best wood for window sills guide.
Working properties
Both machine well with sharp tools. Interlocked grain in both can tear out when planing quarter-sawn faces, so use low cutting angles or spiral heads. African mahogany is softer and can leave a slightly woolly surface with dull tools, but it carves beautifully and is gentle on cutters. Sipo machines cleanly and gives crisp mouldings. Both glue, screw and finish well.
Finishing
Both take paint, stain, oil and lacquer well. Sipo’s even colour makes stains look consistent across many parts. African mahogany’s open pores benefit from grain filling for a high-gloss traditional finish. For painted joinery, sipo’s fine texture gives a slightly smoother paint film.
CITES and legal status
African populations of Khaya are listed on CITES Appendix II. Every commercial export of African mahogany needs a CITES export permit, and some importing countries also check permits on arrival. This adds time to orders and paperwork for importers. Sipo is not CITES listed at the time of writing, although the Entandrophragma genus has been flagged for future review. Both need full legal origin documents for EU, UK and US imports. See our CITES timber species guide.
Supply and lead times
Kiln-dried sipo is usually ready to load in 5–8 weeks. African mahogany typically takes longer because of CITES permits, often 8–12 weeks. For factories that need steady, predictable supply, sipo is often easier to plan around.
Price
Sipo starts from about $900 per m³ FOB and African mahogany from about $950 for kiln-dried sawn stock, with wide, long and quarter-sawn boards costing more. See our sipo wood price and African mahogany price guides.
Best uses for sipo
- Windows, doors and frames.
- Stairs and handrails.
- Cabinets and fitted furniture with a uniform look.
- Interior joinery and panelling.
Best uses for African mahogany
- Classic and period furniture.
- Heritage windows and doors.
- Boat building and interiors.
- Carving and guitar making.
A worked example for a window and door manufacturer
Consider a joinery company that makes timber windows and front doors for new homes and heritage projects. For years it used African mahogany throughout, but CITES permit times made it hard to plan production, and housebuilders wanted shorter lead times. The company switched its standard range of windows and doors to sipo, keeping iroko for sills, and now orders kiln-dried sipo in 52, 65 and 80 mm every two months. Delivery is predictable, colour is consistent across a whole housing development and the paint and stain finishes look the same as before. For heritage projects where conservation officers ask for African mahogany, or where the client wants the classic figure, the company orders mahogany separately with enough lead time for permits. Customers rarely notice the change on standard products, while the business benefits from smoother planning and simpler paperwork.
Alternatives to both
If you want a mahogany look without CITES and at a lower price, consider sapele, kossipo, tiama or bosse. Each has a slightly different character: sapele has a strong ribbon, kossipo is close to sapele, tiama is lighter and bosse is fine-textured. See our kossipo wood and tiama wood guides.
Payment terms
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.
Sipo vs African mahogany for furniture
In furniture, the choice often comes down to style and the importance of figure. Classic and reproduction furniture, such as dining chairs, writing desks and chests of drawers in traditional designs, often uses African mahogany, because its lighter weight, easy carving and lively ribbon or roe figure suit those designs, and because buyers expect the classic mahogany look. Contemporary furniture with clean lines and large flat surfaces often benefits from sipo’s calmer, more even grain, which keeps the look restrained and consistent across doors, drawers and panels. Sipo’s slightly higher hardness also helps on table edges, chair arms and drawer fronts that take daily knocks. For upholstered furniture frames and hidden parts, either can be replaced by cheaper species such as tiama or frake. Many furniture makers keep both in stock: sipo for modern ranges and contract furniture, African mahogany for traditional pieces and special commissions. If you do this, sort boards by colour and keep each project within one species, as the two woods age to slightly different tones.
Sipo vs African mahogany for boats
Boat builders have long used African mahogany for interior joinery, trim and some planking because of its light weight, stability and easy working. Sipo is also used for boat interiors and is slightly harder. For exterior parts that get wet, more durable species such as iroko, afrormosia or doussie are better. See our best wood for boat building guide.
Moisture content
For interior furniture, order kiln-dried stock at about 8–10%; for exterior joinery, 12–16%. Let timber acclimatise before machining.
How they age
Both woods change colour with light. African mahogany starts paler and pinker and deepens to a warm reddish-brown, the classic mahogany tone of old furniture. Sipo starts a little darker and deepens more gently, staying even across boards. If you add new pieces to an existing room, consider which species the old furniture or joinery is made from. New African mahogany next to old mahogany will look pale at first and catch up over a year or two in daylight. New sipo next to old mahogany may always look slightly different. For new projects where everything is made at once, either will age evenly as long as all parts come from the same species and, ideally, the same parcel. A UV-protective finish slows colour change for both.
Ordering tips
When you ask for a quote, tell us the species, grade, thicknesses, widths, lengths, moisture content and volume, and whether you need a share of quarter-sawn stock. For African mahogany, give us your required delivery date early so we can plan the CITES permit. Mixed containers with both species, plus sills in iroko, are easy to arrange.
We can also send sample boards of both species so you can compare them under your own finish before ordering.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting CITES for African mahogany: plan permits early.
- Using either for exposed sills: choose iroko or moabi.
- Dull cutters: interlocked grain tears out.
- Mixing parcels: colour varies between batches.
Our honest advice
For regular joinery production where steady supply and uniform colour matter, sipo is usually the simpler choice. For classic furniture, heritage work, boats and carving where the traditional mahogany look and light weight matter, African mahogany is worth the extra lead time and paperwork. Many workshops use both.
Sources
Related guides
- Sapele vs sipo
- African mahogany vs genuine mahogany
- Best wood for interior doors
- Furniture and joinery hardwoods
- Bosse wood
Frequently asked questions about sipo vs african mahogany
Is sipo a type of mahogany?
It is a mahogany-family wood, related to sapele, but not the same genus as African mahogany.
Which is more stable, sipo or African mahogany?
Both are very stable; sipo is slightly harder, African mahogany lighter.
Is sipo CITES listed?
No, not at the time of writing; African mahogany is on CITES Appendix II.
Which is cheaper?
Sipo is usually a little cheaper and quicker to supply.
Get a sipo or African mahogany price
Send us your species, grade, sizes and volume through our quote form. We will reply with a price, permit timing and lead time.