Janka hardness ratings are a measure of the hardness of wood, produced by a variation on the Brinell hardness test. The test measures the force required to push a steel ball with a diameter of 11.28 millimeters (0.444 inches) into the wood to a depth of half the ball's diameter. The results are stated in various ways in different countries, which can lead to confusion, especially since the name of the actual units employed is often not attached. In the United States, the measurement is in pounds-force. The most common use of Janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring. Essentially this measures a wood's density and thus its dent resistance – so the higher the number the less likely a floor is to dent. It’s important to understand that while hardwood floors are tough; when it comes to indentations no floor is impervious to damage. Certain species of wood, are less likely to dent, but when they do, harder species will have shallow dents when compared to average or softer species of wood..
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