Quick Answer
Teak is very strong, lasts 80-100+ years, and handles water and humidity well-best for doors, outdoor use, and long-term furniture.
Sheesham is cheaper (30–50% less), looks beautiful, and is strong enough for indoor furniture. For most Indian homes, sheesham is the smarter choice for bedrooms and living rooms, while teak is worth it for outdoor or high-moisture use.
Walk into any furniture market in North India - Kirti Nagar in Delhi, Sadar Bazar in Meerut, or any timber market in Punjab - and you will hear the same two words from every salesperson: sheesham or teak. Both are hardwoods. Both are genuine. Both make excellent furniture. But they are built differently by nature, and they perform differently in Indian homes.
Janka hardness shows how hard the wood is. Sheesham (1,660 lbf) is actually harder than most plantation teak. But old Burmese teak (2,330 lbf) is much harder than sheesham. So, the difference depends on the type of teak and in India, most teak sold today is plantation teak, not old Burmese teak.
| Property | Sheesham | Teak | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moisture resistance | Moderate - indoor use only. Needs oiling every 6 months in humid conditions | Excellent - natural oil content resists water, humidity, and monsoon conditions | Teak wins |
| Termite resistance | Good - dense enough to resist most termites when treated | Excellent - natural oils are inherently repellent to termites and borers | Teak wins |
| Dimensional stability | Good indoors. Can warp or crack in dry winters (Delhi, Rajasthan) | Exceptional - resists warping, swelling, and shrinking across seasons | Teak wins |
| Appearance and grain | Vivid, interlocked grain - widely considered more decorative and striking | Straight, tight grain - classic and elegant but less visually varied | Sheesham wins (subjective) |
| Workability | Excellent - machines and carves easily, takes polish and stain very well | Good - slightly more difficult to work due to silica content that blunts tools | Sheesham wins |
| Lifespan (indoor) | 25–50 years with proper maintenance | 80–100+ years, minimal maintenance required | Teak wins |
| Lifespan (outdoor) | Not recommended - deteriorates rapidly without regular treatment | 30–50+ years with basic annual oiling | Teak wins - no contest |
| Maintenance required | Oil every 6 months. Polish annually. Keep away from direct water | Oil once a year. Wipe clean. That is largely it | Teak wins |
| Price (2026) | ?1,500–4,000 per cubic foot | ?4,500–14,000+ per cubic foot | Sheesham wins - 30–50% less |
| Resale value | Moderate - good quality sheesham furniture holds value well | High - teak furniture appreciates over decades, especially antiques | Teak wins |
| Availability in India | Widely available - grown locally across North India | Available but quality varies. Best Indian teak from Kerala and MP | Sheesham wins |
Here are the real limitations you should know before buying:
Sheesham does not have the natural oils that teak has. In humid places—like coastal cities (Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi) or rooms near kitchens and bathrooms—it needs regular oiling (about every 6 months) to stay in good condition. If you don’t maintain it, the wood can start drying, cracking, and showing damage at edges and joints within 3–5 years in humid conditions.
Sheesham is not good for outdoor use—it gets damaged by sun and rain. Teak can handle outdoor conditions naturally; sheesham cannot.
Both too much and too little humidity can damage sheesham. In dry North Indian winters, it can crack if not oiled regularly. Teak handles both humid and dry conditions much better because of its natural oils.
Sheesham quality can vary a lot. If it’s not properly dried, it can warp or crack within a year. Always choose furniture made from kiln-dried or well-seasoned wood-not fresh (green) wood rushed to market.
The most common sheesham scam in Indian furniture markets:
"Sheesham finish" or "sheesham look" furniture - MDF or particle board with a sheesham-coloured laminate. Not solid wood. Not durable. Ask specifically for "solid sheesham wood" and confirm by knocking - solid wood has a dull thud, hollow board has a resonant knock.
Sagwan is simply the Hindi name for teak (Tectona grandis). They are the same wood - the price difference you might see between "teak" and "sagwan" at a dealer is either regional naming variation or a quality tier difference, not a different species.
| Wood | Price per cubic foot (2026) | Price for a standard bed (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheesham | ?1,500–4,000 | ?25,000–60,000 | North Indian plantation grown. Widely available. Price varies by timber age and seasoning quality |
| Indian Teak (Plantation) | ?4,500–8,500 | ?60,000–1,20,000 | Kerala, MP, Maharashtra grown. Quality and price vary by age of plantation. Most common teak sold in India |
| Nilambur / Malabar Teak | ?8,000–14,000 | ?1,20,000–2,00,000+ | Premium grade from Kerala forests. Straight grain, high oil content. The same teak used in Rolls-Royce interiors |
| Burma / Old-Growth Teak | ?14,000+ | ?2,00,000+ | Extremely rare. Heavily regulated. Most "Burma teak" sold in Indian markets is mislabelled plantation teak |
The price difference between teak (sagwan) and sheesham is real. Teak grows slower and has more natural oils, which makes it more valuable. Sheesham is ready in 20-30 years, while teak takes 40-80 years to become high-quality wood-so teak costs more.
Neither sheesham nor teak is the most expensive wood in India - though teak is among the top five. Understanding the broader spectrum of Indian timber pricing helps put both woods in context.
| Wood | Price range (2026) | Primary use |
|---|---|---|
| White Sandalwood | ?15,000–?20,000/kg | Perfume, religious carvings, Ayurveda — not furniture |
| Red Sandalwood (Lal Chandan) | ?2,500–?5,000/kg | Medicinal, cosmetics, decorative carvings. Protected species. |
| Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) | ?6,500–?15,000/cu ft | Luxury furniture, musical instruments. Heavily regulated. |
| Nilambur / Malabar Teak | ?8,000–?14,000/cu ft | Premium furniture, doors, Rolls-Royce interiors |
| Ebony | ?8,000–?20,000/cu ft | Musical instruments, decorative objects. Rare. |
| Plantation Teak (Sagwan) | ?4,500–?8,500/cu ft | Furniture, doors, outdoor applications |
| Sheesham | ?1,500–?4,000/cu ft | Indoor furniture — beds, wardrobes, dining sets |
White sandalwood is the most expensive wood in India because of its oil and medicinal use-but it is not used for furniture. For furniture, premium woods are Indian rosewood and Nilambur teak. These are much higher quality than regular teak and far superior to sheesham
Both sheesham and teak are often faked in the market. Sellers may use cheaper wood or even MDF/particle board with a “sheesham finish” or “teak look” to mislead buyers.
Which is better — teak or sheesham wood?
Teak is stronger, more durable, and resists water, termites, and time—it can last 80–100+ years with little maintenance. Sheesham is cheaper (30-50% less), looks beautiful, and works very well for indoor furniture. For most Indian homes (bedrooms/living rooms), sheesham is the smarter choice. For doors, outdoor use, coastal areas, or long-term furniture, teak is worth the extra cost.
What are the disadvantages of sheesham wood?
Sheesham's main disadvantages: it is not suitable for outdoor use and deteriorates quickly in direct rain or sunlight; it requires regular oiling every six months in humid or dry extreme conditions; it can warp or crack in very dry North Indian winters if maintenance is neglected; and it lacks teak's natural termite-repellent oil content, requiring chemical termite treatment. It is also not appropriate for kitchens, bathrooms, or any area with regular moisture exposure. For dry, indoor, maintained furniture however, these limitations are very manageable.
Which is more costly — Sagwan or Sheesham?
Sagwan (teak) is significantly more expensive. Sagwan costs ?4,500–14,000+ per cubic foot depending on origin and quality, while sheesham costs ?1,500–4,000 per cubic foot. The gap reflects real differences: teak takes 40–80 years to reach furniture-grade maturity vs 20–30 years for sheesham, and teak's natural oil content, termite resistance, and outdoor performance capabilities command a genuine premium. Sagwan and teak are the same wood - Sagwan is simply the Hindi name for Tectona grandis.
Which teak is used in Rolls-Royce?
Rolls-Royce sources Malabar teak — specifically Nilambur teak from Kerala's Nilambur forests — for veneer interiors in the Ghost and Phantom models. The wood travels over 8,000 km from Kerala to Rolls-Royce's Goodwood plant in England, where skilled craftsmen slice it into fine veneers for dashboards and door trims. Rolls-Royce specifies Nilambur teak for its uniquely straight grain, consistent colour, and the quality of its natural finish. Buyers pay approximately ?2 lakh extra for Malabar teak interiors. The same forests in Kerala supply some of the highest-quality plantation teak available in India for furniture use.
Which wood is most costly in India?
White sandalwood (Santalum album) is the most expensive wood in India by weight — priced at ?15,000–20,000 per kilogram for quality heartwood. However, it is primarily used for essential oil, Ayurveda, and religious carvings, not furniture. For furniture timber, Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) at ?6,500–15,000 per cubic foot and Nilambur teak at ?8,000–14,000 per cubic foot are the most expensive widely traded furniture woods in India. Ebony is similarly priced but extremely rare. Red sandalwood (Lal Chandan), while less expensive than white sandalwood, is a protected species with restricted commercial trading.