Teak (jati) typically costs roughly 40% to 80% more than mahogany (mahoni) for equivalent bulk furniture leaving Bali, because teak is denser, oilier and slower to supply. As of 2026 an example FOB chair runs IDR 1,700,000–2,800,000 (about USD 105–175). Teak sits near the top, mahogany near the floor — indicative only, never a fixed quote.
What actually drives the teak-versus-mahogany price gap?
The gap is not marketing. It comes from the wood itself. Teak grows slowly, carries natural silica and oil that resist rot, and moves through a tighter, more regulated supply chain. Mahogany (usually plantation-grown mahoni or its close relatives) grows faster, machines easily, and reaches Bali and Jepara workshops in larger, cheaper volumes.
For a bulk buyer filling a kontainer campur (mixed container), three cost levers matter most:
- Raw timber cost per cubic metre. Teak logs command a premium at the mill before a single joint is cut.
- Labour and waste. Teak’s hardness slows machining and dulls tooling; denser stock also means more weight per piece, which feeds freight.
- Grade spread. Teak is graded tightly (A-grade heartwood versus sapwood-heavy stock), so two “teak” chairs can differ in price far more than two mahogany ones.
When does mahogany make more sense than teak for bulk orders?
Mahogany wins whenever the piece lives indoors, needs a stained or painted finish, or carries carving detail. It takes colour evenly, weighs less, and lands cheaper per container — which is why dining sets, cabinets, bed frames and upholstered frames are so often built in mahoni. For buyers building an indoor collection, our Bali mahogany furniture wholesale range shows how grade and finish choices decide the final FOB number more than the species label alone.
Teak earns its premium outdoors and anywhere exposed to weather or heavy use: garden benches, loungers, restaurant terraces, hotel poolside furniture. If the buyer’s catalogue is mostly indoor, paying teak prices across the board wastes margin.
How big is the price difference per container?
Here is an indicative comparison for common pieces, expressed as an FOB band per unit. Treat every number as an example that illustrates structure — the real figure comes from the buyer’s item list, spec and finish, as of 2026 and subject to change.
| Piece (equivalent spec) | Mahogany (mahoni) FOB, indicative | Teak (jati) FOB, indicative | Rough gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining chair | USD 90–130 | USD 140–190 | ~45–55% |
| Dining table (6-seat) | USD 260–400 | USD 420–650 | ~55–65% |
| Bed frame (queen) | USD 220–330 | USD 340–520 | ~50–60% |
| Outdoor lounger | USD 130–190 | USD 230–340 | ~70–80% |
The pattern is consistent: the more a piece depends on weather resistance, the wider the teak premium grows. Indoor cabinetry narrows the gap; outdoor and wet-area furniture widens it.
How do teak and mahogany compare on durability and use?
Price only makes sense next to lifespan and application. This table summarises the practical trade-offs bulk buyers weigh.
| Factor | Teak (jati) | Mahogany (mahoni) |
|---|---|---|
| Density / hardness | High; heavy, hard-wearing | Medium; lighter, softer |
| Natural weather resistance | Strong (oil + silica) | Moderate; needs sealing outdoors |
| Best use | Outdoor, wet areas, heavy-traffic | Indoor, carved, stained pieces |
| Finish behaviour | Silvers gracefully if left raw | Takes stain and paint evenly |
| Weight (freight impact) | Higher per piece | Lower per piece |
| Typical buyer | Hospitality, garden, export premium | Retail, interior designers, homeware |
Neither wood is “better” in the abstract. A hotel furnishing an open terrace should pay for teak; an importer stocking flat-pack dining sets for a home retailer usually shouldn’t.
How does landed cost change the teak-versus-mahogany maths?
FOB is only the starting line. Once a container ships, several add-ons apply equally to both woods — but because teak is heavier and pricier, they scale up faster on a teak-heavy load. Indicative example add-ons, per the same Bali sourcing guidance and subject to change:
- Export packaging: roughly USD 5–20 per piece.
- Inland transport in Bali to port: about USD 100–300 per container.
- Sea freight: around USD 80–200 per CBM on shorter routes, USD 150–350 per CBM on longer ones.
- Customs brokerage: roughly USD 150–400.
- Local delivery at destination: about USD 100–500.
Two things follow. First, teak’s higher weight per CBM means a teak container often carries more freight than a mahogany one of the same volume. Second, a sensible planning rule is to budget an extra 25–40% above FOB for a small-to-medium LCL shipment to Australia, Singapore or Europe. Import duties add little for furniture from Indonesia — commonly cited in the 0–5.7% of customs value range across major markets — but they are not the driver; freight and packaging are.
Because pricing is quote-based, the honest way to compare is to send one item list and let the numbers fall out per spec, rather than trusting a flat per-species rate.
Do teak and mahogany carry different legality paperwork?
Not really — both are wood, so both sit inside Indonesia’s timber-legality regime. Under SVLK, the national timber legality system, a V-Legal document issued by an accredited LVLK (legality verification body) is the proof of legal wood for export, whether the piece is jati or mahoni. Buyers importing into the EU should also prepare deforestation-related due diligence — geolocation and legality records — for both species.
A standard export document pack covers both woods identically: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and the timber-legality certificate (SVLK/V-Legal or FSC). The species changes the price and the finish; it does not change the paperwork discipline. Prepare the documents; never treat a customs or EUDR outcome as guaranteed.
For a mixed container that cubes out — the practical MOQ for wholesale, whether a 20ft or 40ft HQ, shipped FOB from Jawa or Bali ports such as Semarang or Surabaya — buyers routinely blend both woods: teak for the outdoor and hero pieces, mahogany for the indoor volume. That blend, not a single-species order, is usually how the average FOB cost lands where the buyer’s budget needs it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the teak-to-mahogany price gap wider for outdoor furniture?
Yes. Indoors, the two woods sit closer — mahogany finishes as well as teak and the gap can narrow toward 40–50%. Outdoors, teak’s weather resistance is the whole point, so it commands a steeper premium, often 70–80% more on loungers and garden pieces. The wetter the use, the wider the gap, as of 2026 and indicative only.
Can mixing teak and mahogany in one container lower my average FOB cost?
Usually, yes. A mixed container (kontainer campur) that cubes out lets you put teak only where weather resistance earns it — outdoor and hero pieces — and fill the indoor volume with cheaper mahogany. That blend pulls your average FOB per piece down versus an all-teak load, while still cubing out a 20ft or 40ft HQ efficiently. The real figure comes from your item list.
Why do two Bali workshops quote different teak prices for the same chair?
Grade and moisture. “Teak” spans A-grade heartwood to sapwood-heavy stock, and kiln-dried, properly graded jati costs more than green or mixed-grade timber. Joinery method, finish and hardware also move the number. That is why teak quotes vary more than mahogany ones, and why comparing a written spec — not just the word “teak” — is the only reliable way to price bulk.