Gurjan Plywood: Price, Benefits and Real Gurjan Face Check

Last updated: 3 November 2026. Timber properties checked against government and scientific timber databases, brand claims against brand websites, and prices against November 2026 B2B listings and PlyPrice grade bands.

Gurjan plywood: quick answer (November 2026)

Gurjan is timber from Dipterocarpus trees of South and Southeast Asia, used for plywood face veneers and premium cores because it is denser than poplar (about 660-800 kg/m3). It is a species, not a grade: water resistance still depends on the MR, BWR or BWP grade under IS 303, or marine grade under IS 710. B2B listings for plywood sold as "gurjan" ranged from ₹48 to ₹125 per sq ft in November 2026, so check the grade and core before paying a premium.

Gurjan at a glance	Detail	Source type
Botanical genus	Dipterocarpus; traded as gurjun in India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, and internationally as keruing	Timber databases
Natural range	India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and the wider Indo-Malesian region	Timber database
Density	About 660-800 kg/m3; 790 kg/m3 at 12% moisture in one government rating	Timber databases
Heartwood colour	Red-brown to dark brown, with a distinct grey-brown sapwood	Government timber data
Termite resistance, untreated	Rated "not resistant" (Queensland Government data)	Government timber data
Use in plywood	Premium hardwood cores (brand websites) and face veneers (as sold in listings)	Brand websites, listings
Price signal	Brands say gurjan or hardwood-core plywood costs more than regular plywood	Brand websites
Listing prices, November 2026	₹48-125 per sq ft (₹1,536-4,000 per 8x4 sheet)	IndiaMART listings

What gurjan is and why plywood makers use it

Gurjan is the Indian trade name for timber of the genus Dipterocarpus, a dense, resinous hardwood used for plywood veneers.

The DELTA commercial timbers database lists "gurjun" among the trade names for Dipterocarpus, with a natural range across India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, and a density of 0.66-0.8 g/cm3. Queensland Government timber data, which covers the same genus under the trade name keruing, describes red-brown to dark brown heartwood, about 790 kg/m3 at 12% moisture content, and resin and silica in the wood that make machining difficult. Greenply's August 2026 guide describes gurjan as coming from Dipterocarpus species that grow in Southeast Asian forests.

Plywood makers value it for weight and face quality. Greenply's guide rates gurjan plywood's screw retention as "excellent" against "moderate to good" for regular plywood, and describes a tight, uniform grain that takes laminates and veneers cleanly. Duroply's June 2026 price guide says plywood with a gurjan or hardwood core costs more and is chosen for heavy-duty furniture and structural uses where strength matters. Both are brand claims rather than test data.

Supply is the catch. A 2021 review by IPIRTI researchers in the Indian Forester notes that India's plywood industry faces a shortage of traditional timber because of conservation-focused forest policy and a ban on commercial logging from natural forests, so mills rely on plantation timber, lesser-known hardwoods and some imports. See India's plywood manufacturing hubs for where boards are made.

Gurjan vs poplar vs eucalyptus vs other hardwood cores

Gurjan is the densest and costliest of the common plywood timbers, eucalyptus sits in the middle, and poplar is the lightest and cheapest core.

Point	Gurjan	Eucalyptus	Poplar	Mixed hardwood core
Where it comes from	Natural range in South and Southeast Asia	Farm-grown timber	Farm agroforestry on a 7-10 year rotation in Haryana	Varies by mill
Weight	About 660-800 kg/m3	Veneer harder, more durable and heavier than poplar	Soft and light	Varies by species
Typical role	Face veneers and premium cores	Veneer and cores	Cores; suited to plyboard making	Cores in mid and premium boards
How brands position it	Premium; costs more than regular plywood	"A good compromise between strength and price"	Cheaper core material	Stronger and heavier than poplar cores, and costlier
Termite protection	Untreated wood rated not resistant; depends on treatment	Depends on treatment	Depends on treatment	Depends on treatment

The poplar and eucalyptus points come from the Haryana Forest Department, which notes that poplar was better suited to plyboard making because it is soft and light, while industry moved to eucalyptus veneer because it is harder, more durable and heavier. The positioning row comes from Duroply and Greenply. Termite protection in every column depends on the chemical treatment the brand states, not on the timber name.

Gurjan is a species, not a grade

The word "gurjan" tells you the timber; the grade printed with the ISI mark tells you how the board handles water, and you need both.

MR grade (IS 303): 3-hour soak at 60°C, three cycles. A gurjan-faced MR board is still an MR board, fit for dry rooms.
BWR grade (IS 303): 8-hour boil plus 16-hour dry, three cycles.
BWP grade (IS 303): 72-hour boil.
Marine plywood (IS 710): 72-hour boil plus glue shear minimums and preservative treatment, so it is not the same as BWP.

ISI marking has been mandatory for plywood since 28 February 2025 (later for small and micro units). Compare grades in MR vs BWR vs BWP plywood and read BWP vs marine plywood before paying for "gurjan marine".

Which brands and grades advertise gurjan

Check the brand's own website for the species claim, and note whether it says gurjan face, gurjan core or both.

Greenply states that its premium range "is built on gurjan and select hardwood cores", and its FAQ describes Green Gold as built on select hardwood cores including gurjan-grade timber. Greenply lists Green Gold as IS 710 certified, treated against borers, termites and fungi, with a 25-year warranty. Its guide gives no price figures and advises buyers to ask for IS certification and thickness tolerance data. Current Greenply rates are in the Greenply plywood price list.

Listings do not always use the word consistently. In November 2026, a 16 mm calibrated BWR board on IndiaMART was described as using a "gurjan face veneer", and an 18 mm board on aajjo was titled "Gurjan BWR Plywood" while its grade read "MR Grade (IS 303)". When the species and grade in a listing disagree, ask for the brand's written specification and check the stamp on the sheet. For a wider view of brands, see the best plywood brands in India.

Gurjan plywood price in 2026

Plywood sold as gurjan was listed at about ₹48-125 per sq ft on IndiaMART in November 2026, but the grade and brand decide the price more than the species name.

Source	Board	₹ per sq ft	₹ per 8x4 sheet (32 sq ft)
IndiaMART listings, Nov 2026	Plywood sold as "gurjan", up to 18 mm, mixed or unstated grades	48-125	1,536-4,000
PlyPrice band, 2026	18-19 mm MR: local or unbranded ISI / branded	45-80 / 85-130	1,440-2,560 / 2,720-4,160
PlyPrice band, 2026	18-19 mm BWR: local or unbranded ISI / branded	45-85 / 95-160	1,440-2,720 / 3,040-5,120
PlyPrice band, 2026	18-19 mm BWP or marine: local or unbranded ISI / branded	78-113 / 120-175	2,496-3,616 / 3,840-5,600
Duroply guide, June 2026	Premium plywood, all grades	80-180	18 mm BWP sheet about 3,500-5,500

The listings did not state whether GST, transport or cutting were included, and several left out grade or thickness, so treat them as a range, not a quote. Use the grade bands to judge whether a "gurjan" price makes sense: a branded BWP or marine sheet sits far above a local MR sheet whatever its face timber. GST on plywood is 18% (see plywood GST rate and HSN code). Current rates by grade are in plywood price per sq ft and marine plywood prices.

How to check a real gurjan face

Look at colour, grain and weight first, then confirm with the brand's written specification, because no simple shop test proves the species.

Colour: gurjan heartwood is red-brown to dark brown. A grey-brown face may be sapwood, which is distinct from the heartwood.
Resin: Dipterocarpus timber has resin canals, and Queensland Government data notes that high-resin timber is a poor base for finish coatings, so test your polish or PU on an offcut before finishing a gurjan face.
Weight: at about 660-800 kg/m3, gurjan is heavier than poplar, which the Haryana Forest Department describes as soft and light. Compare the "gurjan" sheet with a known poplar-core sheet of the same thickness.
Cut edge: the face is one thin veneer. Look at the core plies on a cut edge: if they look different from the red-brown face, the gurjan is likely only on the face.
Written claim: ask for "gurjan face", "gurjan core" or "100% gurjan" to be written on the invoice next to the brand, grade and thickness, and match it to the brand's website.
Stamp: check that the ISI mark, IS number and CM/L number on the sheet match the grade you are paying for.

Where gurjan matters and where it is marketing

Gurjan matters when you need a heavy, dense board with a good face; it is marketing when it is used to sell water or termite resistance that only the grade and treatment can deliver.

Where it matters

Visible veneer or polish finishes, where a dense, even face helps (a Greenply claim).
Heavy-duty furniture and structural uses where strength counts, the uses Duroply links to gurjan and hardwood cores.
Doors and shutters with heavy hardware, where screw retention matters (Greenply rates gurjan's as excellent); see plywood for doors.

Where it is marketing

Water resistance: it comes from the grade (MR, BWR, BWP) or IS 710, not the timber. A gurjan MR board is still certified only for the MR test.
Termites: Queensland Government timber data rates untreated Dipterocarpus as not termite-resistant, and Greenply credits its termite protection to treatment. Ask for the treatment and warranty in writing; see termite resistant plywood.
Hidden carcass parts that get laminate on both sides: here a good eucalyptus or mixed hardwood core in the right grade is the cheaper route.

How to buy and verify gurjan plywood

Verify the grade and licence first, then the species claim, because the ISI mark is the only part you can check independently.

Verify the CM/L number ("CM/L-" plus 10 digits) in the BIS Care app (Verify Licence Details) or on Manak Online (Status of Licence). See how to check the ISI mark and CML number.
Match the IS number to the grade: IS 303 for MR, BWR or BWP, IS 710 for marine. The ISI standards guide lists both.
Get the species claim on the invoice with brand, series, grade and thickness, and keep the warranty card.
Inspect edges and core for gaps, overlaps and soft plies; how to identify fake plywood lists more checks.
Compare delivered prices including GST, transport and cutting, against the grade bands above.

Looking for a verified dealer near you? Browse verified plywood dealers on PlyPrice and compare quotes before you buy.

FAQs

Is gurjan plywood good?

Gurjan gives a dense, heavy board with a good face, which suits visible finishes and heavy-duty furniture. It is only as water-resistant as its grade, so buy the right grade (MR, BWR, BWP or IS 710 marine) first.

What is the price of gurjan plywood?

IndiaMART listings for plywood sold as gurjan ranged from ₹48 to ₹125 per sq ft in November 2026, or ₹1,536-4,000 per 8x4 sheet. Branded BWP or marine sheets sit higher, at ₹120-175 per sq ft in 2026 PlyPrice bands.

Which is better, gurjan or poplar plywood?

Gurjan is denser and heavier; poplar is soft and light and makes a cheaper core. For visible, heavy-duty or high-hardware furniture gurjan can be worth the premium; for hidden, laminated carcass parts a poplar or mixed core in the right grade can do the job.

Gurjan vs eucalyptus plywood: which should I buy?

Eucalyptus veneer is harder and heavier than poplar, and Duroply calls eucalyptus core a good compromise between strength and price. Pay for gurjan when the face finish and weight matter.

Is gurjan plywood waterproof?

Not by itself. Water resistance comes from the bond grade: BWP under IS 303 and marine plywood under IS 710 both pass a 72-hour boil, while MR is tested only to a 3-hour soak at 60°C.

Is gurjan plywood termite proof?

No timber name guarantees that. Queensland Government timber data rates untreated Dipterocarpus as not termite-resistant, so rely on the brand's stated treatment and warranty.

How can I identify gurjan plywood?

Check for a red-brown to dark brown face, a heavy sheet, and core plies that match the face on a cut edge. Then get "gurjan face" or "gurjan core" written on the invoice and verify the ISI licence.

Sources and method: Timber properties are from the DELTA commercial timbers database entry for Dipterocarpus and Queensland Government timber data for keruing (Dipterocarpus). Poplar and eucalyptus notes are from the Haryana Forest Department, and supply context from the Indian Forester review of Indian timbers for veneering. Brand claims are from Greenply and Duroply. Listing prices were seen on IndiaMART and aajjo in November 2026; grade bands are 2026 PlyPrice bands. Prices are indicative, checked on 3 November 2026, and vary by city, dealer, brand series, thickness and order size.

Related guides on PlyPrice

Note: This is independent editorial content. PlyPrice is not affiliated with any brand mentioned in this article. Brand names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Prices and specifications are indicative and subject to change. Please verify current information with authorised dealers before purchase.

Disclaimer: This content is provided for general informational purposes based on industry practices and publicly available information. Product specifications, standards, prices, and availability may vary by manufacturer, region, and time. Readers should independently verify details with manufacturers, dealers, or qualified professionals before making purchase or construction decisions.

Gurjan Plywood: Price, Benefits and How to Check a Real Gurjan Face