In order to provide evidences for revising the national standard of GB/T 1941—2009 Method of testing in hardness of wood, the authors analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of various wood hardness test methods such as the Brinell hardness method, the Janka hardness method, the hardness modulus method, surface hardness method, and the Monnin hardness method, etc. The standards on test methods of wood hardness in China and abroad were compared. Among these test methods, Janka hardness is the most widely adopted by ISO and many countries because it is very simple, accurate and efficient. GB/T 1941—2009 does not specify a hardness test method for green wood, therefore it is recommended to add in. The hardness modulus test method is proposed for the purpose of measuring the wood-based panel with a thickness greater than 3 mm and wood susceptible to crack.