Alder

Janka Hardness: 590

Known for its warm and light color, is one of the softest hardwoods that boasts straight and fine grain, making it a popular choice for furniture and cabinetry. Alder is favored by craftsmen for its workability and ability to take stains and finishes exceptionally well.

Ash

Janka Hardness: 1,320

Characterized by its pale hues and distinct grain patterns, is a sturdy hardwood widely appreciated for its strength and resilience. Due to its density and hardness, Ash is commonly used for flooring.

Fun fact: most major league baseball bats are made with Ash

Birch (Yellow)

Janka Hardness: 1,260

Pale cream to light brown tones and fine grain, is a hardwood prized for its versatility and smooth texture. Recognized for its durability and ease of machining, Birch finds applications in furniture, cabinetry, and plywood, offering a combination of strength and aesthetic appeal.

Cherry (American)

Janka Hardness: 995

Rich reddish-brown hues that deepen over time, is a hardwood cherished for its elegance and warmth. Known for its fine grain and ability to take on a lustrous finish, Cherry Wood is a popular choice for crafting high-quality furniture, cabinets, and decorative pieces, adding a touch of sophistication to any space.

Hickory

Janka Hardness: 1,820

Distinguished by its strength, durability, and variable coloration. Hickory is a hardwood known for its rustic charm and unique grain patterns. Highly resilient and prized for its hardness, often selected for furniture, flooring, and cabinetry.

Mahogany (African)

Janka Hardness: 830

Reddish-brown to deep red hues and interlocking grain, Mahogany stands as a sought-after hardwood prized for its beauty and workability. Revered for its straight, uniform texture and natural luster, it is frequently chosen for high-end furniture, cabinetry, and interior applications, infusing spaces with a touch of warmth and sophistication.

Maple (hard)

Janka Hardness: 1,450

The term “Hard Maple” refers primarily to one specific type of maple tree: Sugar Maple (Acer sacharrum)

With a fine, even grain, Maple is a dense hardwood valued for its durability and versatility. It is revered for its strength and ability to take on a smooth finish.

Maple (soft)

Janka Hardness: 700-950

The term “Soft Maple” is used as an umbrella term to describe several different species of maple trees. The most common are the Striped Maple, Silver Maple, Red Maple, Bigleaf Maple, and Box Elder.

A slightly lighter color spectrum than hard maple, ranging from pale cream to light brown. While softer than hard maple, it still offers a smooth texture and consistent grain, making it a favorable choice.

Red Oak

Janka Hardness: 1,290

Distinguished by its recognizable grain pattern and a light to medium reddish tone. Oak is a very hard, durable hardwood. Valued for its strength, versatility, and ability to take on various finishes.

White Oak

Janka Hardness: 1,360

White Oak has gained considerable popularity in recent years as a favorite choice in both traditional and contemporary designs.

Similar grain pattern, hardness, durability and finish versatility to its red oak counterpart. White Oak’s difference is in the wood natural color, being lighter and in the brown tones versus red.

Poplar

Janka Hardness: 540

Poplar is a relatively soft hardwood with a vast array of natural colors, from pale white, green and purple.

It is a favorite choice for painted woodwork due to its workability and low cost. Poplar can look very attractive stained; however, colors are usually quite dark to tone down the natural color variation of the wood.

Walnut (Northern Black)

Janka Hardness: 1,010

Characterized by its deep brown to purplish-black hues and rich, swirling grain patterns, Walnut is a luxurious hardwood prized for its elegance and durability. Celebrated for its fine texture and ability to take on a smooth finish, Walnut is a sought after choice for high end furniture, cabinetry, and doors.