Wood Species Comparison Chart for Furniture

A practical comparison of common furniture woods by hardness, stability, colour and best use to help you choose the right species.

Wood Species Comparison Chart for Furniture

Choosing a wood species is the first design decision in any furniture project, and it shapes everything that follows: colour, durability, cost and how the piece ages. This guide compares the species most used in fine furniture so you can match the wood to the job.

What to compare

Four properties matter most. **Hardness** (often measured on the Janka scale) predicts dent and wear resistance. **Stability** describes how much the wood moves with humidity. **Colour and grain** set the look. **Cost and availability** keep the project realistic. The best species is the one that balances these for your specific piece.

Comparison chart

| Species | Hardness | Stability | Colour and grain | Typical cost | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | White oak | High | Good | Light brown, prominent grain, water-resistant | Moderate | Tables, cabinetry, wet areas | | Red oak | High | Good | Reddish, open grain | Moderate | Cabinetry, chairs | | Walnut | Medium | Very good | Rich dark brown, fine grain | High | Heirloom and statement pieces | | Hard maple | Very high | Moderate | Pale, tight, subtle grain | Moderate | Worktops, high-wear surfaces | | Cherry | Medium | Good | Warm, darkens with age | Moderate to high | Fine furniture, panelling | | Ash | High | Good | Light, strong, bold grain | Moderate | Chairs, bent components | | Teak | Medium | Excellent | Golden brown, naturally oily | Very high | Bathrooms, exterior, marine | | Beech | High | Moderate | Pale, uniform | Lower | Frames, painted furniture |

How to read the chart

A high hardness number means the surface resists dents, which matters for tabletops and floors but matters less for a display cabinet. High stability matters most in humid rooms and for wide solid panels. Use the chart as a starting point, then weigh the priorities of your particular piece.

Matching species to use

- **Daily-use tables:** white oak or hard maple for wear resistance. - **Heirloom and statement pieces:** walnut or cherry for depth of colour. - **Bathrooms and exteriors:** teak for natural moisture resistance. - **Painted or framework pieces:** beech for an even, economical base.

Beyond the chart

Cut matters as much as species. Quartersawn boards of any species move less and often show more striking figure than flatsawn. Sustainable sourcing and the way a board is finished also affect the final result. A maker such as Vertical Custom Supply will recommend not just a species but a specific cut and grade for the piece in hand.

Closing thought

There is no single best furniture wood, only the best wood for a given piece. Decide what the furniture must survive, how it should look and what budget allows, then let the comparison guide the choice. The right species makes every later decision easier.