16 Types of Hardwood (with Pictures)

Hardwood is a wood type commonly used in construction or DIY projects. It’s prized due to its charming, natural look and high durability. Hardwood is harder than softwood, as you can tell by the name, and various trees fall into the hardwood category.

Every type of hardwood has characteristics that set it apart from the others. Some look better, and some are more affordable or durable. To help you discover all of their benefits (along with the disadvantages), here’s a list of 16 types of hardwood. Read on below to find out more about their unique traits and differences.

The 16 Types of Hardwood

1. Oak Wood

Oak is one of the most popular hardwoods, with over 600 species used for projects all over the world. All Oak specimens are strong, durable, heavy, and dense.  They are insect, water, and fungi-resistant, making them perfect for outdoor use. Oak is a hardwood often used for flooring due to its benefits and looks.

Other than flooring, you can make furniture, paneling, decking, joinery, and veneers from Oak. It is less prone to cracking and warping than other hardwoods. Oak has a natural, charming appearance, so many people use it to enhance their home’s curb appeal. Oak will make your home beautiful for years to come if properly cared for.

2. Cherry Wood

Cherry is another unique hardwood species that looks elegant and has various purposes. Due to its excellent workability, strength, and durability, it’s used for making furniture, cabinets, flooring, doors, paneling, carvings, and molding. Different Cherry types vary in colors, from light-pink tones to brown-red ones with golden hues. It has great shock, rot, and decay resistance.

Cherry wood can be harmed by sunlight, which will change its color. It’s also not as water-resistant as some other hardwoods, so it’s best to use it for the interior. This beautiful hardwood requires more maintenance than others because it quickly collects dust and dirt.

3. Rosewood

Rosewood is a durable hardwood that comes in different varieties and has a lot of good qualities. Rosewood is hard, dense, and offers good stability. It’s often used to make furniture, musical instruments, cabinetry, flooring, and paneling. Rosewood is easy to work with and has medium shock resistance. It’s ideal for enhancing your home with its stunning rich color. It can be expensive, especially Brazilian Rosewood because it’s a rare hardwood species.

4. Walnut Wood

Walnut is an affordable hardwood that comes in several unique colors. It gets lighter with age, gaining a stunning golden/honey color. People mostly use Walnut for flooring, furniture, cabinets, and carvings. It’s decay-resistant, but it’s prone to insect attacks. Walnut wood is straight to irregular-grained and sometimes has a curly or wavy structure that enhances its look. While working with Walnut, you might sense a mild odor from the wood. Due to its charm and reasonable price, many people choose Walnut wood for their projects and renovations.

5. Maple Wood

Maple is a well-known hardwood with impressive durability. Like other hardwoods, it has different species, but the one that stands out most is Hard Maple (Sugar Maple). It is the most durable Maple species, and people go for it because of its beautiful looks and undeniable strength.

Maple is easy to work with, although softer types are more workable than hard Maple. People use it for construction, furniture, musical instruments, toys, and carving. Maple wood can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation, so consider that if you have health issues.

6. Mahogany Wood

Mahogany is a desirable hardwood with a unique appearance due to its deep red or reddish/brown color. This wood is not prone to warping and bending, and it is very dense, making it ideal for cabinetry, decking, flooring, furniture, musical instruments, and veneers. Mahogany is rot and decay-resistant as well as water-resistant. It’s durable but still easy to work with, making it great for various projects and construction. Mahogany changes color when exposed to sunlight and can be difficult to find due to the high demand.

7. Ash Wood

Ash is an excellent hardwood that is durable and has a high-quality feeling. It’s very strong and not prone to scratches and dents. It’s a hardwood species with a score of 1320 on the Janka scale, but it’s lightweight, regardless of its hardness. Ash is also shock-resistant, and due to its good workability and natural appeal, people use it for furniture, cabinetry, doors, and flooring. Other products like sports equipment and tool handles are also made from Ash wood.

8. Hickory Wood

Hickory is a hardwood native to the USA. It’s the strongest, stiffest, and hardest domestic species in the US. This stunning hardwood species is a popular option for flooring, cabinetry, and furniture. Due to its fantastic durability, Hickory is also used to create wooden ladders, tool handles, and sports goods. It is also shock-resistant.  The downside of this hardwood is that it’s pretty challenging to work with, so it requires extra patience and caution.

9. Beech Wood

Beech is an interesting species found in many parts of the world. Many go for this wood due to its good workability and various uses. It’s best to use Beech indoors because it cannot bear extreme weather and moisture. You can use Beech Wood for flooring, furniture, and door construction, but it’s great for meat, vegetable, or fish smoking. It’s a sustainable species that will help make your home more eco-friendly.

10. Elm Wood

Elm is not a durable hardwood. However, furniture made of Elm tends to be very strong and high-quality. Elm is another species that you shouldn’t use outdoors, and you should only include it in interior design. That is because it’s not water-resistant and reacts to moisture. You can make furniture, carvings, paneling, parquet flooring, and stairs from this wood. Since it’s lightweight, there are other uses for Elm, like making boxes, tool handles, and paper production.

• See Also: How to Fix Uneven Floors in an Old House in 7 Simple Steps (with Pictures)

11. Teak Wood

Teak is famous for its color and durability. It’s water, termite, and decay-resistant, so indoor and outdoor usage is acceptable. It is not too hard to work with Teak wood, and many woodworkers choose it for their projects. You can make Teak furniture, decking, build boats, or use it to make Plywood. It’s expensive compared to some other hardwoods, but it is more convenient because it comes in large sizes.

12. Balau Wood

Balau is a hardwood native to Malaysia, known for its density. Its primary usage is in heavy construction, but it’s hard to work with because it’s very dense. People also use it for decking, flooring, boat making, and furniture. Balau is used worldwide, and many people go for it due to its affordable price. It is very durable lumber that’s water-resistant but not insect and decay-resistant. If taken care of properly, anything made from Balau will last you for a lifetime.

13. Poplar Wood

If you’re looking for a hardwood that’s easy to work with, you should try using Poplar. It’s a species used mainly for furniture and woodworking projects, but you can also use it for cabinetry, doors, and light construction. It is a strong wood, but it’s softer than other hardwood options. That’s why you should choose suitable finishes to make the wood more durable. It needs a moisture-free environment because it can be easily damaged by water.

14. Alder Wood

Alder is a versatile hardwood with a unique appearance. Its common use is in cabinetry, moldings, doors, paneling, and furniture. It’s lightweight and easy to work with, and it’s a great option for DIY projects. This is another hardwood quite soft but not prone to cracking and warping. Alder is another affordable wood, and it’s among the most eco-friendly hardwoods. It’s not water-resistant, and it’s not one of the most durable options on the market.

15. Pecan Wood

Pecan is a hardwood that belongs to the hickory family. It’s a stiff and hard species, which makes it difficult to work with. Pecan’s use is to make cabinetry, flooring, and furniture. It can also be used as firewood or for smoking meat and other foods. It’s not a durable wood, but the floors and furniture made out of it tend to be of good quality. Pecan is difficult to stain, so you’ll need to stick to its natural shades.

16.  Birch Wood

Birch is another hardwood that is widespread and has various uses and purposes. It’s durable, so people use it widely for furniture and flooring. Birch has an attractive appearance due to its straight grain and fine texture. It’s decay-resistant, lightweight, and affordable, which makes it very popular. Still, it can crack and warp easily, and it’s expensive compared to other hardwood types.  It’s also not insect-resistant, so it’s best to use it indoors only.

• Related Read: 25 Different Types of Hardwood Trees (With Pictures)

Which hardwood is the most popular for flooring?

Oak is the most popular hardwood for flooring. People turn to it for its beautiful appearance, durability, and long-lasting nature. Oak serves a valuable purpose in flooring because it’s dense and not prone to scratching and damage, making it convenient, especially for families with pets or children.

After Oak, the two runners-up are Maple and Cherry, which are also very popular for flooring. If you decide to install new flooring, always compare the floor features you did or didn’t like. Make a careful decision because they can bring benefits or problems if not appropriately chosen.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are various hardwoods on the market. They all have different characteristics, and each one is unique in its own way. It’s always best to consider all pros and cons before deciding which wood type you will use. There’s something for everyone’s budget, so just compare your needs and wishes, and choose the hardwood for your unique project.

Featured Image Credit: Gorlov-KV, Shutterstock