What Are the Best Wood Types for Furniture?

There’s no shortage of wood to choose from when crafting your own furniture.

There are all different kinds of wood—from light to dark, hardwoods to softwoods, processed lumber to salvaged driftwood.

The only problem with such a wide selection of options is that there are so many options.

If you’ve ever stood in a specialty wood store, you probably know the dizzying feeling of sorting through more wood options than you can count.

Considering all the time and money you’re going to invest in making your own furniture, you don’t want to be stuck with wood that doesn’t meet your project’s needs.

That’s why we want to give you a comprehensive and straightforward breakdown of your wood options to help you choose the best wood for your furniture—no studying or all-nighters needed!

You’ll learn:

Let’s begin with the factors you’ll need to consider when looking for the best wood.

Factors to consider when selecting the best wood

A warehouse full of stacks of wooden slabs.You’ll want to consider several factors as you examine your wood options. Some factors may matter more than others depending on your personal preferences, the type of project you’re working on, and whether your furniture will be indoors or outdoors.

These factors include:

  • Durability
  • Appearance
  • Cost
  • Sustainability
  • Moisture levels

Durability

Durability determines how resistant wood is to damage.

The more durable a piece of wood is, the harder it will be to damage. This means more durable wood types have greater longevity. Because they’re not being worn down by use or the elements, they can last longer than weaker wood.

More durable wood types include:

  • Solid wood, which lasts longer than wood-based materials like plywood and OSB.1
  • Most hardwoods, including hickory or teak wood, although some softwoods, like red cedar are known for their ability to withstand decay as well.2
  • Moisture-resistant wood like cherry wood, maple, and MDF.3

Some degree of durability is useful for any furniture project, but it’s important to keep in mind that durability comes with a trade-off.

More durable wood types tend to be harder. This means they’re hard to dent and scratch, but they’re also harder to cut and fashion into the shapes you need to make your furniture.

This is why it’s the best type of wood for simple furniture that won’t require a lot of carving or intricate details or furniture pieces that see a lot of wear and tear like dining tables and patio chairs.

Overall, more durable wood will create durable furniture that will maintain its appearance for years.

Appearance

Wood appearance is a crucial factor in every furniture project.

First, you’ll want to ensure that your wood matches the style and colors of your room.

If you’re going for a more elegant look, you might want to choose from hardwoods, darker woods, or high-end wood species like mahogany.

If you want a more rough, rugged, or whimsical look, reclaimed wood or wood-based materials like OSB may be the way to go.

If you’re not looking for luxury or ruggedness, you’ll want to aim for something in the middle—wood that’s classic, uniform, and affordable like oak or maple.

As you search, consider the color (light brown, dark brown, or reddish-brown color) and the texture of the wood grain pattern (straight grain, open grain, etc.), noting what combinations look the best with your room.

You’ll also want to consider price. Some wood types, especially mahogany, which is associated with a more luxurious appearance,4 costs much more than reclaimed wood or wood-based materials.

Cost

When we search for the right wood, we can’t forget to look at the price tag!

As we mentioned, some wood types are more expensive than others:

  • Expensive wood includes rare wood species (like mahogany and ebony),5 solid wood, and hardwoods.
  • Mid-price wood includes common wood species like maple, oak, and acacia.6
  • Cheaper wood includes highly available wood species (like spruce and pine wood),7 softwoods, wood-based materials, and recycled wood.

The kind of project you’re doing may help you decide how much you want to spend.

You might want to go with cheaper wood if you’re making a more casual or functional project.

This is especially true if you’re making an outdoor project or are new at woodworking. It’d be a waste to use luxurious wood outside where it will get damaged, just as you’d waste a lot of money practicing on expensive wood boards.

Now, if you have more experience, or are working on a high-quality piece, or a commission for fine furniture, you might want to give more expensive wood a try.

In either case, it’s important to decide on your budget beforehand so you’ll know how much you’re able—and willing—to spend.

As you determine this, remember that the cost of wood is a reflection of its quality or availability. Higher-quality wood is going to cost more than low-quality wood. And low-availability, or rare wood, will cost you more than common wood.

Quality and availability also relate to the sustainability of wood.

Sustainability

Looking up at an illuminated forest canopy.Wood is considered a sustainable product when it has a minimal effect on the environment.8

In this way, choosing sustainable wood helps:

  • Maintain the health of forest ecosystems: In buying sustainable wood, you’re typically buying widely available wood. You won’t be buying endangered tree species like African teak and black ebony9 because over-foresting these rare species can decrease biodiversity and drive up costs for endangered species.
  • Maintain the health of your home: Some wood types are more natural and some are more toxic. Wood-based materials (like OSB and MFT) can be more sustainable than solid wood because they recycle wood and limit wood waste. However, they are less sustainable than solid wood furniture when it comes to toxicity levels. This is because they are bonded by VOC-filled adhesives like formaldehyde that can negatively impact air quality and health.10 If you’re worried about this, it might be better to go with solid wood.
  • Limit wood waste: It’s a good idea to buy durable wood because the longer your wooden furniture lasts, the less furniture you’ll need to make to replace it. This will help you prevent wood waste (and it will save you the time and money of finding new wood for your furniture). You can also prevent wood waste by using recycled, reclaimed, or salvaged wood.
    Want more information on finding eco-friendly wood?

Visit our article, “The Benefits of Eco-Friendly Wood (And How You Can Get It)”.

Besides considering your wood’s impact on the environment, you’ll also want to consider the environment’s impact on your wood—especially when it comes to moisture.

Moisture levels

It’s important to consider the wood’s moisture level and moisture tolerance.

This is because moisture levels and tolerance can seriously impact the condition, longevity, and workability of your wood.

Proper moisture levels matter because, without it, you’ll waste a lot of time waiting for your unacclimated wood to adjust to its environment.

That’s why it’s important to bring a moisture meter with you when you go hunting for furniture wood. A moisture meter can tell you when a piece of wood contains too much moisture, alerting you of wood that could take too long to dry and develop moisture damage.

By catching moisture issues early on, you can avoid any warping, swelling, or shrinking that may damage your furniture project.

(Look at our article on “Why you Need a Moisture Meter,” to learn more about how moisture meters can protect your projects from moisture damage.)

On top of looking for wood with an appropriate moisture content, it’s also a good idea to select wood with a high moisture tolerance.

Adequate moisture tolerance matters because wood that can’t deal with the humidity of its environment may warp and experience moisture damage. In this way, wood with poor moisture tolerance is not going to last as long as wood that’s better equipped for its environment.

It’s especially important to use moisture-resistant wood (like cedar and acacia)11 if your project is going to be outdoors.

Different types of wood for furniture

Now that we’ve talked about different factors to consider, let’s look at your options.

As you’re selecting your wood, you’ll have to decide on wood species, wood type, and whether you want to work with solid wood or man-made wood-based materials.

Let’s look at these categories so you’ll know what to consider when making your selection.

Wood species

A maple tree with vivid orange leaves.Every wood species falls into one of two categories—hardwoods or softwoods.

Hardwoods are mainly deciduous wood species with broad leaves.12 They include wood species like walnut, Oak, ash, cherry, and maple wood.13 They normally take longer to grow, allowing the wood to become dense and strong.14

The fact that these types of wood take so long to grow makes them more expensive, so they’re mainly used for high-end furniture and other places where dense wood is desired (like hardwood floors and cabinets).15 However, the durability of less expensive hardwoods means it can also be used for outdoor furniture and heavy-duty projects like dressers, closets, and butcher blocks.

Softwoods are coniferous wood species with needle-like leaves.16 They include wood species like pine, spruce, hemlock, and fir.17 They grow faster, which typically results in them being soft and fragile.18

Because it’s more available than hardwood, it’s less expensive, making it the go-to choice for large furniture-making or beginner DIY projects that don’t require durability.

But don’t let the terms “hardwood” and “softwood” fool you. Not all hardwoods are hard, and not all softwoods are soft. For example, the hardwood balsa is very soft, and the softwood yew is very hard.19 Though they are classified as hardwoods and softwoods, it’s not meant to be a physical description.

Speaking of classifications, though bamboo is technically a grass species—not a wood species—it can be made into flooring and furniture just like wood. The fact that it is readily available and fast-growing means it is more sustainable and cheaper than real wood, making it a popular choice.20

Once you select your wood species, you’ll have to decide whether you want to buy new wood, use unprocessed wood, or repurpose old wood.

Types of wood

Wood doesn’t just come as the solid, newly processed 2x4s you see in the store. There are other types of wood, including reclaimed and salvaged wood.

Reclaimed wood is old, pre-processed wood you harvest from old projects. Not only does recycling old wood like this minimize wood waste, but it can also be cheaper than buying new wood at the store. Besides these perks, many appreciate the rugged look of this worn wood, such as when barnwood is repurposed to make beds or dining room tables.

Salvaged wood has similar benefits as reclaimed wood—it’s sustainable, rustic, and can be cheap (sometimes even free!). The only difference is that it’s untouched and unprocessed instead of coming from old projects. It can be found as driftwood on beaches or rivers. It can add a unique and decorative quality to your furniture and is often fashioned into bookshelves and coffee tables.

But your wood options don’t end there. If you don’t want solid wood (new or old), you can use wood-based materials.

Wood-based materials

Wood-based materials, or engineered wood, like OSB, MFT, plywood, and particleboard board are made up of wood and other materials like glue and wax.21

Because these materials aren’t made of pure wood, but wood pieces and wood chips, they help reduce wood waste. They’re also notably cheaper than solid wood.

The biggest drawback is the adhesive that holds these materials together. As we mentioned, many of these materials are glued together with harmful chemicals like formaldehyde.

Best Wood for Furniture by Category

Durability:

  • Wood species: Teak, white oak, maple, ash, black walnut, black cherry, cypress, red cedar, black locust, douglas fir, birch, hickory, and redwood.
  • Type of wood: Hardwood, solid wood, and plywood.

Appearance:

  • Wood species: Mahogany, black walnut, cherry, rosewood, maple, oak, and birch.
  • Type of wood: Solid wood and darker wood for elegant or classic builds. Reclaimed or recycled wood for rugged builds.

Low Cost:

  • Wood species: Pine, spruce, beech, soft maple, and poplar.
  • Type of wood: Recycled wood, reclaimed wood, salvaged wood, wood with high supply, and wood-based materials.

High Cost:

  • Wood species: Mahogany, ebony, rosewood, teak, and sandalwood.
  • Type of wood: Solid wood, exotic wood, and wood with limited supply.

Sustainability:

  • Wood species: Pine, oak, sycamore, beech, douglas fir, black locust, and “bamboo”.
  • Type of wood: Recycled wood, reclaimed wood, salvaged wood, and wood with high supply.

Moisture tolerance:

  • Wood species: Teak, douglas fir, acacia cedar, maple, white oak, redwood, and white cypress.
  • Type of wood: Plywood and MDF.

Even so, many people choose to use them for their sustainability and low cost. Many use wood-based materials for the foundation of their furniture, only to put a layer of solid wood on top. This gives the furniture the look of a more expensive piece at a fraction of the cost.

Some woodworkers prefer making their entire project out of wood-based materials as they enjoy a more industrial look.22

Some wood-based materials are also more moisture resistant than solid wood—making it a good choice for outdoor furniture.

Whatever wood (or wood-based material) you choose to use, the most important thing is to find wood that suits the needs of your project.

Why the wood you choose matters for furniture making

Choosing wood that’s well-suited to your project will help you be more satisfied with your furniture.

Furniture is a big investment after all. It takes time and money to gather the tools, plans, wood, and get to work.

With that in mind, choose the wood that’ll make you happy with your furniture for years to come.

Want more advice on buying the right wood?

Read our article, “What You Should Know Before Buying Wood.”
  1. “OSB vs. Plywood vs. Solid Woods: Ranking Furniture Wood Materials,” Furniture Fair, Dec. 30, 2022. (↑)
  2. Bayucca, Rei, “17 Best Types of Wood for Desktops,” US VintageWood, June 24, 2024; “Endless Possibilities: Eastern Red Cedar Wood Uses,” Northern Log, Nov. 30, 2022. (↑)
  3. “The Best Waterproof & Rot Resistant Woods (& Finishes to Apply),” Duffield Timber, Oct. 5, 2022; “MDF or Solid Wood? Here are the Pros and Cons,” VIR MDF. (↑)
  4. “Mahogany: Wood of Kings,” Wood Magazine, Dec.17, 2024. (↑)
  5. Ibid; “10 Most Expensive Woods in the World,” Teak Master. (↑)
  6. Elkhaddar, Abdelbarie, “10 Must-Know Types of Wood for Furniture Before You Buy,” Glamorwood, Dec. 17, 2024. (↑)
  7. “Discover Wood Species: How to Choose the Perfect Wood for Your Furniture,” Ekomia; “Usage of Spruce Lumber,” Florida Lumber, July 14, 2023. (↑)
  8. “What is Sustainable Wood and Why is it Important?” Modish Living. (↑)
  9. Esler, Bill, “Hit List: Materials Expert Names 10 Most Endangered Wood Species,” Woodworking Network, July 13, 2016. (↑)
  10. Adamová, Tereza, et al., “Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from Wood and Wood-Based Panels: Methods for Evaluation, Potential Health Risks, and Mitigation,” National Library of Medicine, Oct. 16, 2020. (↑)
  11. “Best Wood for Outdoors,” Versace Timbers, April 11, 2022. (↑)
  12. “Hardwood vs. Softwood: What Are The Differences?” Duffield Timber, Oct. 21, 2021. (↑)
  13. Jaramillo, Carina, “Types of Wood,” Octane Seating, Aug. 29, 2022. (↑)
  14. “Hardwood vs. Softwood: What Are The Differences?” (↑)
  15. “Hardwood Vs. Softwood: Understanding the Difference,” American International Forest Products, April 11, 2022. (↑)
  16. “Types of Wood.” (↑)
  17. “Types of Wood.” (↑)
  18. “Hardwood vs. Softwood: What Are The Differences?” (↑)
  19. Ibid. (↑)
  20. “Why Bamboo is Perfect for Furniture,” Danish Furniture, June 20, 2023. (↑)
  21. “OSB, MDF, Plywood and Particle Board – Know the Difference,” The Total Office, Sept. 12, 2021. (↑)
  22. Ibid. (↑)

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.