Compare woods
Put species head to head to decide between them.
Red OakHard Maple (Sugar Maple)
| Property | Red Oak Quercus rubra | Hard Maple (Sugar Maple) Acer saccharum |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Hardwood | Hardwood |
| Cost | $$ · Moderate | $$$ · Premium |
| Hardness | 1220 lbf | 1450 lbf |
| Workability | Good | Fair |
| Seasonal movement | Medium | Medium |
| Outdoor-friendly | No | No |
| Origin | Domestic (North America) | Domestic (North America) |
| Commonly built | Shaker-style cabinets, Hardwood flooring, Dining tables, Bookcases, Interior trim | Butcher-block countertops, Cutting boards, Workbench tops, Bowling alley lanes, Drum shells |
| Overview | The workhorse American hardwood, strong, affordable, everywhere. Coarse open grain takes stain readily but reads busy. | Dense, pale, and extremely tough. The standard for butcher blocks, workbenches, and anything that takes a beating. |