Compare woods
Put species head to head to decide between them.
Red OakWhite Ash
| Property | Red Oak Quercus rubra | White Ash Fraxinus americana |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Hardwood | Hardwood |
| Cost | $$ · Moderate | $$ · Moderate |
| Hardness | 1220 lbf | 1320 lbf |
| Workability | Good | Good |
| 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 | Baseball bats, Hammer & axe handles, Hockey sticks, Steam-bent chair backs, Canoe paddles |
| Overview | The workhorse American hardwood, strong, affordable, everywhere. Coarse open grain takes stain readily but reads busy. | Strong, shock-resistant, and springy, the baseball-bat wood. Looks like oak but lighter in tone. Threatened by the emerald ash borer. |