American Holly
Ilex opaca
Hardness
Medium-hard; a versatile range for most furniture.
Overview
The whitest of all domestic woods, nearly ivory when properly dried. Fine and even-grained, it's the go-to for inlay, marquetry, and anything that needs to read pure white.
Commonly built
- Inlay
- Marquetry
- Piano keys
- Dyed black accents
Appearance
Almost pure white to pale ivory, with a very fine, even texture and virtually no visible grain. Can take on a bluish-gray cast if dried slowly.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Hard and fine; works to a glassy surface but must be dried fast (often kiln) to keep its white color. Moves a lot. Often dyed black as an ebony substitute. Excellent for fine inlay.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn american holly panel moves roughly 0.55 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content). Use the wood movement calculator to run your own board size and moisture range.
How much does American Holly move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is American Holly?
American Holly has a Janka hardness of 1020 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is American Holly suitable for outdoor use?
American Holly is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is American Holly to work with?
American Holly has Fair workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does American Holly move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn american holly panel moves roughly 0.55 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used american holly, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.