Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
Hardness
Medium-hard; a versatile range for most furniture.
Overview
A joy to work and ages into a deep reddish patina. Classic American furniture wood that rewards a simple finish.
Commonly built
- Heirloom dressers
- Dining chairs
- Mantels
- Jewelry boxes
- Carved accents
Appearance
Pinkish-brown when fresh, deepening to rich reddish-brown with age.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Cuts cleanly, glues and finishes wonderfully. Darkens dramatically with light and age, protect from blotching with a conditioner or shellac. What you finish isn't the color it'll become.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn black cherry panel moves roughly 0.39 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 Black Cherry move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Black Cherry?
Black Cherry has a Janka hardness of 950 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Black Cherry suitable for outdoor use?
Black Cherry is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is Black Cherry to work with?
Black Cherry has Excellent workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Black Cherry move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn black cherry panel moves roughly 0.39 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Finishing notes
Famous for blotching under pigment stain, and famous for not needing stain at all: it darkens naturally to a deep reddish brown with light exposure over months, so many finishers simply apply a clear oil or wax and let time do the coloring. If you must even out or speed the color, use dye or a conditioner, never a heavy pigment stain on bare cherry. A UV-inhibiting topcoat is counterproductive here since the darkening is desirable.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used black cherry, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.