Soft Maple
Acer rubrum (and others)
Hardness
Medium-hard; a versatile range for most furniture.
Overview
Hard maple's more affordable, easier-working relative. Still plenty strong for most furniture, at a friendlier price.
Commonly built
- Painted cabinets
- Kitchen tables
- Picture frames
- Turned bowls
- Children's furniture
Appearance
Creamy white to light brown, sometimes with gray-green streaks.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Easier on tools than hard maple and less prone to burning. Takes paint well. Also blotches when stained, condition first.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn soft maple panel moves roughly 0.45 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 Soft Maple move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Soft Maple?
Soft Maple has a Janka hardness of 950 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Soft Maple suitable for outdoor use?
Soft Maple is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is Soft Maple to work with?
Soft Maple has Good workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Soft Maple move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn soft maple panel moves roughly 0.45 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Finishing notes
Blotches like hard maple, condition before staining or use dye for even color. A bit easier to work and finish than hard maple. Often stained to imitate cherry or other woods because it takes dye so willingly once conditioned.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used soft maple, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.