If you’re looking for high-quality lumber for a woodworking project or home renovation, hardwood lumber is often the go-to choice. Hardwood lumber comes from deciduous trees, which are typically denser and more durable than softwood lumber from coniferous trees. While there are many types of hardwood lumber available, some are more popular and commonly used than others. Here are some of the most commonly used hardwoods in the lumber industry.
Hardwood lumber is a popular choice for a variety of applications, including furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and decorative veneers. However, with so many different hardwood species available, it can be challenging to know which one is best for your project. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular hardwood species, including Acacia, Balsa, Bloodwood, Butternut, Cumaru, Cottonwood, Dogwood, Ebony, Garapa, Goncalo Alves, Hackberry, Ipe, Jarrah, Koa, Lacewood, Larch, Locust, Massaranduba, Osage Orange, Padauk, Persimmon, Purpleheart, Redbud, Rosewood, Sapele, Sassafras, Sweetgum, Tigerwood, Tupelo, White Oak, Wenge, Yellow Poplar, Zebrawood, and Ziricote.
List of hardwoods:
Acacia: Acacia is a dense and durable hardwood species that has a reddish-brown color and a fine, straight grain. It is a popular choice for flooring, furniture, and decorative veneers.
Balsa: Balsa is a lightweight and soft hardwood species that is often used for model building and other applications that require a lightweight wood.
Bloodwood: Bloodwood is a dense and heavy hardwood species that has a deep red color and a fine, straight grain. It is a popular choice for furniture, flooring, and decorative veneers.
Butternut: Butternut is a lightweight and soft hardwood species that has a light brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for carving and other decorative applications.
Cumaru: Cumaru is a dense and heavy hardwood species that has a light to medium brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for flooring and decking.
Cottonwood: Cottonwood is a lightweight and soft hardwood species that has a light brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for carving and other decorative applications.
Dogwood: Dogwood is a lightweight and hard hardwood species that has a light to medium brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for carving and other decorative applications.
Ebony: Ebony is a dense and heavy hardwood species that has a deep black color and a fine, straight grain. It is a popular choice for high-end furniture and musical instruments.
Garapa: Garapa is a dense and heavy hardwood species that has a light to medium brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for decking and outdoor furniture.
Goncalo Alves: Goncalo Alves is a dense and heavy hardwood species that has a reddish-brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for flooring and decorative veneers.
Hackberry: Hackberry is a lightweight and hard hardwood species that has a light to medium brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for furniture and cabinetry.
Ipe: Ipe is a dense and heavy hardwood species that has a dark brown color and a fine, straight grain. It is a popular choice for decking and outdoor furniture.
Jarrah: Jarrah is a dense and heavy hardwood species that has a reddish-brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for flooring and outdoor furniture.
Koa: Koa is a dense and heavy hardwood species that has a light to medium brown color and a curly or wavy grain. It is a popular choice for high-end furniture and musical instruments.
Lacewood: Lacewood is a lightweight and hard hardwood species that has a light brown color and a distinctive lace-like grain pattern. It is a popular choice for decorative applications.
Redbud: Redbud is a lightweight and hard hardwood species that has a light to medium brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for carving and other decorative applications.
Rosewood: Rosewood is a dense and durable hardwood species that has a reddish-brown color and a fine, straight grain. It is a popular choice for high-end furniture and musical instruments.
Sapele: Sapele is a dense and durable hardwood species that has a reddish-brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for flooring, furniture, and decorative veneers.
Sassafras: Sassafras is a lightweight and hard softwood species that has a light to medium brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for furniture and cabinetry.
Sweetgum: Sweetgum is a lightweight and hard softwood species that has a light to medium brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for furniture and cabinetry.
Tigerwood: Tigerwood is a dense and durable hardwood species that has a reddish-brown color and a distinctive grain pattern that resembles a tiger’s stripes. It is a popular choice for decking and outdoor furniture.
Tupelo: Tupelo is a lightweight and soft hardwood species that has a light to medium brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for carving and other decorative applications.
White Oak: White Oak is a dense and durable hardwood species that has a light to medium brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for flooring, furniture, and cabinetry.
Wenge: Wenge is a dense and heavy hardwood species that has a dark brown color with black streaks and a fine, straight grain. It is a popular choice for high-end furniture, flooring, and decorative veneers. Wenge is known for its durability and resistance to wear and tear.
Yellow Poplar: Yellow Poplar, also known as tulipwood, is a lightweight and soft hardwood species that has a light to medium brown color and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for furniture, cabinetry, and decorative applications. Yellow Poplar is easy to work with and has excellent dimensional stability.
Zebrawood: Zebrawood is a dense and heavy hardwood species that has a light to medium brown color with dark brown or black stripes and a straight grain. It is a popular choice for high-end furniture, flooring, and decorative veneers. Zebrawood is known for its unique appearance and durability.
Ziricote: Ziricote is a dense and heavy hardwood species that has a dark brown color with black streaks and a fine, straight grain. It is a popular choice for high-end furniture, musical instruments, and decorative veneers. Ziricote is known for its beautiful appearance and tonal qualities.
When choosing the best hardwood lumber species for your project, it is essential to consider several factors, such as the wood’s durability, appearance, workability, and intended application. Each hardwood species has unique characteristics that can affect its performance and suitability for different applications. By taking the time to research and compare the different species available, you can make an informed decision and choose the best hardwood lumber for your project needs.
Note that there are many other types of hardwood, but these are some of the more common and popular ones. Different types of hardwood have different characteristics in terms of color, grain patterns, density, and durability, which make them suitable for various applications such as furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and woodworking.