Which wood to choose for cabinet doors?

We can make any of our door designs in any species of wood. It is also possible to mix wood species within a door such as a maple frame with a cherry center panel.

Four decisions to order a cabinet door.

  1. A door design - see our products page and browse our Cabinet Door Categories
  2. A material - choose a wood species
  3. A grade of wood
  4. A finish - typically a stain or paint

What is the most popular wood for kitchen doors?

These are Allstyle's most common wood choices for doors listed in order of popularity.

  1. Hard Maple
  2. Red Oak
  3. Cherry or Walnut
  4. White Oak or Pine

Walnut has seen a recent significant increased in popularity but it is also one of the most expensive woods.

Price comparison of wood species

Least Expensive - $

Pine
Red Oak
Maple

Mid-Priced - $$

Ash
Birch
Cherry
Hickory
White Oak

Most Expensive - $$$

Mahogany
Walnut

Woods

white ash
Ash (White Ash)
Fraxinus Americana

White ash is an open grained wood that is strong and very shock resistant. White ash has light brown heartwood with white sapwood. The workability of ash is fair with good finishing qualities and durability. This wood is most desirable for medium to dark finishes. Ash wood typically shrinks 4.9% radial (perpendicular to the growth rings) and 7.8% tangential (parallel to growth rings).

birch
Birch
Betula Paprifera

Birch is a very tough, heavy wood that has medium brown heartwood with light cream colored sapwood. The workability of birch is good as well as the finishing qualities and durability. This wood is most desirable for medium to dark finishes. Birch typically shrinks 6.3% radial and 8.6% tangential.

cherry
Cherry
Prinus Serotina

Black cherry is a fine grain hardwood with a smooth texture. Cherry has elegant heartwood ranging from light brown to dark red, with a white to cream colored sapwood. The workability of cherry is good with excellent finishing qualities and durability. A select grade cherry would be most desirable for light or natural finishes, whereas a regular grade would be desirable for medium to dark finishes. Typically cherry shrinks 3.7% radial and 7.1% tangential. Cherry tends to darken in color with age and exposure to light (when unfinished).

hickory
Hickory
Carya Illinoensis

Hickory is an open, straight grain hardwood with a coarse texture. The heartwood of hickory is brownish in color. This wood has poor workability but good finishing qualities and durability. Hickory typically shrinks 7.4% radial and 11.4 tangential.

Interesting Fact: The shavings from hickory are often used for smoking meat.

african mahogany
Mahogany (African)
Khaya Ivorensis

Mahogany has a straight, tight, interlocking grain. Sometimes it has a rough surface. Mahogany is reddish-brown to light brown in color. This wood has fair workability with good finishing qualities and durability.

hard maple
Maple (Hard)
Acer Saccharum

Hard maple is typically straight grain, sometimes has a wavy figure and birds eye pattern. Maple has reddish brown heartwood with white sapwood. This wood has good finishing qualities and excellent durability. A select grade maple would be most desirable for light or natural finishes, whereas a regular grade would be desirable for medium to dark finishes. Typically maple shrinks 4.8% radial and 9.9% tangential.

red oak
Oak (Red)
Quercus Rubra

Red oak is a straight, open grained hardwood with a coarse texture. Red oak ranges from wheat to pinkish to red in colour. This wood has good finishing qualities and durability. A select grade red oak would be most desirable for light or natural finishes, whereas a regular grade would be desirable for medium to dark finishes. Typically red oak shrinks 4.4% radial and 10.1% tangential.

red oak
Oak (White)
Quercus Alba

White oak is a straight grain hardwood with a moderately coarse texture. The workability and finishing qualities are good with excellent durability. This wood is excellent for medium to dark finishes. Typically white oak shrinks 4.4% radial and 8.8% tangential.

red oak
Pine (White)
Pinus Strobus

Eastern white pine is a softwood with straight grain and a soft surface. It is offered in Clear or Knotty grades. This softwood is light yellow to reddish brown in color. Pine has poor durability (when untreated) but good workability and finishing qualities. Clear pine is sorted for uniform color and grain match. Knots will not be accepted. Knotty pine is a distinctive wood due to its solid red knots. Typically white pine shrinks 2.1% radial and 6.1% tangential.

red oak
Walnut
Juglanes Nigra

Black walnut is a tough, medium density wood with straight grain. It is dark brown to purplish black in color. This wood has good workability and durability, and excellent finishing qualities. Walnut is most desirable for medium to dark finishes. Typically walnut shrinks 5.5% radial and 7.8% tangential.