Which Wood is Best for Your Kitchen Countertops? (With Examples)

4-min read.

Comparing 7 of the Most Popular Hardwoods Used for Kitchen Countertops

Wooden countertops are a great way to add warmth, versatility and beauty to your kitchen. Wood also has quite a few advantages over other materials used for kitchen counters like marble or MDF. 

But, there are so many options out there, and whether it's the type of wood or the style of countertop, it can be hard to really know where to begin comparing.

This quick guide will give you a baseline understanding of the most common types of hardwood countertops, what to actually look out for, and what to avoid based on your needs and taste.

What You'll Learn in the Next 4 Minutes:

• First we'll compare the top types of wood commonly used for kitchen countertops, then share the pros, cons, and our recommendations for each wooden kitchen countertop type.
• Finally, we'll cover when to avoid each wood for your kitchen and how to actually narrow down the options based on what you learned in this guide. So read on!

Ok, without any more chit chat, let's get right to the details: 

1. Maple Wood Kitchen Countertops

Maple is a great all-rounder option if you want versatile and reasonably resilient kitchen countertops. Famous for its warm, light tone and faint grain patterns, maple wood fits in great in modern kitchens that will get plenty of daily use.

Maple Countertop Pros: Lightweight, affordable, easily available, resists some dents. 

Maple Countertop Cons: Some people do not like the appearance of maple,as it reminds them of plywood. Not as tough as some other species of hardwood.

2. American Black Walnut & European Walnut Kitchen Countertops:

If you ask people to describe a luxurious or premium wood, they will usually mention black walnut. This dark, striking wood and its lighter but equally tough cousin, European Walnut, both make a big statement when used for large areas like kitchen countertops.

Black walnut in particular, is great at hiding stains and will hold up to some minor dents and scuffs, but is not quite as tough as something like birch or acacia.

Go for black walnut wood countertops if budget is of little concern and you want the absolute best of the best, and if aesthetics matter for you.

If you want quality and resilience, and you're less concerned with the looks then we would recommend going with a tougher species of hardwood - keep reading for more!

Walnut Countertop Pros: Looks incredible, most people associate it with luxury and premium finishes. Holds up reasonably well to everyday wear and tear. 

Walnut Countertop Cons: Expensive and not always easily available, depending on where you live. Black walnut can show scratches quite easily as marks and scuffs can be quite obvious against the dark colour of black walnut wood. 

3. Oak Wood Kitchen Countertops:

Oak is a go-to for many people when searching for the perfect hardwood countertops - why? Oak is forgiving, full of character and available almost anywhere. While reasonably affordable for the quality, in recent years oak has started to reach less affordable prices when compared with other hardwoods in the same or similar class.

Oak is the kind of wood you pick for your kitchen countertops if you don't want to worry too much about coddling your kitchen and flinching in fear every time someone sets down a heavy metal pot on your precious hardwood surface.

Oak will take wear and tear of everyday life and fill the room with character at the same time. 

Oak Countertop Pros: Resilient, affordable, stands up to wear and tear well.

Oak Countertop Cons: Rather unremarkable and seen as more of a utilitarian wood - this can also be a pro depending on your preferences. 

 

4. Cherry Wood Kitchen Countertops

This brightly coloured hardwood stands out from the crowd with its warm pinkish hues that darken to a deeper shade over time. Cherry wood itself can almost look like it's not real wood at all, thanks to its incredible smoothness, dense grain and pink colouration. 

Cherry wood is relatively durable - about the same level of durability as walnut/black walnut, and not quite as tough as oak.

You can think of cherry as being in a similar category to black walnut, where you sacrifice some durability and density in the name of looks.

Cherry is a bit softer and usually priced a little lower than walnut or black walnut, and is perfect for anyone who likes a hardwood countertop that makes a statement.

Cherry Countertop Pros: Warm colour that patinas over time, quite strong and holds up to moderate wear and tear.

Cherry Countertop Cons: The changing colour/patina can be a con to some, especially in kitchens with plenty of natural sunlight, where discolouration can happen faster or unevenly. Also, cherry can be quite highly priced for the level of durability you get, if that's a concern to you.

5. Butcher Block Style Wood Kitchen Countertops

This is a top choice for you if you want maximum durability and resilience from your wooden countertops. Made up of a range of hardwood species, butcher block countertops use end-grain sections of wood stacked side by side in a chessboard-like pattern. 

The end grain of wood is the strongest part, especially for a countertop or cutting board, where any downward force (like from the chopping of a knife or dropping a metal utensil on the countertop) is going against the butt-end of the wood grain. 

People oftentimes choose this as a stylistic choice, but it can be an affordable way of getting an incredibly tough hardwood countertop that visually looks great too - depending on your personal taste. 

Butcher-Block Countertop Pros: Made of engrain sections, which is the hardest part of the tree. Typically quite affordable for the level of durability, should last generations.

Butcher-Block Countertop Cons: This construction method uses a lot of glue to hold it all together, so it's not the most eco-friendly wooden countertop. To some, the patchwork design of butcher block style countertops is too visually 'busy' or does not have the aesthetic they are after. 

6. Acacia Wood Kitchen Countertops

Acacia is well known for its bright striped colours and incredible hardness. In fact, acacia wood is so resistant against scratches, water and even bacteria that it's often used for outdoor patio furniture. 

All of these properties make acacia a perfect kitchen countertop material as long as you like the way it looks - it's tough, low maintenance and food-safe.

For some people, it may be hard to source in your area, and for others the bright striped grain pattern might be too much, visually speaking. 

Acacia Countertop Pros: Incredibly tough, scratch-resistant, water-resistant and germ-resistant. 

Acacia Countertop Cons: Can be hard to come by, bright striped colours and patterns may not be to your taste.

6. Hickory Wood Kitchen Countertops

Hickory is a little lesser-known species of hardwood. This is likely because it's not considered one of the more attractive types of wood because of its greyish-brown appearance.

Aside from the colour of the wood being a turn off for some, hickory actually makes a wonderful choice for kitchen countertops. It's affordable and resilient, and it can take wood stains or paint well, so the dull appearance of hickory wood can be improved with a little added customisation. 

Hickory Countertop Pros: Affordable, tough and long-lasting. Easy to add wood stain or paint.

Hickory Countertop Cons: Hard to come by outside of North America. Less brightly coloured wood.

7. Birch Wood Kitchen Countertops:

Birch is known as the more affordable version of maple, it has a similar appearance with a light 'minimalist' wood colouration and a faint grain pattern.

Birch is also a little bit softer or less resilient than maple, as the lower price would suggest. 

But for countertops that won't see too much wear and tear on a regular day, or will perhaps have more careful owners, birch kitchen countertops can be a really practical and beautiful looking option.

Birch Countertop Pros: Similar look and feel to maple for a lower price tag. Bright and clean look that works for modern interiors or kitchens where you want to brighten up the space.

Birch Countertop Cons: The relatively soft wood and light colour will attract marks and stains a little bit more than other types of wood.

P.S. 👉 Read our guide to remove any stains or scuffs from wood at home

How To Choose The Best Wood Kitchen Countertops For You:

Start off by writing down a checklist of things that, for your kitchen, are:

1. Non-negotiables.
2. Nice to haves.
3. Things you definitely don't want.

Think in terms of maintenance, everyday use, and how you want your wooden countertop to look and feel. 

• If you want maximum durability: Butcher block style end grain, oak or maple.
• For the best looking countertops when price is less of a concern, go for black walnut or cherry.
• If you want character and warmth: Go for acacia, oak or hickory. 

Read our deeper dive into choosing the right wood for each part of your home - from flooring, and cabinetry to kitchenware, tableware and outdoor furniture: 

If you want a more in-depth overview of the types of wood that are best for each use and room in your house (like flooring, cabinetry, furniture, kitchenware & outdoor furniture), we have a full breakdown right here in this guide.

 

P.S. Don't forget to check out our collection of wooden kitchenware, tableware and home storage to match your wooden countertops!