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11 Different Types of Wood

A detailed list of the most common types of wood for home projects.

Updated on

January 26, 2024

There are many wood types out there with different qualities and usages. They include mahogany, pine, redwood, maple, oak, teak, among other hidden gems.

Here is a list of 11 different types of wood and their usage.

1. Mahogany

Mahogany is probably one of the most common names of wood with which most people are familiar. It is derived from the mahogany tree, a premium-grade hardwood that grows in West Africa, the West Indies, and Central and South America.

The tree, which can grow as tall as 150 feet, produces wood that is extra strong, very smooth, and rich or brown-red.

Mahogany is very dense and resistant to rotting and insect attacks.

It shows a low degree of shrinkage, swelling, and warping, making it one of the finest choices for floors, quality furniture, and cabinetry.

2. Pine

Pine is a soft wood originating from various species of pine trees that grow in most parts of the world. It has a pale or yellow look, depending on the species.

Pine is a less dense type of wood that does not offer much resistance to rot and insect attacks. It is also prone to cupping or warping.

Its fair share of knots—some varieties are marketed as ‘knotty pine’—make this an excellent choice for rustic furniture, shelving, decking, and wall paneling.

3. Cedar

Cedar is one of the popular types of woods derived from different species of coniferous trees, of which red and white cedars are the most familiar varieties.

The highly fragrant softwood is naturally rot- and insect-resistant.

This wood type is lightweight and strong, hence very useful for a lot of indoor and outdoor woodwork including building fences.

4. Redwood

A redwood seldom is found in the kinds of wood, but many people know its other names, sequoia.

It originates from redwood trees, which are said to be the tallest trees in the world – they grow to be as tall as 400 feet.

Redwood is a very light and lightweight wood that has colors of light white or yellow, turning red or reddish-brown depending on the exact species.

Redwood has a coarse texture and is resistant to rot and insects, which puts it in a very prime place for outdoor projects in making fences, exterior furniture, decking, veneers, etc.

5. Oak

Oak is one of the most popular woods used for hardwood floors and comes from oak trees that grow within the United States and many other parts of the world.

There are two types of oak: red and white. Both varieties are extremely dense and strong, with straight-grained, rough textures.

The white variety is known for its fleck – a wavy, contrasting pattern that appears during the sawing process.

In addition, Oak is highly rated when it comes to rot and bug resistance and tends to bend into place, making the material great for boat-making and wine barrels.

Other uses include furniture, flooring, millwork, and cabinetry.

6. Teak

Teak makes the cut due to its impressive look with superior durability, making it one of the most popular types of wood in the market.

This wood originates from the teak tree, native to southern Asia but grown commercially on farms in Africa, Latin America, and other tropical countries.

It contains some natural oils that repel water and insects.

Though teak shares a lot of similarities with mahogany, one can easily tell the two by the color: teak is brown in color, while mahogany often has a reddish tint.

Teak is used in several projects, mainly for the boat-making industry. It is also used in furniture making, especially carvings and high-value carpentry.

7. Walnut

Walnut is one of the popular types of woods extracted from the black walnut tree which often grows across the eastern United States.

Walnut trees can grow as tall as 120 feet and yield rich chocolatey wood, generally straight-grained with waves and contrasting figures.

The color varies from light brown to deep chocolate.

Walnut is highly decay-resistant but relatively low in resistance to insect attack. Uses include furniture of a medium- to high-end nature, cabinetry, gunstocks, turned items.

8. Poplar

One of the most popular names in wood, certainly among painters and most DIY enthusiasts, is the lightly colored cream or yellowish-brown hardwood known as poplar.

It comes from the poplar tree, commonly found in the eastern United States.

One of the softer hardwoods, poplar is relatively easy to work with, even for most who are using small hand tools. It also provides excellent support for painting, making it popular when it comes to painted projects like painted shelves, doors, and cabinet face frames.

9. Birch

Originated from birch trees, which are most prolific in the eastern U.S. Northeast, Birch is an extremely inexpensive hardwood. This wood can be very smooth and tight-grained with quite a uniform appearance.

Birch is a heavy and strong wood; even so, it is easily cut using sharp tools. On the downside, this type of wood shrinks upon drying.

Millwork, furniture cabinetry, flooring, and toy making are some of the purposes for which birchwood is ideally suited.

10. Cherry

Cherry is undeniably one of the most recognizable wood names in today’s market. It is derived from cherry trees, which have much more to offer beyond just fruit.

Cherry wood varies from creamy white to reddish-brown and darkens with age. The grain is straight and close-fitting, giving cherry wood a uniform appearance.

Cherry wood yields some of the smoothest and most high-end finishes; hence, it is popularly used for high-end furniture, flooring, and paneling.

11. Maple

Coming from a rock or sugar maple tree, this is a less common variant of the most common tree species in the U.S.—red maple. A hardwood ranging in color between white, yellow, and rich golden, the grain is fairly straight and tends to show in light brown bands.

It has a fine, smooth texture with a nice finish; it is extensively used for veneers, baseball bats, musical instruments, and flooring.