Best Wood for Cabinets

Though you may not realize it, cabinets are among the most used items in your home. This is why they need to be durable and also aesthetically pleasing. Use our guide to help you change or repair the cabinets in your kitchen or bathrooms and find the best woods to match your sense of style and keep you within your budget.

On This Page:

1. How to Choose the Best Wood for Cabinets
2. Best Wood for Cabinets
   1. Red Oak
   2. Poplar
   3. Maple
   4. Mahogany
   5. Plywood
3. Best Wood for Cabinet Doors & Drawers
4. Best Wood for Cabinets Per Room
   1. Office
   2. Bathroom
   3. Kitchen

How to Choose the Best Wood for Cabinets

Choosing the best wood for your home cabinets often comes down to simply one of taste. However, standards in furniture grade plywood with hardwood veneers and hardwood supports make a great choice no matter what the situation.

Consider these factors when choosing a wood type for your cabinets:

• Design: You’ll want it to match the design of your current home. For resale reasons, you’ll want a consistent design theme throughout your home.
• Durability: You’ll want to find a durable material, like hardwoods, for high traffic areas like a kitchen.
• Location: Bathrooms need woods that withstand moisture or are adequately sealed. Offices can use any type.
• Budget: Try to purchase woods that match the quality of other materials in your home.

Best Wood for Cabinets

Cabinets made out of hardwood veneers with high grade plywood are the most durable for kitchens and bathrooms.

Upgrading your home cabinets with a durable investment that adds value to your home. Make your remodel a success with the best wood for cabinets and the best cabinet contractor near you.

1. Red Oak

Red Oak is the most commonly used and the best wood for kitchen cabinets. Its complex grain patterns make it a naturally beautiful best wood for stained cabinets, while its medium price makes it an attractive option to homeowners.

Pros:

• Commonly available
• Classic hardwood
• Dent resistant

Cons:

• Difficult to paint
• Expensive compared to most hardwoods

Red oak cabinets cost $300 to $1,700 each. They’re a common variety that lends itself well to contemporary home designs. It’s also extremely durable.

2. Poplar

Soft and economical, poplar is a light wood that is less durable than others but provides an inexpensive alternative. Add character and soft tones to your home with the straight grain and uniform texture of poplar. Some consider it one of the best woods for painted cabinet doors.

Pros:

• Easy to stain
• Moderately inexpensive
• Extremely common

Cons:

• Dents easily
• Not the best natural appearance
• Requires a durable finish

Poplar cabinets cost $100 to $1,000. You can find these premade or from custom cabinet makers. Since it’s the most commonly available hardwood, it’s a little cheaper than other types.

3. Maple

With a naturally creamy color, this solid hardwood is naturally scratch and dent resistant. With its fine, smooth grain maple is the best wood for painted cabinets. It also looks great when stained or glazed.

Pros:

• Popular and common
• Durable
• Excellent ROI

Cons:

• Expensive
• Hard to paint correctly (better to stain)
• Not as durable as oak, hickory or mahogany

Maple cabinets cost $250 to $1,500 each, depending on the size. An extremely popular cabinet material, you’ll often find it combined with birch paneling for the sides or back.

4. Mahogany

Mahogany is a luxurious hard wood that is considered among the best wood for cabinet doors. This top of the line lumber is the best wood for stained cabinets, where it shows off its natural beauty and rich colors.

Pros:

• Beautiful aesthetic
• Extremely durable
• Distinct look

Cons:

• Expensive
• Tough to fix
• Hard to paint

Mahogany cabinets cost $300 to $2,000 each. It shouldn’t surprise you to find a set of $50,000 cabinets in a home with a larger kitchen.

5. Plywood

Cabinet grade plywood consists of glued and laminated wood that varies in cost and appearance. Ranging from AA to E, plywood offers a range of prices that is good in quality and durability. Most high-grade plywood has more durability than many hardwoods. For excellent structure and design, choose a plywood with a hardwood veneer.

Pros:

• Extremely strong
• Durable
• Won’t warp

Cons:

• Not a solid hardwood
• Difficult to repair
• More expensive than MDF

Plywood cabinets cost 20% to 50% more than MDF. A hybrid of hardwood and plywood make up most high-end cabinetry.

Remodel your kitchen or bathroom, get a cabinet installation cost estimate, and find the best cabinet contractors near you for an easy and successful project.

Best Wood by Cabinet Part

Best Wood for Cabinet Drawers

Drawer construction often requires a combination of woods: one for the outside construction and another for the drawer bottom. The stability and durability of maple make it an excellent option for the box, while plywood is great for the inside.

Best Wood to use for Cabinet Doors

Hardwoods such as mahogany and oak are best for cabinet doors. Paint grade hard maple is ideal if you plan to add color to your cabinets.

Wood for a Bathroom Vanity

Solid oak vanities are the strongest materials. This includes birch, maple and oak.

Best Wood for Cabinets Per Room

What Is the Best Wood for Office Cabinets?

Furniture grade plywood makes excellent cabinets for offices. They resist warping and are extremely strong for use with heavy objects. But always choose something that will match what you already have.

Consider these key factors:

• Design
• Durability
• Resale value

What Is the Best Wood for Bathroom Cabinets?

Bathroom cabinets require careful consideration, as they are in constant contact with water. Look for these characteristics in the best wood for bathroom cabinets:

• Moisture resistance
• Strength
• Ability to paint or stain

Oak and maple wood are good options for bathroom cabinets, especially when sealed and painted.

What Is the Best Wood for Kitchen Cabinets?

For kitchens, there is no “best wood” to choose. Here, personal preference, design and budget all determine which wood you choose. Maple, oak, hickory, furniture grade plywood, engineered wood and even some softwoods work. You’ll want to match your home’s quality and design to meet the expected ROI of 70%. Kitchens are one of the largest selling factors in a home.

Consider these factors:

• Durability for constant use
• Design
• ROI

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