For a live-edge dining table that takes daily abuse, white oak and hard maple are the toughest picks. Black walnut is the most popular for looks and is plenty hard for a dining table. Cherry is softer but ages to a deep red-brown. For outdoor tables, black locust and eastern red cedar. Here’s how every species on our rack compares.
Browse by species Price a slab
Species compared
| Species | Hardness (Janka, lbf) | Look | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | ~1,820 | Wild grain, strong light-dark contrast | Tables that get beat on, rustic work |
| Black locust | ~1,700 | Golden-olive, darkens to brown | Outdoor tables and benches |
| Hard maple | ~1,450 | Pale, clean, subtle grain | Kitchen islands, work surfaces |
| White oak | ~1,360 | Tan to brown, ray fleck | Dining tables, bar tops, heavy use |
| Ash | ~1,320 | Light, bold straight grain | Tables, benches, shelving |
| Red oak | ~1,290 | Warm pinkish-brown, open grain | Budget dining tables, benches |
| Black walnut | ~1,010 | Dark chocolate, cream sapwood | Dining, desks, conference tables |
| Cherry | ~950 | Pink-tan, darkens to red-brown | Dining, desks, headboards |
| Soft / ambrosia maple | ~950 | Light with dark streaks (ambrosia) | Statement tables, desks |
| Eastern red cedar | ~900 | Red-purple heart, cream sapwood, aromatic | Outdoor and porch pieces, benches |
| Elm | ~830 | Wild interlocked grain, big widths | Statement tables, wide tops |
| Poplar | ~540 | Cream with green and purple streaks | Budget projects, low-wear pieces |
Janka hardness is the force needed to press a steel ball halfway into the wood. Higher means it dents less. Values are typical published figures and vary tree to tree.
Price per board foot
| Species | Price per board foot |
|---|---|
| Black Walnut | $22 |
| Ambrosia Maple | $20 |
| Cherry | $18 |
| White Oak | $18 |
| Hard Maple | $15 |
| Red Oak | $13 |
| Hickory | $13 |
| Eastern Red Cedar | $13 |
| Black Locust | $13 |
| Elm | $13 |
| Soft Maple | $12 |
| Poplar | $10 |
How to choose
- Kids, dogs, daily dinners: white oak, hard maple, hickory.
- The look people ask for: black walnut.
- Something nobody else has: ambrosia maple, elm, crotch walnut.
- Outdoor or covered porch: black locust, eastern red cedar, white oak.
- Tight budget: red oak, poplar, soft maple.
- Really wide one-piece top: whatever the big logs were — right now that’s walnut, white oak, red oak, elm and ambrosia maple. Oversized slabs →
Questions we get
What is the best wood for a live-edge dining table?
White oak and hard maple are the most durable. Black walnut is the most popular for its dark color and is hard enough for daily use. Cherry is a softer, traditional choice that darkens with age.
Is walnut too soft for a dining table?
No. Walnut is softer than oak or maple and will dent a little more easily, but it’s been used for dining tables for centuries and it hides wear well.
What wood is best for an outdoor live-edge table?
Black locust and eastern red cedar resist rot naturally; white oak is also a good choice. Even these last longest under a roof and with a finish.
What’s the cheapest wood for a live-edge table?
Poplar, soft maple and red oak are the lowest cost per board foot at Pop’s Barn.
Not sure what to pick? Call 973-524-4282 and tell us the room and how you’ll use it.
What customers say
Will and Pops were very friendly and helpful. Very knowledgeable which allowed us to pick out the most suitable piece for us.
Bob had exactly the kind of material I was looking for. I wanted less traditionally desirable oak to make rustic trim and doors for my log cabin house. I want oak with lots of character and I found exactly what I was looking for at pops barn. He has a wide selection of locally found species.