Oak vs maple
Oak and hard maple are both heavy, hard US hardwoods that the Handbook lists for flooring and furniture. The numbers below show how close they are; the plainest difference is texture.
- Sugar maple is about 7% harder than white oak.
- White oak is about 8% heavier than sugar maple.
- White oak has about 7% more movement across a flatsawn board than sugar maple.
- Sugar maple is about 12% harder than northern red oak.
- Sugar maple and northern red oak are within 2% of each other.
- Sugar maple has about 16% more movement across a flatsawn board than northern red oak.
Each column is the species its page leads with: sugar maple for hard maple, northern red oak for red oak.
Side by side
| Property | Hard maple | White oak | Red oak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janka hardness, 12% MC | 1,450 lbf | 1,360 lbf | 1,290 lbf |
| Weight, 12% MC | 44.1 lb/ft³ (706 kg/m³) | 47.5 lb/ft³ (762 kg/m³) | 44.1 lb/ft³ (706 kg/m³) |
| Specific gravity, 12% MC | 0.63 | 0.68 | 0.63 |
| Tangential shrinkage | 9.9% | 10.5% | 8.6% |
| Radial shrinkage | 4.8% | 5.6% | 4.0% |
| 12 in flatsawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.254 in | 0.271 in | 0.219 in |
| 12 in quartersawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.119 in | 0.14 in | 0.099 in |
| Bending strength (MOR), 12% MC | 15,800 psi | 15,200 psi | 14,300 psi |
| Stiffness (MOE), 12% MC | 1.83 million psi | 1.78 million psi | 1.82 million psi |
| Crushing strength, 12% MC | 7,830 psi | 7,440 psi | 6,760 psi |
One source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, the authority for species properties it measured
Wood Handbook Tables 5-3b, 4-3 and 13-5; weight and movement worked with its Eqs. 4-14 and 13-1. A dash means the Handbook prints no value.
What sets them apart
- Texture
- Hard maple has a fine, uniform texture. Oak shows its pores (open in red oak, plugged in white oak heartwood) and broad, conspicuous rays on quartersawn faces. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-8 to 2-9)
- Uses
- Both go into flooring and furniture. Hard maple also goes into cutting boards, bowling alleys and gym floors; white oak into tight barrels and boat parts; red oak into millwork, cabinets and handles. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-8 to 2-9)
For any other pair, open each species page from the wood hub; every page uses the same layout and the same sources.