Oak is a very popular hardwood that is used in all parts of the world. It looks beautiful and is easily available at a decent price, but what makes oak truly precious is the fact that you can use this wood for practically any purpose. From furniture making to construction, firewood and arts and crafts, it is popular and used everywhere. In this article, we will talk about the different types and species of oak wood.
If you are looking to buy oak wood for a project, it might help to know about the different types or species of oak. Because different oak species share similar but slightly different properties, this guide to the types of oak wood can help you select the best variety for your project.
About Oak Wood, Properties & Uses
Oak is a hardwood, particularly known for its unmatched beauty, ease of work and a reasonable price with worldwide availability. The colour of oak will range from light brown to dark red in different species and gets darker with age and exposure to sunlight. It is a durable wood and some species are resistant to decay and moisture.
As a versatile wood, oak is adaptable and usable for any purpose. The wood is very easy to work with and is used for everything from making furniture to building frames, tables, barrels, flooring, decking, veneers, plywood, panelling, joinery, and more.
Types of Oak Wood
All types of oak can be divided into two major categories: White Oak and Red Oak. The major difference between the two is that white oak has a closed pore structure, while red oak has open pores.
There are almost 20 types of oak trees, of which only about 10 or 11 are used for wood.
1. Red Oak
- Scientific Name: Quercus rubra
- Distribution: Northeastern U.S. and Southeastern Canada
- Janka Hardness: 1,220 lbf (5,430 N)
- Colour: light to medium brown with a reddish cast, pale sapwood
- Tree height: 80-115 ft (25-35 m)
- Trunk diameter: 3-6 ft (1-2 m)
- Average Dried Weight: 43.8 lbs/ft3 (700 kg/m3)
- Grain: straight with uneven, coarse texture
- Pores: large and open
- Durability: low
- Rot Resistance: poor
- Workability: Easy to use, glue, stain and finish
- Pricing & Availability: moderately priced, less expensive than white oak
- Uses: Cabinetry, interior trim, flooring, furniture, and veneer
2. White Oak
- Scientific Name: Quercus alba
- Distribution: Eastern U.S.
- Janka Hardness: 1,350 lbf (5,990 N)
- Colour: light to medium brown heartwood with an olive cast, Paler sapwood
- Tree height: 65-85 ft (20-25 m)
- Trunk diameter: 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m)
- Average Dried Weight: 47.0 lbs/ft3 (755 kg/m3)
- Grain: straight with coarse, uneven texture
- Durability: very high
- Rot Resistance: very good
- Workability: Easy to use with both hand & machine tools. Glues, stains, bends and finishes well
- Pricing & Availability: moderately priced (more expensive than red oak)
- Uses: Cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrels, interior trim, flooring, furniture, and veneer
3. Black Oak
- Type: Red oak
- Scientific Name: Quercus velutina
- Distribution: Eastern North America
- Janka Hardness: 1,210 lbf (5,380 N)
- Colour: light to medium reddish-brown
- Tree height: 65-80 ft (20-25 m)
- Trunk diameter: 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m)
- Average Dried Weight: 45 lbs/ft3 (715 kg/m3)
- Grain: coarse
- Pores: medium-to-large
- Durability: Slightly to non-durable
- Rot Resistance: average
- Workability: Easy to use, glue, stain and finish
- Pricing & Availability: moderately priced
- Uses: Cabinetry, interior trim, flooring, furniture, and veneer
4. European Oak (English oak)
- Type: White oak
- Scientific Name: Quercus robur
- Distribution: Europe, Asia Minor, North Africa
- Janka Hardness: 1,120 lbf (4,980 N)
- Colour: light to medium brown
- Tree height: 80-115 ft (24-35 m)
- Trunk diameter: 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m)
- Average Dried Weight: 42 lbs/ft3 (675 kg/m3)
- Grain: straight with uneven, coarse texture, sometimes irregular or interlocked grain
- Pores: ring-porous
- Durability: Good
- Rot Resistance: very good
- Workability: Easy to use, glue, stain and finish
- Pricing & Availability: widely available in Europe, moderately priced
- Uses: Cabinetry, barrels, boatbuilding, interior trim, decoration, flooring, furniture, and veneer
5. Cherry Bark Oak
- Type: Red oak
- Scientific Name: Quercus pagoda
- Distribution: Eastern U.S.
- Janka Hardness: 1,480 lbf (6,580 N)
- Colour: light to medium reddish-brown
- Tree height: 80-100 ft (25-30 m)
- Trunk diameter: 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m)
- Average Dried Weight: 49 lbs/ft3 (785 kg/m3)
- Grain: coarse
- Pores: medium-to-large
- Durability: Minimal
- Rot Resistance: average
- Workability: Easy to use, glue, stain and finish
- Pricing & Availability: moderately priced
- Uses: Cabinetry, interior trim, flooring, furniture, and veneer
6. Pin Oak
- Type: Red oak
- Scientific Name: Quercus palustris
- Distribution: Eastern U.S.
- Janka Hardness: 1,500 lbf (6,650 N)
- Colour: light to medium reddish-brown
- Tree height: 50-75 ft (15-23 m)
- Trunk diameter: 2-4 ft (.6-1.2 m)
- Average Dried Weight: 44 lbs/ft3 (705 kg/m3)
- Grain: fairly coarse
- Pores: medium-to-large ring-porous
- Durability: Minimal
- Rot Resistance: average
- Workability: Easy to use, glue, stain and finish
- Pricing & Availability: moderately priced
- Uses: Cabinetry, interior trim, flooring, furniture, and veneer
7. California Black Oak (Kellogg Oak)
- Type: Red oak
- Scientific Name: Quercus kelloggii
- Distribution: Western U.S.
- Janka Hardness: 1,090 lbf (4,840 N)
- Colour: light to medium reddish-brown
- Tree height: 65-80 ft (20-25 m)
- Trunk diameter: 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m)
- Average Dried Weight: 39 lbs/ft3 (620 kg/m3)
- Grain: coarse
- Pores: medium-to-large
- Durability: slightly durable to non-durable
- Rot Resistance: average
- Workability: Easy to use, glue, stain and finish
- Pricing & Availability: moderately priced
- Uses: Cabinetry, interior trim, flooring, furniture, and veneer
8. Willow Oak
- Type: Red oak
- Scientific Name: Quercus phellos
- Distribution: Eastern U.S.
- Janka Hardness: 1,460 lbf (6,490 N)
- Colour: light to medium reddish-brown
- Tree height: 65-100 ft (20-30 m)
- Trunk diameter: 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m)
- Average Dried Weight: 48 lbs/ft3 (770 kg/m3)
- Grain: coarse
- Pores: medium-to-large
- Durability: Minimal
- Rot Resistance: average
- Workability: Easy to use, glue, stain and finish
- Pricing & Availability: moderately priced
- Uses: Cabinetry, interior trim, flooring, furniture, and veneer
9. Bur Oak
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Type: White oak
- Scientific Name: Quercus macrocarpa
- Distribution: Eastern and Midwestern U.S. and south-central Canada
- Janka Hardness: 1,360 lbf (6,030 N)
- Colour: light to medium brown
- Tree height: 80-100 ft (24-30 m)
- Trunk diameter: 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m)
- Average Dried Weight: 45 lbs/ft3 (725 kg/m3)
- Grain: coarse
- Pores: medium-to-large, ring-porous
- Durability: Average
- Rot Resistance: very good
- Workability: Easy to use, glue, stain and finish
- Pricing & Availability: moderately priced
- Uses: Cabinetry, barrels, boatbuilding, interior trim, flooring, furniture, and veneer
10. North Red Oak
- Type: Red oak
- Scientific Name: Quercus rubra
- Distribution: northeastern North America
- Janka Hardness: 1,220 lbf (5,430 N)
- Colour: light to medium brown with a reddish cast, pale sapwood
- Tree height: 80-115 ft (25-35 m)
- Trunk diameter: 3-6 ft (1-2 m)
- Average Dried Weight: 43.8 lbs/ft3 (700 kg/m3)
- Grain: straight with uneven, coarse texture
- Pores: large and open
- Durability: low durability but high strength and sturdiness
- Rot Resistance: poor
- Workability: Easy to use, glue, stain and finish
- Pricing & Availability: moderately priced, less expensive than white oak
- Uses: Cabinetry, interior trim, flooring, furniture, and veneer
11. Chestnut Oak
- Type: White oak
- Scientific Name: Quercus prinus
- Distribution: Eastern U.S.
- Janka Hardness: 1,130 lbf (5,030 N)
- Colour: light to medium brown
- Tree height: 60-70 ft (18-22 m)
- Trunk diameter: 2-4 ft (.6-1.2 m)
- Average Dried Weight: 47 lbs/ft3 (750 kg/m3)
- Grain: fairly coarse
- Pores: medium-to-large
- Durability: Good
- Rot Resistance: Very good
- Workability: Easy to use, glue, stain and finish
- Pricing & Availability: moderately priced
- Uses: Cabinetry, boatbuilding, barrels, interior trim, flooring, furniture, and veneer
Other less famous types of oak and similar species include hairy oak, southern silky oak, northern silky oak, bog oak, sessile oak, turkey oak, Japanese oak, Oregon white oak, brown oak, Shumard oak, holm oak, live oak, scarlet oak, southern red oak, post oak, Laurel oak, overcup oak, and water oak.
