Wood Flooring Types – Ten Most Common Types of Wood

Ten Most Common Types of Wood

The Company Floors is proud to offer a wide variety of hardwood floors, with hundreds of species available and sourced primarily from forests in the USA. For your convenience, we’ve identified 10 of the most popular types here. Among these, bamboo stands out as an exception; though it technically isn’t considered a hardwood, it remains relevant due to its flexibility and durability and is generally imported for use in flooring applications. We hope our list helps narrow down the perfect product for you!
The most popular wood floorings in the United States are Oak, Maple, and Hickory. American Cherry and Walnut follow as the next most common types of hardwoods used for flooring. The following four on our list – Birch, Yellow Poplar, Ash, and White Locust – are not typically as widely purchased due to lower demand; however, they still offer great potential for application purposes. Lastly, Bamboo is typically not considered a hardwood so it appears at the end of our list; despite this classification though, its popularity has grown rapidly and it can now be found in many different settings.

1. Oak Wood Floors

price: affordable
Janka hardness rating: Red Oak 1290, White Oak 1360
Oak is the most common type of wood used for wood floors in the US. Red Oak is an abundant species that grows in many areas and offers a cost-effective approach to hardwood flooring. For these reasons, we often suggest Oak flooring as the first choice to our customers. Its practicality and affordability make it ideal for a variety of applications. Additionally, Oak has several other beneficial characteristics, such as its strength and durability, making it one of the best choices you can make when selecting wood flooring.
As one of the most cost-efficient woods, Oak is highly durable with a hardness rating of 1290. It performs exceptionally well under high traffic and stands up to dents & scratches. Its unique composition means it is able to resist temperature and humidity changes without compromising its integrity.
Due to the hardness of oak rated at 1290, it’s more ideal than very hard woods like Brazilian Walnut, which has a rating of 3680. Oak is easier to work with when cutting and nailing; in addition, its installation and refinishing cost is much lower than that of harder woods. Furthermore, staining oak is generally more successful due to its absorbency compared to other types of wood. For these reasons, Oak is an ideal choice for flooring projects.
  • more affordable as it is easier to work with
  • ideal for periodic sanding & refinishing – floors can be easily restored to look new again
  • ideal for applying stain & easy to change the color – there’s many stain colors available from light to dark. Oak can be purchased prefinished or unfinished where finishing is applied on site.
  • resistant enough to expansion and contraction which causes gaps and warping (good dimensional stability)
  • resistant enough to dents and scratches (like any wood floor care must be taken)
Oak is an excellent choice for flooring, especially in high-traffic areas or homes with pets. Its distinct grain pattern helps to camouflage any dents and scratches. In addition, its classic and traditional look makes it a versatile choice that can be incorporated into almost any style of decor or furniture. All things considered, oak is the gold standard of flooring materials – the only time we might recommend against choosing it is if you prefer something with a more subtle grain pattern.
Oak is a popular choice for hardwood flooring due to its strength, beauty and versatility. The two main varieties of oak flooring are red oak and white oak. Red oak displays a classic warm reddish hue while white oak has unique colors ranging from golden hues to browns, grays, and even subtle grain patterns. Both types are widely available; however, red oak is the most common option on the market today. Whether you choose red or white oak will likely be dependent on your personal preference – they both offer the same properties despite their different colors and grain patterns. Learn more about Oak flooring here…

2. Maple Wood Floors

price: generally affordable but more costly than Oak
Janka hardness rating:  700-1450
Maple is a popular wood species native to the Northern US and Canada. It comes in many different varieties and grades, which affects its advantages and cost. Maple wood flooring typically displays various price ranges, qualities of hardness, grain patterns, and quality levels. As such, it can be difficult to decide which type best meets your needs.
Maple offers a range of appearances in its grain pattern. Depending on your preference, you can choose a prominent swirling pattern, or a more consistent color for a uniform look. A clear finish is ideal for the latter option, and provides an eye-catching natural presentation either way. When it comes to Maple wood flooring, there are truly no wrong choices.
Maple flooring offers an impressive hardness rating of 1450, making it a great choice for bowling alleys where it can withstand a lot of wear and tear without showing any signs of damage. The downside is that the hardness makes stains more difficult to absorb. To avoid unsightly blotching, one should use conditioner prior to staining the wood. This style may be preferred by some, but if you’re looking for convenience, pre-finished planks are an excellent option that allow you to have a better idea of how your final product will look before installation.
Maple’s natural color is generally light hues of beige, tan or grey. It’s often used in modern & contemporary settings.

3. Hickory Wood Floors

price: Slightly above average, more expensive than Oak
Janka hardness rating: 1820
Hickory has become acceptable in a wide range of settings, resonating strongly with log homes and rustic spaces due to its distinctive knotted grain pattern and color variance. Its textured surface makes it more suited for wide planks; small planks would make an otherwise busy floor appear even busier. Hickory is also popular because it offers subtle color variations on individual boards, ranging from beige to brown and red.
Hickory hardwood flooring is one of the most durable woods available in the United States, on account of its 1820 Janka rating. Due to its hardness and resistance to damage, Hickory flooring is ideal for homes with heavy foot traffic or pets. It requires relatively low maintenance and can last a lifetime with proper care. Furthermore, compared to other types of hardwood like Oak, it may require fewer refinishings over time.
Hickory is a great choice for flooring because of its significant hardness; however, this also increases labor and materials costs. Installation, sanding and refinishing are more time consuming tasks due to the difficulty of working with this type of wood. Staining is usually unnecessary given that Hickory already has its own beautiful color, but a clear finish should be applied to bring out its natural hues.

4. American Cherry Wood Floors

price: expensive
Janka hardness rating: 950
The American Cherry (Prunus Serotina) is grown extensively in northern USA, and is a popular choice for flooring due to its durability. The fruit of the tree is also edible, making it a great companion plant both in gardens and orchards alike.
Cherry wood floors are a bit pricier than other types. This is because cherry is a soft wood, which makes it difficult to work with. Additionally, it may be more prone to scratches and dents due to its softer texture. Therefore, it’s best suited for bedrooms or other low traffic areas. However,cherry wood does have good dimensional stability, making it less susceptible to shrinking and expanding in different climates.
Cherry wood flooring has a unique and easily recognizable look. The deep reddish brown color of the wood allows for a range of design possibilities, and its natural grain pattern is sure to add sophistication to any room. It’s important to remember that all types of wooden flooring are photosensitive – exposure to light will ultimately cause the floors to darken or lighten over time. To protect your cherry wood flooring, we strongly advise against placing an area rug within the first 6 months of installation in order to preserve its original color.
Cherry flooring is a highly sought-after feature in many homes, as it has a beautiful grain pattern that adds warmth and elegance to any room. For this reason, cherry flooring is typically installed with wide planks, 5-8 inches wide, to best showcase its aesthetic. Also, the natural color of cherry wood is often much loved so it’s frequently chosen without staining and with just a clear coat finish added.

5. American Walnut (aka Black Walnut) Wood Floors

price: expensive
Janka hardness rating: 1010
Walnut is an all-American hardwood species that produces a distinctively beautiful and durable flooring product. It has been grown traditionally in the central and eastern US. As a bonus, its delicious nuts make it a popular snack item. This should not to be confused with Brazilian Walnut which is much harder in terms of lumber strength, although both are beloved for their aesthetic value.
Walnut wood is a soft hardwood known for its elegance and beauty. It’s more suited for low-traffic areas than some of the other, harder woods. The color can range from light to dark brown, and the grain variations depend on where it was sourced from the tree. Floor planks are usually consistent in their look, giving an organized look to any room they’re in.

6. Pine (aka Eastern White Pine or Southern Yellow Pine)

price: average
Janka hardness rating: 690-870
Pine is a popular and sustainably sourced wood option, as it grows at a steady rate throughout the US and Canada. There are numerous species of Pine, with each one having different levels of hardness depending on their origin. The leading type of Pine is Eastern White Pine, originating from the northeastern states. A harder variant, Southern Yellow Pine, is sourced from southern regions, while the toughest version – Heart Pine – comes from the core of the tree and has a Janka Hardness rating of 1225.
Pine flooring, primarily sourced from Eastern White or Southern Yellow pines, is softer than other hardest available wood. As a result, precautions need to be taken to protect against scratching and denting. Pine wood was more commonly used in older homes when wood mills had yet to refine harder woods; however, its softness does mean that it’s typically more difficult and labour-intensive to refinish. Despite these drawbacks, Pine flooring still retains its appeal – its traditional look with beautiful grain and natural knots become even more distinct over time as the hues of yellowish white, yellow, orange and brown appear in the boards.

7. Ash Wood Floors (good alternative to Oak)

price: lower than average
Janka hardness rating: 1320
Ash is a popular tree species in the US, offering an affordable alternative to Oak. With its medium hardness levels comparable to Oak, Ash wood is well-suited for traffic areas and easy to work with for installation, staining, and refinishing. Similarly, it features a unique grain pattern akin to that of Oak. Ash wood floors are particularly renowned for their light colors which come in shades of white, yellow, tan, or brown.

8. Birch Wood Floors

price: lower than average
Janka hardness rating: 910-1470
The Birch is a great tree species to use in flooring, offering both affordability and excellent flavor. Growing abundantly across North America, it has a comparable look and feel to Maple yet consists of smaller grain that may be at times imperceptible. Although it does tend to blotch when stained, Birch often foregoes on-site finishing and is prefinished for optimal results.
Birch wood floors come in several different varieties, depending on the species or part of the tree. The hardness varies accordingly, with Red Birch heartwood being the hardest type. Yellow Birch is the most commonly available flooring choice; it’s a soft wood that can be damaged easily and doesn’t have high dimensional stability, making it best suited to rooms with low foot traffic. Its colors range from a mix of yellow and white for Yellow Birch to a combination of gold, red and brown for Red Birch.

9. Douglas Fir Wood Floors

price: lower than average
Janka hardness rating: 660
Douglas Fir can be found mainly in the western part of America. It’s a softwood commonly seen in many older homes. Douglas Fir has a hardness rating of only 660, placing it at the lower end of the scale. Consequently, this type of wood is not suitable for heavy foot traffic and requires careful maintenance to prevent damage.
Douglas Fir is often chosen for its affordability, uniform texture, and attractive range of colors. This type of flooring typically comes in shades of gold, orange, red and brown that deepen as the wood ages. Though Douglas Fir isn’t usually available pre-finished, it can easily be applied on site.

10. Bamboo Flooring

price: varies by quality
Janka hardness rating: most is 1200-1400, but there’s a wide range.
Bamboo flooring has been a popular alternative to hardwood since the year 2000. Bamboo is actually considered a type of grass, not hardwood; however, it can be processed into planks which are compressed into strips and then used for flooring.
Bamboo is a highly renewable resource, with some species growing as much as 3 feet in a day. It has become increasingly sought-after due to its highly sustainable nature and quick growth rate. Though there are some drawbacks, such as the transport requirements of exporting it from China, bamboo is overall considered an eco-friendly source of material.
Bamboo is a plentiful resource, containing over 1,000 different species. In recent times, it has become an increasingly appealing flooring material due to its breadth of color, style and finish offerings. The stylish look and feel of bamboo flooring make it a popular choice for many households.
When shopping for Bamboo flooring, quality should be at the top of your list. Consider warranties, hardness ratings and finishes in order to determine a product’s strength and durability. Cheap Bamboo offerings may ultimately be less reliable and require more frequent maintenance or replacement. With the wide range of species and manufacturing standards available, it is important to evaluate products carefully before making a purchase.
Bamboo is an excellent and durable material for flooring. Its hardness rating of 1200-1400 makes it comparable in strength to oak, with some varieties being softer than pine and others harder than maple. Additionally, strand woven bamboo is the toughest type available and greater in hardness even than red oak. With its combination of durability, variety, and attractive colors, bamboo is a great flooring option for any room!
When it comes to Bamboo flooring, you’re best off installing prefinished material. This is because staining and refinishing Bamboo can be a difficult task; in fact, in general, Bamboo floors can only be refinished two to three times at most. For more information about Bamboo flooring, please continue reading.
When it comes to selecting new flooring for your home, the range of options can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, we have some tips to help narrow your decision. Here in the United States, common domestic woods are typically used for flooring. At our company, we specialize in installing all types of flooring; and while wood is popular overall, hardwood remains the most favored choice among New Yorkers. However, even within hardwood you must make an appropriate selection. Red Oak stands out as a top choice due to its exceptional qualities – many customers prefer this type of wood specifically. Hopefully this information has been useful in guiding you towards making the right decision when it comes to new flooring!