If you’re looking for a hardwood flooring option, we’ve rounded up the ten most common species of hardwood floors in this article. This list includes various local hardwood species here in the USA and exotic hardwood flooring species.
1. Red and White Oak Hardwoods
Oak hardwood flooring is the most common option in the United States. It comes in two distinct species: red oak and white oak.
Plain Sawn Red Oak Hardwood Flooring
Red oak is the most popular oak species of oak used for flooring. It is sold in a reddish brown or grayish brown color. The grain pattern is very visible and more prominent compared to white oak. With a Janka rating of 1290, red oak flooring is slightly softer than white oak.
Clear Rift White Oak Hardwood Flooring
White oak comes in lighter tan, medium brown, and grayish brown colors. Its grain is slightly faint compared to red oak, but overall still visible. White oak is harder than red oak, with a Janka hardness rating of 1360. This makes it slightly durable and better for high-traffic areas. Check out our red oak vs. white oak flooring comparison guide to learn more about these two flooring options.
2. Maple Hardwood
This is a common hardwood tree species native to Northern USA and Canada. Maple hardwood flooring has a light-colored appearance with hues ranging from cream, beige, tan, and sometimes a reddish tint. The grain pattern of maple flooring is very light and may not even be visible sometimes.
Unfinished Maple Hardwood Flooring
The Janka hardness rating of maple ranges from 700-1450. For flooring, choose sugar maple, which is harder (1450) and different from other species. Because of its excellent shock-absorbing properties, maple is usually used as a flooring option in basketball courts. It’s also great for high-traffic areas like hallways and stairs.
Maple Hardwood Flooring
The major problem with maple flooring is that it does not stain evenly. When a stain is applied to maple flooring, you’ll notice blotchiness. To reduce blotchiness, use a pre-stain wood conditioner before staining maple for an even surface appearance.
3. Hickory Hardwood
Hickory is one of the hardest North American hardwood species used for flooring. Popular because of its knotted grain appearance, hickory flooring color ranges from light creamy white and brown to darker brown or golden brown. The knotted design also gives hickory flooring a rustic look.
Solid hand scraped hickory flooring
Hickory flooring has a Janka hardness rating of 1820. This makes it a durable flooring option that can take abuse and also makes it resistant to different elements. It is also known for its stronger shock resistance, making it more durable than other hardwood flooring species in the market.
Buster and Gracie survey the new Hickory floors
However, it is also more expensive compared to other local hardwood flooring species like maple, ash, and oak. Being a harder hardwood also means you’ll require a skilled laborer to install hickory flooring. Check out our article on the pros and cons of hickory hardwood flooring for more information.
4. Ash Hardwood
Ash hardwood flooring has a similar appearance to white oak hardwood flooring. It is popular because of its lighter color hues of white, brown, and yellow tan. The grain pattern of ash hardwood flooring is also more refined and can be stained to enhance it, but most people prefer its lighter appearance.
Installed Ash Hardwood Flooring
Ash hardwood has a Janka hardness rating of 1320, which makes it fairly durable as a flooring option. It is also elastic, which means it will absorb shocks or echoes. This makes ash flooring a popular option for large and open spaces.
Finished Ash Hardwood Flooring
Compared to other native hardwoods, like oak and hickory, ash is slightly less expensive and a good alternative. However, because it is an endangered species here in the USA, harvesting and using ash hardwood for flooring is not sustainable. See our comprehensive pros and cons of ash hardwood flooring.
5. Brazilian Cherry Hardwood
This is one of the popular exotic hardwood flooring options around. Also known as Jatoba, Brazilian cherry has a warm reddish brown color with streaks of lighter colors running through and a fine grain pattern. Although it can be finished to change the color, it’s not advisable, so applying a protective clear top coat is ok. The flooring also darkens as it ages for a warmer and richer-looking color.
Prefinished Brazilian Cherry Solid Flooring After Sanding and Finishing
With a Janka hardness of rating of 2350, the Brazilian cherry is a hard and durable flooring option that can better resist dents, scratches, and many other elements. However, the high density also means it’s harder to work with and should be installed by a professional flooring installer.
Brazilian Cherry Flooring and Custom Cabinets in Kitchen
Although Brazilian cherry is loved for its durability, beauty, and exotic appearance, it is also very expensive. However, compared to other exotic hardwood options, it is a cheaper option you can use.
6. Walnut Hardwood
It is also called American or Black Walnut and is native to eastern and central USA. However, it should not be confused with Brazilian Walnut, which is much harder and more durable. Walnut hardwood flooring is popular because of its elegant beauty of deep, rich, and chocolate-colored hues. The grain patterns are also fairly visible and are large and mostly straight.
Wide Plank Walnut Flooring
With a Janka hardness rating of 1010, Walnut is a softer hardwood and is best for medium to lower-traffic areas. Most homeowners opt for Brazilian walnuts for higher-traffic areas, with a Janka rating of 3680.
7. Cherry Hardwood
Cherry hardwood floors have been a popular and common option that is now making a comeback. The flooring is loved for its warm deep reddish brown colors, which darken over time when exposed to light. Cherry hardwood flooring also has a distinctive grain appearance and pattern, which most people love.
American Cherry Wood Flooring
Cherry hardwood flooring has a Janka hardness rating of 950, which makes them a softer hardwood. This makes it ideal for medium and lower-traffic areas in your home.
American Cherry Flooring
Cherry hardwood flooring is slightly more expensive compared to other hardwood options. Because it darkens with time when exposed to light, you should be careful when placing area rugs on the flooring. You can get lighter patches on your flooring, so wait around six months when it’s darkened to use rugs extensively.
8. Birch Hardwood
Birch is an abundant hardwood species in the USA, making it more affordable than other hardwood flooring options. It is similar in appearance to maple hardwood flooring but has a finer grain pattern. Like maple hardwood flooring, birch is blotchy and requires a pre-stain wood conditioner to stain evenly.
Birch Hardwood Flooring Refinished
Different birch species also have different Janka ratings. The softest is paper birch, with a Janka rating of 910, while sweet birch is the hardest, with a Janka hardness rating 1470. Birch, especially sweet birch, is a durable option suitable for high-traffic areas in your home.
9. Mahogany Hardwood
Mahogany is a native tree in Central and South America. For most homeowners looking for a royal look and feel, mahogany flooring is a good option. Mahogany flooring has a rich brown-red color with stripped lighter and darker colors. The grain appearance is straight and tight, which gives the flooring an even appearance.
Installing Prefinished Mahogany Flooring
Mahogany flooring with a Janka hardness of 900, the hardness of mahogany is comparable to the like of cherry hardwood flooring. The flooring is great for medium to low-traffic areas in your home. Mahogany is also used in the construction of some of the best-engineered hardwood flooring.
10. Tigerwood Hardwood
Tigerwood is another exotic hardwood flooring species that is popular. It has a tan or rich orange appearance with dramatic deep brown and black streaks. Because of its unique and striking patterns, tigerwood flooring is graded according to its color and pattern. A higher grade tigerwood flooring is rich in color and striking patterns, while a common grade lacks pronounced patterns or color.
Tigerwood’s Striking Visual Appearance
Like other exotic hardwood species, tigerwood is a durable flooring option with a Janka hardness of 2190. This makes it ideal for higher-traffic areas and can also better resist denting, dings, and other elements.
Refinished Tigerwood Flooring
However, tigerwood is costlier to buy and install. You’ll need a professional flooring installer to do it the right way. If you’re looking to buy tigerwood flooring, check out our article on tigerwood hardwood flooring to see about this exotic hardwood flooring.
