27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)

There are hundreds of species of trees on this world, each with its personal exclusive colours and styles. Some are sought following for their elegance, and others are prized for their energy. Beneath, we have compiled an substantial listing of some of the most typical and not-so-frequent wooden grain designs. No matter whether you are interested in obtaining into woodworking or wanting to learn a lot more about the trees about you, there is certain to be anything interesting on this record.

The Top 27 Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns

1. Rosewood

Genus: Dalbergia
Common Names: Rosewood, Bahia rosewood, Brazilian rosewood
Common Uses: Guitars, furniture, luxury flooring

There are quite a few species grown in various regions of the world, and their color can selection from crimson and burgundy to light brown. It has a nice fragrance when lower and simply because of this attribute odor, Rose Mahogany is typically incorrectly referred to as a Rosewood because of to having a equivalent scent when cut.


2. Teak

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Image Credit: Vince Reilly, Shutterstock
Genus: Tectona
Common Names: Teak, Burmese teak
Common Uses: Boat decking, cutting boards, outdoor furniture

This tropical hardwood is prized for its normal resistance to drinking water. As a result, it is frequently used in boat decks and other out of doors apps this kind of as furnishings, carvings, or constructing exterior finishing. This resilient wood can be concluded with oil or clearcoat. It can also be still left unfinished and has a lifespan that most other wooden are not able to match.


3. White Oak

Genus: Quercus
Common Names: White oak
Common Uses: Wine and whiskey barrels, interior finishing, Japanese martial arts weapons

White oak is a domestic hardwood located mainly in japanese and central North America. Its name arrives from the gentle finished item and its light coloration. Though, occasionally even the bark is white. Due to the fact of its drinking water resistance, white oak is generally utilised in out of doors apps or barrels for wine and whiskey. It also helps make for numerous quite aesthetically satisfying other woodworking initiatives.


4. Red Oak

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Image Credit: guillermocinque, Pixabay
Genus: Quercus
Common Names: Red oak
Common Uses: High-value lumber, veneer

Yet another indigenous to North The united states, purple oak is found in numerous of the same areas as white oak. In addition, it was introduced into parts of Europe. A distinguishing characteristic of crimson oak is its bark, with ridges with stripes in the heart. The wooden is pink-brown and has a coarse grain, as the title indicates. As an interior ending wooden, red oak is extraordinary. It can also be employed in furnishings creating after proper treatment method.


5. Padauk

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
A –bonsai– stand made from African Padauk wood 2013-06-02 13-19 (Image Credit: Ragesoss, Wikimedia Commons CC SA 3.0 Unported)
Genus: Pterocarpus
Common Names: African padauk, vermillion
Common Uses: Decorative woodworking projects

This stunning wood has a special orange-purple color when at first minimize and fades to a great brown after exposure to the sunshine. It’s valued for its ornamental charm and longevity. Simply because of its distinctive shade, it’s typically utilized in various modest woodworking initiatives this kind of as chopping boards or charcuterie boards.


6. Ebony

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Image Credit: Thichaa, Shutterstock
Genus: Diospyros
Common Names: Gaboon ebony, African ebony, Nigerian ebony, Cameroon ebony
Common Uses: Small decorative items such as musical instrument parts or carvings

Ebony is a one-of-type wood, aptly named for its black or dim brown shade. This stunning wood demands no stain to give it character. Sadly, many varieties of ebony trees are endangered since of unsustainable harvesting. As a consequence, offered quantities of this stunning wood are minimal. Therefore its modern day use is in tiny ornamental woodworking tasks.


7. Makore

Genus: Tieghemella
Common Names: Makore, douka, cherry mahogany
Common Uses: Interior/exterior finishing, boat building, cabinets

One more name for makore is cherry mahogany thanks to its often pinkish to purple-brown shade. Although, it is not genuine mahogany. Generally, this wood has a fine, straight grain, but often it attributes a attractive, wavy physical appearance in the grain way too. This wood is sought following for its superb durability, producing it an outstanding decision for exterior finishing and maritime programs these kinds of as boat building.


8. Mahogany

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Image Credit: jessicuak, Pixabay
Genus: Swietenia
Common Names: Santos mahogany, cabreuva
Common Uses: Decorative woodworking, furniture

This beautiful pink-brown wood has a lot of imitators that have a comparable coloration. But legitimate mahogany has a easy, straight grain and is a commonly offered hardwood. It is really nice to work with and has a beautiful and exclusive crimson sheen when polished. This sheen and its toughness make it well-liked for furniture these kinds of as chairs and tables. Owing to its immense acceptance, genuine mahogany is high-priced.


9. Acacia

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Acacia koaia wood (Image Credit: Forest & Kim Starr, Wikimedia CC 2.5 Generic)
Genus: Acacia
Common Names: Mimosa, acacia, thorn tree, wattle
Common Uses: Furniture, ornamental

This extremely dense wood is a single of the hardest hardwoods and, as a result, can be challenging to operate with. It is very durable and by natural means resistant to drinking water and insects, so it makes very good furniture wood. There is a vast selection of acacia woods ranging from light-weight brown to dark red with wavy, coarse styles in the grain. Even however it’s difficult to operate with, acacia finishes well—stained or polished.


10. Sycamore

Genus: Platanus
Common Names: American sycamore, western plane, buttonwood
Common Uses: Butcher’s blocks, boxes, crates

Sycamore wooden is quite equivalent and can be mistaken for maple based on the lower. It’s typically light-weight brown with purple streaks and coarse-grained. It is not prized for its splendor, but it has a lot of practical employs, this sort of as crates and pallets. Occasionally the ideal cuts are employed to make low-cost wooden household furniture.


11. Ash

Genus: Fraxinus
Common Names: Ash
Common Uses: Tool handles, bows, baseball bats

Ash does well in purposes that require abuse, this sort of as instruments and baseball bats. When it comes to seems to be, it is equivalent in look to white oak. Even though, it often has a white striated grain that is considerably much more pronounced than oak. However, most woodworkers would go with oak if offered a option because ash is limited to getting utilized only indoors.


12. Balsa

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Image Credit: Zephyr_p, Shutterstock
Genus: Ochroma
Common Names: Balsa
Common Uses: Whittling, surfboards

While balsa is 1 of the softest woods globally, it is even now considered a hardwood. Hardwood and softwood classification is determined by the tree’s replica, not its density. Due to how comfortable and very easily worked balsa is, it is well-liked for whittling or carving. It is also used in surfboards the place getting gentle and buoyant is essential. It also has a rough, open grain and a light brown colour with dark streaks.


13. Beech

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Image Credit: Bits and Splits, Shutterstock
Genus: Fagus
Common Names: Beech
Common Uses: Firewood, drums, gun stocks, cabinets

This reddish-brown wood can make excellent firewood and is also generally utilised in cigarette smoking apps for meat. It has a straight, wonderful grain and is easily worked, so it is also well-liked for a lot of woodworking apps. All round, the distinct species of beech are all sturdy. Even so, they do have some susceptibility to insect hurt.


14. Cedar

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Image Credit: Anthony Paz, Shutterstock
Genus: Cedrus
Common Names: Cedar
Common Uses: Outdoor furniture, outdoor finishing, decks

Cedar is very well-known because of to its organic resistance to water and insect hurt. It also finishes nicely and provides off a special scent that most individuals identify appropriate absent. Relying on the certain species, cedar generally has a deep crimson to brown shade and darkens above time when exposed to the sunlight.


15. Hard Maple

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Image Credit: jactod, Pixabay
Genus: Acer
Common Names: Hard maple, sugar maple
Common Uses: Flooring, furniture, gym floors, cabinets

Since of its vast availability and amazing sturdiness, hard maple is well-liked in a lot of purposes, especially those that see a great deal of abuse this sort of as gym floors. The shade of difficult maple differs from mild to dark pink-brown and usually characteristics a fine, straight grain. Another explanation that this wood is so well-known is that it is effortless to function with and it stains nicely.


16. Anigre

Genus: Pouteria
Common Names: Anigre, anegre, aniegre, aningeria
Common Uses: Veneer, plywood, furniture

An interesting thing about anigre is that some people say that it sometimes smells comparable to cedar when it’s freshly minimize. Coloration-smart, it is usually yellowish-brown and darkens significantly with age. It is relatively easy to function with. Nevertheless, it sometimes contains higher ranges of silica which dulls equipment far more quickly. Anigre is usually sliced slender and sold as a veneer for home furniture and plywood.


17. Spruce

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Spruce wood (2) (Image Credit: Angela Huster, Wikimedia Commons CCO 1.0 Universal)
Genus: Picea
Common Names: Spruce, whitewood
Common Uses: Building lumber, soundboards for musical instruments, paper

A single of the most common woods employed in inside development is spruce, and it’s also broadly utilized in paper producing. It does not vary in color much—typically yellowish-white with a good, straight grain. Due to becoming reasonably comfortable and simple in physical appearance, spruce isn’t frequently used in anything in which it is the focal position.


18. Birch

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Image Credit: Artazum, Shutterstock
Genus: Betula
Common Names: Yellow birch, white birch, black birch, northern birch
Common Uses: Toothpicks, plywood, shelving

There are many kinds of birch, such as yellow birch, northern birch, and bog birch. 1 of the most widespread variants we see utilized by woodworkers is yellow birch. It is typically pale white to yellow with some reddish-brown variants and has a good, straight grain. Nonetheless, some cuts showcase a much more wavy or curly grain.


19. Pine

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Image Credit: Merio, Pixabay
Genus: Pinus
Common Names: Pine, sugar pine, Christmas tree
Common Uses: Construction, paper

Pine is the silent warrior of development and paper, and in North America, its makes use of are usually underappreciated. It is extensively employed in several construction purposes, such as household homes or outlets. Its pulp is also commonly employed to make paper. Generally, pine has a mild brown to yellow color and features a wavy, coarse grain. It is not a notably wonderful-looking wooden, but it can make for trustworthy structural lumber.


20. Cherry

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Image Credit: Ryry, Shutterstock
Genus: Prunus
Common Names: Black cherry, Brazilian cherry, sweet cherry
Common Uses: Furniture, cabinets, flooring

Cherry is hugely sought-right after for its outstanding organic attractiveness. It is well-known in furnishings and flooring, where a large-conclude, elegant end is wanted. It usually has a pink to a abundant reddish-brown color and a fantastic wavy or curly grain. Like several other types of wood, cherry’s color will darken and deepen over time.


21. Elm

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Elm wood grain (Image Credit: Elm wood grain, Tom elm, Wikimedia Commons CC SA 4.0 International)
Genus: Ulmus
Common Names: American Elm, elm
Common Uses: Furniture, boxes, paper

This functional hardwood is indigenous to North America and Western Europe. It is commonly utilized in indoor home furniture, and just about every elm species is utilized heavily in paper manufacturing. Usually, it has a light-weight to medium reddish-brown color, but dependent on the part of the tree, it can also be much more of a pale white. The grain sample is generally finely weaved and clean.


22. Greenheart

Genus: Chlorocardium
Common Names: Greenheart, cogwood, bibiru
Common Uses: Marine applications, construction

Due to its outstanding sturdiness and all-natural resistance to water, greenheart is usually used in maritime design apps. Even so, it is difficult to work with, so unique equipment are needed and as a consequence, it’s not massively well-liked almost everywhere. It has a special pale eco-friendly colour with dark streaks and a straight, interlocked grain.


23. Bamboo

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Bamboo cutting board surface texture 2014 02 (Image Credit: Julian Herzog, Wikimedia Commons CC SA 4.0 International)
Genus: Poaceae
Common Names: Bamboo
Common Uses: Cutting boards, tables, flooring

Bamboo goes by way of a lot a lot more creation to flip it into useable boards. If left all-natural, it is generally a pale yellow color. Some companies will insert color to make the boards darker. Bamboo is turning into quite well-known simply because of how quick it grows and its sustainable harvesting.


24. Bubinga

Genus: Guibourtia
Common Names: Bubinga, kevazingo
Common Uses: Veneer, cabinetry, furniture

It may have a humorous name, but that does not cease this imported African hardwood from getting any much less well-known. Typically, bubinga has a straight, interlocked grain that is fine to medium textured. Its coloration can range from pinkish-red to brown. Simply because it is so comparable to rosewood, it is often used in its area as it is a less expensive option.


25. Hickory

27 Different Common Types of Wood Grain Patterns (With Pictures)
Wood flooring made of hickory wood (Image Credit: Loadmaster, Wikimedia Commons CC SA 3.0 Unported)
Genus: Carya
Common Names: Hickory
Common Uses: Tool handles, wheel spokes, flooring, cooking

Normally, hickory has a straight, medium grain, and its color is usually light-weight brown, often with reddish tints. It is not a especially good-searching wood—although sometimes it is employed in woodworking. Nevertheless, it is challenging and dense, which lends itself to useful uses in which toughness is advantageous. Another widespread use is meat smoking cigarettes owing to the unique flavor it adds.


26. Eastern Hemlock

Genus: Tsuga
Common Names: Eastern hemlock, Canadian hemlock
Common Uses: Construction, pallets, crates

Thanks to its plentiful provide, eastern hemlock is a key choice for design lumber in North America. It is equivalent in its search to pine but a small far more reddish-brown. It is rarely employed in any software in which it’s the star, although, it helps make good structural lumber, but which is about it. Nevertheless, as a tree, the Jap Hemlock does have ornamental value.


27. Zebrawood

Genus: Brazzavillensis
Common Names: Zebrawood, Zebrano
Common Uses: Veneer, boatbuilding, furniture

Potentially a single of the most exclusive-hunting woods on this list is zebrawood. It is typically a light-weight brown shade, but it is characterized by dim brown or black streaks reminiscent of zebra stripes. It is normally pricey but not as large-priced as ebony or rosewood. It is a really resilient hardwood, so it is ideal for numerous apps, and it is prized for its unique pattern.

Conclusion

This record is much from complete. There are hundreds of species of wooden on this earth and even in a lot of of the woods shown, there are several variants. Functioning in a cabinet shop, I have individually occur across some interesting parts that don’t very suit any a single species. It truly normally takes a educated eye to distinguish wood grain designs accurately.


Showcased Impression Credit rating: Dimmo, Shutterstock

Contents