Ever found yourself lost in the maze of wood types? Wondered if Maple is a hardwood? Let’s dive in, unravel this mystery, and explore the wonderful world of Maple!
Maple wood is a white color wood with some reddish-brown hues with high durability and strength.
Maple wood is a popular wood type that is commonly used for high-end furniture, kitchen accessories, musical instruments, and flooring.
Nowadays many people tend to go for hardwoods because of their exceptional qualities.
Therefore, I was curious about the hardness of maple wood and did deep research about it with the help of my fellow woodworkers.
So, here’s what I’ve found about, Is Maple a hardwood?
Yes, Maple is a hardwood. Both Hard Maple and Soft Maple are incredibly hard and dense woods with a higher hardness rating of 1,450 lbf (6,450 N) for Hard Maple and 950 lbf (4,226 N) for Soft Maple. Maple wood is harder than any other softwood and most hardwoods as well.
But this isn’t exactly a yes or no question.
So, in this article, I’ll explore the world of Maple wood and looking at is Maple a hardwood, how hard is Maple, Maple wood characteristics, differences between Hard Maple and Soft Maple, and many more.
Most importantly, I’ll answer frequently asked questions as well.
Let’s jump in!
First of all, let’s have a quick look at what is Maple wood.
What is Maple Wood?
Maple wood is a type of hardwood, predominantly found and harvested in North America.
It is cherished by woodworkers, interior designers, and homeowners alike due to its unique qualities and versatile applications.
From the fine grain patterns to its remarkable hardness, Maple is one of those woods that manages to steal the show wherever it’s used.
Let’s delve a little deeper to understand what makes Maple such a revered choice in the world of wood.
The Color and Texture
Firstly, let’s talk about the visual appeal of Maple. This wood is predominantly off-white or cream in color, with a hint of pale yellow.
Occasionally, you may notice subtle reddish-brown hues streaking through the grain, adding character to its overall look.
The texture of Maple is remarkably uniform, with straight or sometimes wavy grain patterns.
This regular texture and straight grain not only enhance the wood’s aesthetic appeal but also contribute to its strength.
Workability
Beyond its hardness and beauty, Maple wood also shines in terms of workability.
Whether you’re using hand tools or machine tools, you’ll find it relatively easy to work with.
It’s a cooperative material that can be cut, shaped, and sanded smoothly, making it ideal for a variety of woodworking projects.
Maple Wood and Its Unique Ring Structure
One of the fascinating characteristics of Maple wood is its distinct ring structure.
This wood features diffused pores with uniform-size arrangements across the entire growing ring.
This uniform arrangement, coupled with the wood’s diffused porous structure, is one of the reasons why Maple is so hard and dense.
Examples of Maple Wood in Action
Maple wood can be found in a variety of applications, attesting to its versatility.
For instance, its exceptional strength and attractive look make it a popular choice for high-end furniture.
The next time you’re admiring a piece of beautifully crafted furniture, there’s a good chance it might be made of Maple.
It is also commonly used in flooring. Owing to its durability, Maple wood can withstand heavy foot traffic, resist scratches and dents, and maintain its aesthetic charm for years.
Plus, the uniform texture and smooth grain of Maple wood add a consistent look to any floor.
And let’s not forget about musical instruments.
Maple’s excellent acoustic properties make it a favored material for crafting violins, cellos, and the back of acoustic guitars.
Now you know how useful Maple wood is. So, let’s start to talk about its hardness.
How Hard Is Maple?
Maple wood is harder than any other softwood and most hardwoods with Janka hardness ratings of 1450 lbf (hard maple) and 950 lbf (soft maple).
According to the Janka hardness scale, both Hard Maple and Soft Maple have higher ratings than most other types of woods.
- Hard Maple has a 1,450 lbf (6,450 N) hardness rating
- Soft Maple has a 950 lbf (4,226 N) hardness rating
Other popular wood types like poplar, cherry, pine have the following hardness rating which are lower values than Maple wood.
- Poplar has a 540 lbf (2,402 N) hardness rating
- Cherry has a 950 lbf (4,226 N) hardness rating
- Pine has a 380 lbf (1,690 N) hardness rating
As you can see the hardness of Maple wood, especially Hard Maple has a significantly higher value of hardness than many other kinds of wood.
This is why Maple wood is considered hardwood.
Maple wood is hard and heavy with great strength properties. Maple wood has a diffused porous structure with small pores.
The diameter of pores is so small and therefore the number of fiber units in a unit volume is high.
Therefore, the density of Maple wood is also high. When the density is high the hardness of the wood will also get higher.
Maple wood mostly has a straight wood grain pattern. But sometimes it can be wavy.
The uniform texture and straight grain of Maple wood will increase the appearance as well as the strength of the wood.
Maple wood has a very distinct ring structure.
The diffuse pores structure with uniform size arrangement of pores across the entire growing ring and the ring structure are main reasons for Maple become so hard and dense.
Soft Maple also has higher hardness than most of the popular wood types.
So, don’t get fooled by its name. Soft Maple is harder than black cherry and black Walnut which are high-grade woods.
According to the Janka hardness ratings, Hard Maple has a hardness rating of 1,450 lbf (6,450 N) and Soft Maple has a hardness rating of 950 lbf (4,226 N) which are quite high values.
Maple Wood Hardness Comparision
Here’re the Janka hardness ratings of all the popular wood types to get a clear idea about how Hard Maple wood is.
| Wood species | Hardness value |
| Brazilian Walnut | 3,684 lbf (16,390 N) |
| Red Mahogany, Turpentine | 2,697 lbf (12,000 N) |
| Brazilian Cherry, Jatoba | 2,350 lbf (10,500 N) |
| Golden Teak | 2,330 lbf (10,400 N) |
| Purpleheart | 1,860 lbf (8,300 N) |
| Hickory, Pecan, Satinwood | 1,820 lbf (8,100 N) |
| Rosewood | 1,780 lbf (7,900 N) |
| African Padauk | 1,725 lbf (7,670 N) |
| Wenge, Red Pine, Hornbeam | 1,630 lbf (7,300 N) |
| Hard Maple | 1,450 lbf (6,450 N) |
| White Oak | 1,360 lbf (6,000 N) |
| Ash (White) | 1,320 lbf (5,900 N) |
| American Beech | 1,300 lbf (5,800 N) |
| Red Oak (Northern) | 1,290 lbf (5,700 N) |
| Yellow Birch / Baltic birch | 1,260 lbf (5,600 N) |
| Heart pine | 1,225 lbf (5,450 N) |
| Teak | 1,155 lbf (5,140 N) |
| Black Walnut, North American Walnut | 1,010 lbf (4,500 N) |
| Cherry | 995 lbf (4,430 N) |
| Black Cherry, Imbuia | 950 lbf (4,226 N) |
| Soft Maple | 950 lbf (4,226 N) |
| Cedar | 900 lbf (4,003 N) |
| Southern Yellow Pine (Loblolly and Shortleaf) | 690 lbf (3,100 N) |
| Douglas Fir | 660 lbf (2,900 N) |
| Hemlock | 540 lbf (2,402 N) |
| Redwood | 420 lbf (1,868 N) |
| Pine | 380 lbf (1,690 N) |
As you can see both Hard Maple and Soft Maple have scored higher values of hardness than many other wood types that we commonly use.
So, if you’re looking for a harder, denser, and stronger option than the wood type that you currently use for a particular woodwork option, Maple is the best option for you.
Maple Wood Characteristics
| Color | Off white cream, pale yellow |
| Density | 540 kg/m3 – 630 kg/m3 |
| Hardness | 950 lbf (4,226 N) – 1,450 lbf (6,450 N) |
| Stiffness | 1.64 Mpsi – 1.83 Mpsi |
| Wood Type | North American Hardwood |
| Applications | High-end furniture, Kitchen accessories, Musical instruments, and Flooring |
Generally, both Hard Maple and Soft Maple are commonly distributed in North America. Both kinds of wood have diffused pores structures with straight wood grain. fiber vessels are small to medium in size.
Workability
Beyond its hardness and beauty, Maple wood also shines in terms of workability.
Whether you’re using hand tools or machine tools, you’ll find it relatively easy to work with.
It’s a cooperative material that can be cut, shaped, and sanded smoothly, making it ideal for a variety of woodworking projects.
Maple wood has good workability. Working with hand tools and machine tools is easy. It has no odor.
Both kinds of wood can be used in both indoor and outdoor woodworking projects.
When you’re using Maple wood for outdoor woodworking projects, make sure to apply proper sealer and focus more on the finishing part.
Because even though Maple is considered as one of the hardest and strongest wood types on the planet, moisture and water molecules can penetrate through their pores structure and get inside of the wood which causes rotting in near future.
No wood is 100% resistant to moisture.
The qualities of Maple wood are,
- Extremely strong
- Superior hardness
- High workability
- Attractive warm shade
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Shock resistant
Did you know? Maple is one of the Best Wood for Axe Handle!
Differences Between Hard Maple and Soft Maple in Terms of Strength and Hardness
According to the Janka hardness scale,
- Hard Maple has a 1,450 lbf (6,450 N) hardness rating
- Soft Maple has a 950 lbf (4,226 N) hardness rating
Both Hard Maple and Soft Maple are hardwoods harvested from dicot trees. As you can see Hard Maple is significantly harder than Soft Maple.
According to the research Soft Maple is 25% softer than Hard Maple.
But when we look at the big picture, Soft Maple is still harder than popular wood types like Douglas fir, cedar, pine, and redwood.
So, It is totally fine, if you use Soft Maple for small or medium woodworking projects rather than Hard Maple.
Because Soft Maple gives the same kind of qualities as Hard Maple with a little less amount of hardness.
| Hard Maple | Soft Maple |
| 1450 lbf | 950 lbf |
| The tight growth ring structure | The less tight growth ring structure |
| Lighter in color | A little bit darker in color |
| Harder and denser | Less hard and less dense |
| Expensive | Less expensive |
| More resistant to wear and tear | Less resistant to wear and tear |
| Less common | More common |
Did you know? Maple wood tends to turn dark over time.
What Is Maple Wood Good For?
Maple wood can be used for any type of woodworking project due to its great hardness and strength.
Here’re some common uses of maple wood,
- Flooring
- High-end furniture
- Kitchen accessories
- Musical instruments
- Decorative woodwork
- Veneers
- Bookshelves
As you can see Maple wood is filled with lots of great qualities and is one of the best wood on the planet without a doubt.
How Strong Is Maple Wood?
Maple wood is a hardwood with lots of strength. Therefore it is commonly used for many big constructions and woodworking projects.
The compressive strength and bending strength of Maple wood are higher than many other wood types.
Here’re the compressive strength and bending strength of Hard Maple and Soft Maple to get an idea about how strong Maple wood is.
| Strength | Hard Maple | Soft Maple |
| Compressive Strength | 7,830 psi | 6,540 psi |
| Bending Strength | 15,800 psi | 13,400 psi |
| Stiffness | 1.83 Mpsi | 1.64 Mpsi |
Because of its strength Maple wood can use for making frames, joints, beams, and many other outdoor woodworking projects as well.
Maple Hardwood Flooring
Maple wood is strong, hard, and dense. Plus, it is attractive because of its aesthetic look. Therefore, Maple wood is a popular option in flooring.
The uniform texture and smooth surface of the wood grain are able to add a consistent look to the entire floor.
Also, Maple wood is adaptable to any color and lets furniture and other woodwork accents of a room shine through.
Maple wood floors can easily maintain by regular vacuuming and sweeping.
Maple is resistant to foot traffic, scratches, and dents.
Therefore the durability of Maple wood floors is high and you’ll be able to keep the floor fresh as new for years and years.
Maple Hardwood Flooring Pros and Cons
Here’re some pros and cons that you’ll notice during Maple hardwood flooring.
| Pros | Cons |
| Hardwood | Low moisture resistance |
| Highly durable | Difficult to stain |
| Affordable | Fades over time |
| Can get a smooth and uniform finish | |
| Scratch-resistant | |
| Readily available | |
| Easy to maintain | |
| Eco friendly |
Those cons of Maple hardwood floors can be prevented by applying a quality sealer like tung oil once the woodworking project is done.
The proper finisher can minimize those issues with Maple hardwood floors.
So, let’s compare maple wood with some other popular types of wood in terms of their hardness.
Is Maple Harder Than Oak?
Hard Maple is harder than Red Oak and White Oak. But both Red Oak and White Oak are harder than Soft Maple.
So, if you’re looking for a wood type that’s harder than Oakwood, Hard Maple is the best option to go rather than Soft Maple.
According to the Janka hardness ratings,
| Wood Type | Hardness |
| Hard Maple | 1,450 lbf |
| White Oak | 1,360 lbf |
| Red Oak | 1,290 lbf |
| Soft Maple | 950 lbf |
Is Maple Harder Than Walnut?
Hard Maple is harder than Walnut. but Walnut is harder than Soft Maple.
Therefore, Hard Maple is harder, denser, and stronger wood type than Walnut but not Soft Maple.
According to the Janka hardness ratings,
| Wood Type | Hardness |
| Hard Maple | 1,450 lbf |
| Walnut | 1,010 lbf |
| Soft Maple | 950 lbf |
That’s it, folks! now you know whether maple wood is hardwood or softwood with all its characteristic features.
So, let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
FAQs
Is Maple wood suitable for outdoor use?
Due to its density and hardness, Maple can withstand the elements fairly well. However, it’s not as resistant to moisture and insects as some other hardwoods, so it’s often treated with a sealant or paint for outdoor use.
Why is Maple wood often used in furniture?
Maple wood is a popular choice for furniture because of its attractive grain, hardness, and durability. It’s also relatively easy to work with, which allows for intricate designs and high-quality finishes.
Is Maple wood expensive?
The cost of Maple wood can vary depending on the specific type and quality, but it’s generally considered a moderately priced hardwood. Its accessibility and exceptional qualities often make it a cost-effective choice for many projects.
Can Maple wood be stained?
Yes, Maple wood can be stained. However, due to its dense, closed grain, it can sometimes appear blotchy if not properly prepared. Therefore, a pre-stain conditioner is often recommended to achieve a uniform color.
Why is Maple wood used in musical instruments?
Maple wood is commonly used in musical instruments due to its excellent acoustic properties. Its density and hardness contribute to a resonant, clear, and bright tone, especially in stringed instruments like violins and guitars.
Did I cover all you wanted to know about: Is Maple A Hardwood?
In this article I’ve deeply discussed is Maple a hardwood and how Hard Maple is by taking Maple wood characteristic qualities.
Maple is indeed a hardwood. Known for its high density, hardness, and durability, Maple is a popular choice for a wide array of applications, from furniture to musical instruments. It’s relatively easy to work with and boasts attractive grain patterns, making it a versatile and aesthetically pleasing material.
Furthermore, I have talked about Maple wood hardness compared to other popular wood types and how Maple hardwood is important in different applications like flooring.
So, I think you have gathered a good knowledge about is Maple a hardwood and what are the uses of it.
So, let’s head into your next woodworking project with Maple wood. Have fun!
