Maple vs. Oak Cabinets: Which is Best For Your Kitchen?

By: Andrew Saladino | 5 min

So you've decided on solid wood cabinets for your kitchen remodel, but you're stuck between maple and oak. Both are popular kitchen cabinet choices, but how do you choose between simple, subtle maple and bold, textured oak?

In this article, we'll cover the similarities and differences between maple vs. oak cabinets based on appearance, pricing, durability, and more.

Maple vs. Oak Cabinets: Side-by-Side Comparison | What Is Maple? | What Is Oak? | Physical Qualities | Pricing | Maintenance | Durability | Environmental Impact | FAQs

Maple vs. Oak Cabinets: Side-by-Side Comparison

Here's a quick glance at what you can expect from both maple and oak kitchen cabinets.

What Is Maple?

Maple cabinets are made of a versatile hardwood that complements a variety of kitchen styles, especially transitional and ranch-style designs. This light, smooth-grain wood is a great option for a variety of finishes and paints, but simply varnished maple cabinets will keep your kitchen looking warm and organic.

Maple trees are native to North America and widely found in forests throughout the East Coast, making them one of the most accessible cabinet wood species. Maple trees are recognized for their sturdy and attractive timber, so you can rest assured that you're choosing high-quality and long-lasting cabinets for your kitchen.

Pros

• Durable
• Impact-resistant
• Nonporous and water-resistant
• Easy to stain and finish
• Accessible and affordable

Cons

• Color deepens with heat and UV exposure
• Darker stains may look uneven
• Less variation than other wood species

What Is Oak?

From Mid-Century Modern to traditional, oak cabinets are a timeless kitchen design staple due to their unique grain pattern and impressive durability. This hard, versatile wood ranges from white, brown, red, and even pink, depending on the subspecies of oak.

Oak is one of the least expensive quality wood cabinet types, making it a popular choice for budget-savvy homeowners looking for cabinets that'll last for years to come.

Pros:

• Durable
• Water-resistant
• Timeless design
• Large variety of colors
• Most affordable quality wood cabinet

Cons:

• Distinctive grain pattern may show underneath certain finishes
• Yellows with prolonged UV exposure
• Kitchen resale value may not be as high compared to other types of wood cabinets
• Heavy weight can make installation difficult

Physical Qualities

Maple and oak may both look beautiful left in their natural state, but the similarities in appearance stop there.

Maple is known for its subtle, simple grain pattern, smooth surface, and light colors ranging from near-white to golden yellow. While its grain pattern is typically straight, you will find some bird's-eye spots, mineral streaking, and curling.

Oak, on the other hand, is much darker in appearance and features a bold, straight-grain pattern distinguished by light-reflecting rays. Unlike maple's smooth and shiny surface, oak has a slightly raised grain and rougher, coarser texture.

Both maple and oak cabinets may yellow over time with heat and UV exposure when left in their natural state. If you plan on refinishing your cabinets, staining maple kitchen cabinets will result in a glossy finish. Oak can also be stained, but the outcome will appear more matte due to its rougher texture.

Pricing

If you're planning on choosing between maple and oak kitchen cabinets based on price, you won't find much difference between the two.

Both maple and oak are relatively affordable solid wood kitchen cabinets. They're less expensive than exotic woods like walnut or cherry, but will cost slightly more than lower-quality hickory, pine, or birch.

Maple cabinets will typically run between $2,500 and $6,000 for a 10x10 kitchen remodel. Oak kitchen cabinets may cost a bit less, averaging $2,000 to $5,000 for a standard-size kitchen.

Maintenance

Maple and oak cabinets are both generally low maintenance - they're durable, water-resistant, and impact-resistant. The most maintenance you'll need to do for either wood is a regular wipe-down to remove grease and grime buildup.

To clean your kitchen cabinets, simply use a commercial wood cleaner that is safe on your specific wood type or make your own eco-friendly DIY cleaner.

Apply your cleaner to a sponge or soft cloth and gently scrub until stains are removed. Rinse the cleaner off your cabinet with a second sponge and water. Finally, dry off your cabinets with a clean towel to make them look good as new.

Durability

When it comes to durability, maple and oak cabinets are two cabinet materials that will stand the test of time. High-quality maple is technically harder and stronger than oak, but unless you plan on putting your cabinets to the test, the difference is negligible.

Not only are maple and oak some of the strongest woods you can choose for your cabinets, but they're both relatively resistant to warping, cracking, and dents. However, maple is less porous than oak, making it slightly more vulnerable to scratches and cracks.

Environmental Impact

Both oak and maple wood are sustainable materials for kitchen cabinets. Although these trees grow slower than others, such as birch or bamboo, both are abundant enough to be processed without detrimental impacts on forests and wildlife. In fact, transportation of either maple or oak has the highest carbon footprint in the entire manufacturing process.

And because maple and oak are some of the hardest woods used for kitchen cabinets, you won't have to replace them as often as manufactured or lower-quality cabinets.

If having your wood be as eco-friendly as possible is a priority, check to see if the wood you are purchasing is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification to avoid purchasing wood that came from illegal logging.

Maple vs. Oak Cabinets FAQs

Still battling between maple vs. oak? We answered a few of the most frequently asked questions to help you decide which is best for your kitchen.

Is oak or maple better for cabinets?

Deciding whether oak or maple is better for your kitchen cabinets will ultimately come down to personal taste. Both types of wood are extremely durable, easy to maintain, and cost about the same.

However, maple is slightly more expensive, more susceptible to scratches and dents, and may not take dark stains well. Oak, on the other hand, has a lower resale value and a rough texture some homeowners may not like.

Are maple cabinets cheaper than oak?

Maple cabinets are slightly more expensive than oak, although prices tend to vary over time. At the time of this writing, maple cabinets cost between $2,500 and $6,000 for a standard 10x10 kitchen. Oak kitchen cabinets may cost a bit less, averaging $2,000 to $5,000.

Is maple more durable than oak?

Maple is slightly harder than oak, but not as resistant to scratches and dents due to its nonporous surface.

Which is heavier, oak or maple?

Oak cabinets are heavier than maple, making them more difficult to install in your kitchen. American maple weighs 47.1 pounds per cubic foot, while white oak weighs over 9 pounds more at 56.2 pounds per cubic foot.

Does maple stain easier than oak?

Maple is nonporous, making it a bit more difficult to stain compared to oak. Dark stains may also appear more uneven and blotchy on maple cabinets, which is why they're often finished with a clear varnish or neutral stain.

Maple and oak may look completely different, but they share more similarities in terms of durability, maintenance, price, and sustainability. If you're choosing between maple vs. oak cabinets, it ultimately comes down to whether you prefer light, subtle cabinets or ones that'll make a statement in your kitchen design.

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