Butcher block countertops can be made from a wide variety of wood types and grades (or finishings). All butcher block worktops are made in a similar way, cutting the wood to shape, sanding and buffing it, polishing and then sealing it before proceeding to install it. But the type and grade of the wood is what will give your butcher block the desired look and feel, so it’s worth spending some time choosing one you love. Different woods also mean different butcher block countertop prices, and more exotic woods will carry a premium.
What is the Best Wood for a Butcher Block
There is not a single “best wood for butcher block” because depending on your tastes and priorities certain types of hardwood will be better than others. For example, if price is a priority then cheaper woods from quick growing trees like birch can be preferable, whereas for the eco-conscious customer bamboo or reclaimed wood would be the top choice. If your main thing is fair trade, then look for woods that are guaranteed to come from managed forests and with respect to the local people working them, even if it involves higher costs. Or you may prefer to choose based on the colour of the rest of the kitchen, such as the cabinets and floors. A small kitchen would benefit from a lighter wood, whereas a very large one can go for elegant, darker hardwood countertops without looking opressive. Here is a small overview of some of the most common wood for a butcher block countertop.
Maple Butcher Block Countertop Wood
Maple is a traditional choice of hardwood for butcher blocks, with fine grain and generally light colours. It has a smooth texture but it’s very resistent and durable, so a good choice for almost any kitchen and one of the most popular types of wood.
- USA Grown Hardwood: Only made from USA grown hard maple solid wood.
- Food-safe Oil: The wood surface is finished with natural food grade oil. The countertops can be used as a cutting surface.
- Solid Maple Butcher Block - Measures 60" long and 30" wide. Full 1.5 inch thick wood construction for stability and resistance to warping.
- Premium Wood Countertop - Our butcher blocks all feature edge grain construction using full length wood staves, ensuring our blocks are truly high...
- Kiln dried, electronically glued, then cured and sanded smooth
- Ideal for all-purpose workbench applications
Oak Butcher Block Countertops
Red oak is popular in the northeastern U.S. because it fits great with colonial style homes, whereas white oak has a medium tone and fine grain that make for beautifully neutral butcher blocks. Oak butcher block countertops with white cabinets look understated and classic, for example.
- Oak Butcher Block | Size 24"W x 36"L x 1-1/2"Thick
- Picture shown differs from actual material or color listed here, and must be used as reference only.
- This cherry wood countertop measures 30 inches wide, 25 inches long and 1.5 inches thick
- Varnique Finish: this countertop is finished with a virtually maintenance free semi-gloss Varnique finish
- USA Grown Hardwood: Only made from USA grown hard maple solid wood.
- Food-safe Oil: The wood surface is finished with natural food grade oil. The countertops can be used as a cutting surface.
Bamboo Butcher Block Countertop Wood
Bamboo may sound like a strange choice for a hardwood kitchen countertop, but it’s actually really practical and has impeccable green credentials. Bamboo is actually a herb that grows incredibly quick, so there is no damage to the environment. At the same time, bamboo countertops are naturally anti-microbial, resistant and durable.
- SUPER IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand how massive this large wooden cutting board 36 x 24 is before ordering. Get your measuring tapes out 36 x 24...
- THE KING OF MEAL PREP – Lightweight Yet Massive - Love prepping an abundance of wholesome, mouthwatering food for the whole…neighborhood? Weighing...
- ✅100% NATURAL ORGANIC BAMBOO: These bamboo cutting boards are crafted with premium organic bamboo that has been expertly selected for the utmost...
- ✅EXTRA LARGE AND THICK CONSTRUCTION: With the 1" thick construction (Size: 20" x 15" x 1"), BEZIA`s bamboo chopping boards for kitchen use offer...
- FOOD GRADE - This butcher block conditioner is lab tested to ensure that it meets food safety standards, and is also colorless, odorless, tasteless,...
- PROTECTION - Use this mineral oil for cutting board restoration and protection to prevent cracking and drying. It also magically restores your knives,...
Birch Butcher Block
Birch worktops show off the rings caused by the quick growth of the tree. Fine-grained and pale, it has a satin-like sheen that will darken with age. It can be found at major retailers at relatively unexpensive prices.
- USA Grown Hardwood: Only made from USA grown hard maple solid wood.
- Food-safe Oil: The wood surface is finished with natural food grade oil. The countertops can be used as a cutting surface.
- SUPER IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand how massive this wood cutting board is before ordering. Get your measuring tapes out. 30 x 20 Inches.
- THE KING OF MEAL PREP – Lightweight Yet Massive - Love prepping an abundance of wholesome, mouthwatering food for the whole…neighborhood? Weighing...
- This walnut wood countertop measures 72 inches long, 36 inches wide, and is 1.5 inches thick
- Penetrating Oil Finish: Natural wood surface is finished with the same food-safe oil John Boos uses on their world famous cutting boards, allowing you...
Teak Butcher Block
If you are after a centerpiece for your kitchen, teak is one of the hardwoods better suited for a dramatic statement, particularly against solid coloured countertops. The wood is highly textured with light and dark brown grain.
- USA Grown Hardwood: Only made from USA grown hard maple solid wood.
- Food-safe Oil: The wood surface is finished with natural food grade oil. The countertops can be used as a cutting surface.
- This walnut wood countertop measures 60 inches long, 25 inches wide, and is 1.5 inches thick
- Penetrating Oil Finish: Natural wood surface is finished with the same food-safe oil John Boos uses on their world famous cutting boards, allowing you...
- SUPER IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand how massive this wood cutting board is before ordering. Get your measuring tapes out. 30 x 20 Inches.
- THE KING OF MEAL PREP – Lightweight Yet Massive - Love prepping an abundance of wholesome, mouthwatering food for the whole…neighborhood? Weighing...
Cherry Butcher Block Countertops
American or Black Cherry has a naturally deep red or light red-brown colour that darkens with age to a deep brown-red colour in a variety of textures, from straight to wavy or curly streaks. It’s not the most durable type of butcher blocks, but it’s definitely beautiful. You can also find it in a lovely light, creamy pink colour with dark wavy streaks.
- This cherry wood countertop measures 12 inches wide, 25 inches long and 1.5 inches thick
- Penetrating Oil Finish: Natural wood surface is finished with food-safe oil, allowing you to use the countertop as a cutting surface
- This cherry wood countertop measures 36 inches wide, 30 inches long and 1.5 inches thick
- Penetrating Oil Finish: Natural wood surface is finished with food-safe oil, allowing you to use the countertop as a cutting surface
- 3" X 18" X 18"- 325+ square inches of cutting surface- Large enough for a whole ham or a full rack of ribs!!!! - dimensions may vary by +- 1/2"
- 3" Thick End Grain Butcher Block made with local hardwoods - Maple, Walnut, Cherry and Poplar
Hickory Butcher Block Countertops
Hickory has a warm, reddish tone once sealed that looks amazing. This is a very heavy and hard wood, and so very durable, with a lot of beautiful texture.
Other commonly used woods for butcher blocks are pine, poplar, beech or alder. Depending on your location some will be more available and affordable than others, as importing wood is generally expensive.
- USA Grown Hardwood: Only made from USA grown hard maple solid wood.
- Food-safe Oil: The wood surface is finished with natural food grade oil. The countertops can be used as a cutting surface.
- This walnut wood countertop measures 60 inches long, 25 inches wide, and is 1.5 inches thick
- Penetrating Oil Finish: Natural wood surface is finished with the same food-safe oil John Boos uses on their world famous cutting boards, allowing you...
- This cherry wood countertop measures 30 inches wide, 25 inches long and 1.5 inches thick
- Varnique Finish: this countertop is finished with a virtually maintenance free semi-gloss Varnique finish
Wood Grades For Kitchen Countertops
The grade, or quality, of a butcher block countertop depends on how the different blocks of wood are glued together. Wood is very strong when parallel to the grain, and the bonding is also stronger when using the face and edge grain, but less strong on the end grain.
There are 3 wood grades.
Edge grain is the cheapest, second stronger and most stable of the three, and as such the most popular. The surface is made with the long and narrow edges of the boards, so it has a striped pattern.
Flat grain on the other hand is arranged so the surface is formed by the width of the boards, which means less of a pattern than with edge grain.
Finally, end grain grade uses smaller blocks of wood placed so the front of the wood (the bit that would go at the end of a board) forms the surface. As such it shows a lot of pattern with the knots and grow rings, and since the pieces are very small it’s very strong. However, it’s also the most expensive and the one with more room to get damaged by water being absorbed into the wood and expanding it.
- USA Grown Hardwood: Only made from USA grown hard maple solid wood.
- Food-safe Oil: The wood surface is finished with natural food grade oil. The countertops can be used as a cutting surface.
- Popular folding countertop makes adding space easy
- Butcher block is UV finished and ready for installation
- Peel and Stick butcher block countertop contact paper wallpaper roll removable and waterproof .
- Use this bamboo wood contact paper to cover Kitchen cabinets ,countertop ,shelves, dresser, drawer, nightstand,bookcase,pantry, rv,appliance...
As you can see, deciding what is the best wood for butcher block countertops is not easy because there is not really a bad or a absolutely superior type of hardwood. However, price and desired end result will help you choose the one more suitable for your needs.
looking for a 8’x25″x2″ butcher block countertop that work with a mocha glazed maple cabinets. would like to know price also.
Will an unfinished birch butcher block accept a stain for a kitchen countertop in a little rental? Can it be sanded if it needs refinishing?