Walnut and oak are two of the most popular hardwoods you’ll find in any workshop. I’ve used both on a variety of projects—from cutting boards and bowls to workshop jigs—and I keep coming back to them for different reasons. Each has its own strengths: oak is tough and stable, while walnut brings a rich, dark elegance that makes a project stand out.
Choosing between them isn’t always straightforward. For example, oak is great for jigs and structural parts because it doesn’t warp much, but I’d never use it for a cutting board because of its open pores. Walnut, on the other hand, is one of my favorite woods for boards and decorative builds, even though it comes at a higher cost.
In this article, I’ll compare walnut vs oak from a woodworker’s perspective—color, hardness, cost, workability, and where each wood shines in real projects. If you’d like to try either of them in your own builds, don’t miss the free woodworking plans I share here on the site.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Walnut Wood Overview
- Oak Wood Overview
- Walnut vs Oak (Direct Comparison)
- Color & Appearance
- Hardness & Durability
- Cost & Availability
- Workability (Cutting, Planing, Turning)
- Food Safety & Cutting Boards
- Design & Project Use
- Walnut vs Oak Comparison Table
- Which Wood Should You Choose?
- Wrap-Up
- Frequently Asked Questions
Walnut Wood Overview
Walnut is a hardwood known for its rich dark color and fine, straight grain. In Europe, I usually work with European walnut, while in the US, black walnut is the most common type. Both share that deep brown heartwood, often contrasted by the lighter sapwood, which gives projects a unique and eye-catching look.
In the workshop, walnut is one of my favorite choices for cutting boards. The wood is closed-grained, which makes it more hygienic than porous species like oak, and when you oil it, the color and figure really come alive. The mix of dark and light tones often creates striking patterns that are hard to beat.
Walnut also works beautifully for bowl turning and decorative builds. The contrasting sapwood and heartwood often make the design pop, and the smooth grain gives a refined look. Whether it’s a bowl, a decorative inlay, or a sanding block, walnut’s natural beauty really stands out.
It’s not perfect: walnut is usually more expensive than oak, and it can be a bit softer, which means it’s more prone to dents. But when appearance is a priority, walnut is hard to beat.
Oak Wood Overview
Oak is a tough, durable hardwood with a coarse, visible grain and a lighter, golden tone. In Europe, I mainly use European oak, but globally red oak and white oak are the most common. White oak is especially popular in furniture and flooring because of its strength and resistance to wear.
In the shop, I rely on oak more for structural parts and jigs than for decorative builds. Oak is stable, resists warping, and holds up well with temperature and humidity changes, which makes it perfect for miter bars in my table saw sleds, picture frame jigs, and other workshop fixtures. It cuts cleanly, and the smaller chips it produces are easier to manage with a dust collector compared to the long spirals I often get from walnut.
I do occasionally turn oak bowls, and they work fine for dry foods like nuts or chips. But for cutting boards or anything that comes in contact with water, I avoid oak—its open pores can trap moisture, which may lead to mold and hygiene issues over time.
Oak’s big advantage is that it’s widely available and more affordable than walnut, making it a go-to choice for large builds, furniture frames, and workshop projects where strength and cost matter more than looks.
Walnut vs Oak (Direct Comparison)
Color & Appearance
Walnut has a deep, rich brown heartwood with lighter sapwood that creates striking contrast. This variation often makes walnut projects “pop” visually, especially in bowls or cutting boards where both tones appear together. Oak, on the other hand, is lighter—ranging from golden to reddish brown—with a coarse and visible grain. Its distinctive grain pattern makes wear and tear less noticeable, which is one reason oak furniture ages so well.
Hardness & Durability
On the Janka hardness scale, white oak rates around 1,360 lbf, red oak about 1,290 lbf, and black walnut 1,010 lbf. That means oak is harder and more resistant to dents and scratches. In my workshop, I find oak especially reliable for structural parts like sled runners or jigs—it stays stable and doesn’t warp much with humidity changes. Walnut is softer but still strong enough for furniture and decorative projects, and its durability is more than adequate for everyday use.
Cost & Availability
Oak is widely available and generally much more affordable. Walnut, in contrast, grows more slowly and is considered a premium wood, so it’s always pricier. Because of this, I tend to reserve walnut for projects where design matters most, like cutting boards, decorative inlays, or feature pieces, while oak is my go-to for structural elements and jigs.
Workability (Cutting, Planing, Turning)
Oak and walnut both machine well, but they behave differently in practice. Cutting or planing oak usually produces smaller chips that are easier for the dust collector to handle. Walnut often creates long spiral shavings that can clog the collector if you’re not careful. For turning, I find walnut more enjoyable—the smooth grain and contrast make bowls look great—while oak’s coarse grain can be less appealing for fine detail work.
Food Safety & Cutting Boards
This is one of the biggest differences. Walnut is excellent for cutting boards: it’s closed-grain, resists moisture absorption, and looks beautiful when oiled. Oak, however, has large open pores. When exposed to water, it can trap moisture and eventually develop mold. That’s why I never use oak for cutting boards—but I do sometimes use it for bowls intended only for dry foods like nuts or chips.
👉 If you’re planning to build a board yourself, don’t miss my guide on the Best Jigs for Making Cutting Boards.
Design & Project Use
For me, oak is the choice when I need strength and stability—sleds, jigs, structural furniture parts. Walnut is the choice when I want design and aesthetics—cutting boards, decorative projects, inlays, or statement pieces like my DIY Sanding Block.
| Feature | Walnut | Oak |
|---|---|---|
| Color & Appearance | Dark brown heartwood with lighter sapwood contrast; smooth, refined grain | Light golden to reddish brown; coarse, visible grain |
| Hardness (Janka) | ~1,010 lbf (Black Walnut) | Red Oak ~1,290 lbf; White Oak ~1,360 lbf |
| Durability | Class 3 (≈10–15 years typical) | Class 2 (≈15–25 years typical) |
| Cost & Availability | Premium; more expensive; less common | Widely available; more affordable |
| Workability | Smooth to cut/turn; often produces long spiral shavings | Strong and stable; smaller chips—easier dust collection |
| Food Safety | Great for cutting boards and food contact | Not for cutting boards (open pores); fine for dry-food bowls |
| Best Use | Cutting boards, bowls, inlays, decorative builds | Jigs, sleds, structural furniture parts, flooring |
Walnut vs Oak Bowls – Side-by-Side
Which Wood Should You Choose?
If you’re wondering whether walnut or oak is the better choice, it really comes down to the type of project you’re working on:
Cutting boards → Walnut is the clear winner. Its closed grain makes it safer for food prep, and the dark heartwood with lighter sapwood looks stunning when finished with oil. Oak’s open pores can trap water and lead to mold, so I never use it for boards.
Bowls → Both can work, but oak is best reserved for dry foods like nuts or chips. Walnut is more versatile and usually more visually appealing, especially when the grain and color variations come through.
Furniture → Both woods are excellent. Oak is harder and more resistant to dents, making it a great choice for heavy-use furniture. Walnut, though softer, brings a high-end look that makes it perfect for statement pieces.
Workshop jigs and structural parts → Oak shines here. It’s stable, affordable, and holds up well against wear and temperature changes. I use it all the time for sled runners, miter bars, and jig bases.
Decorative builds and inlays → Walnut wins again. Its contrast and rich tones make any project stand out. I’ve used it for inlays in my mallet and even a sanding block where I wanted the design to pop.
👉 Rule of thumb: Use oak when you need strength and stability. Use walnut when you want beauty and design appeal.
Wrap-Up
Both walnut and oak are excellent hardwoods, but they shine in different areas. In my workshop, I reach for oak whenever I need something strong, stable, and affordable—like runners for a table saw sled or parts of a jig that need to hold up to daily use. When design matters most, though, walnut is hard to beat. Its dark tones, contrasting sapwood, and fine grain give projects a look that stands out.
I love using walnut for cutting boards, bowls, and decorative builds, while oak remains my go-to for jigs and structural parts. Having both woods on hand means I can always match the right material to the project.
If you’d like to put either walnut or oak to the test in your own shop, check out my free woodworking plans. They’re a great way to start building with these woods and see for yourself where each one shines.
What router bit to use with a router template?
Is walnut more expensive than oak?
Yes. Walnut is generally more expensive because it grows slower and is less common than oak. Oak is widely available, making it the more affordable choice for most projects.
Which is harder, oak or walnut?
Oak is harder. On the Janka hardness scale, red oak is about 1,290 lbf and white oak about 1,360 lbf, compared to black walnut at around 1,010 lbf. That means oak is more resistant to dents and scratches.
Is oak good for cutting boards?
No. Oak has large open pores that can trap water and bacteria, which makes it a poor choice for cutting boards. Walnut, with its closed grain, is a much better option for food-safe boards.
Can you mix oak and walnut in one project?
Absolutely. The light golden color of oak and the dark, rich tones of walnut complement each other nicely. Just keep in mind their different costs and uses—oak for structure, walnut for aesthetics.
Does walnut lighten over time?
Yes. Walnut’s dark brown color will naturally lighten with age and exposure to sunlight, while oak tends to hold its color longer. Regular oiling can help preserve walnut’s rich look.
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