Quick answer
Oak is the best all around choice for an indoor dining table. It is harder than teak and cherry, shows a warm visible grain, and costs a third to half of what teak does. Teak wins only where moisture is the problem, which means outdoors or a very humid room. Maple is the hardest and plainest. Cherry is the softest but ages into the deepest color. Our tables are built from solid oak with a hand rubbed finish, and we explain why below.
Shop solid oak dining tables
Sawyer Solid Wood Farmhouse Dining Table, 64 in
Seats 4 to 6 · Natural Oak · $865
★★★★★4.89 out of 5
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Granham Solid Oak Farmhouse Dining Table, 64 in
Seats 4 to 6 · Tapered turned legs · $865
★★★★★4.94 out of 5
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Sawyer Extendable Farmhouse Dining Table
Seats 4 to 8 · Self-storing leaf · $1,206
★★★★★4.9 out of 5
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Most of our pieces are hand finished by artisans who work the grain by hand instead of spraying a factory coat over it. The wood you choose is the wood you will live with every day. That makes this a practical decision for us as much as for anyone who wants a table, dresser or bed that stands up to daily life.
Teak vs oak
This is the comparison most people are really asking about, so it comes first.
|
Oak |
Teak |
| Hardness |
1,290 Janka. Harder, shrugs off dents. |
1,070 Janka. Softer than oak. |
| Color when new |
Light tan to honey, open visible grain |
Golden brown, straight tight grain |
| Color after 5 years |
Warms slightly, grain stays crisp |
Silvers outdoors, mellows indoors |
| Moisture |
Fine indoors, needs a finish |
Natural oils resist water. Best outdoors |
| Typical table price |
$800 to $1,500 |
$2,000 to $4,000 |
| Best for |
Indoor dining, family use |
Patios, bathrooms, humid climates |
If the table lives indoors, oak gives you teak's warmth at a fraction of the price and stands up better to forks, homework and the odd dropped pan.
Our solid oak pick
Sawyer Solid Wood Farmhouse Dining Table, 64 in, Natural Oak
Solid hardwood with authentic wood grain brought out by a hand rubbed white ceruse finish. 36 x 64 inches, seats 4 to 6, 112 pounds.
★★★★★4.89 out of 5
View table $865
Oak vs cherry
Cherry is prized for a smooth, fine grain and a color that deepens from pale pink to rich reddish brown over its first few years. That change is the appeal and also the catch. A face that gets more sun darkens faster, so a runner or a vase can leave a lighter ghost behind. Oak is harder, ages evenly, and costs less. Pick cherry if you want a piece that becomes a talking point. Pick oak if you want one that looks the same in year ten as year one.
Oak vs maple
Hard maple is the hardest of the four and the plainest. Its tight grain takes a smooth finish beautifully, which is why it shows up in modern minimalist rooms. It can stain unevenly without pre treatment, so most maple is left pale. Oak shows more grain and more character, and for a farmhouse or transitional room that is usually the point.
How we finish our oak
Our Sawyer and Granham tables are solid hardwood with the kind of authentic, beautiful wood grain you can see and feel. Most of them are finished by hand. An artisan works a white ceruse into the grain so the pattern comes through in the Natural Oak and Gray Oak finishes, then seals it with a topcoat that is safe around kids and pets. Each table weighs 112 pounds and is built to hold up to years of family dinners, homework and everything in between.
The same oak, a second finish
Sawyer Solid Wood Farmhouse Dining Table, 64 in, Gray Oak
A weathered gray tone with the same hand rubbed ceruse. The grain reads even more clearly against the cooler color.
View table $865
Which wood should you pick
| Pick |
If you want |
| Oak |
Visible grain, forgiving wear, the best price for an indoor table. See the Granham
|
| Teak |
A table for a patio or a humid room where moisture is the problem |
| Maple |
A bright, plain surface that stands up to knocks |
| Cherry |
A piece that darkens and develops character over time |
Get the wood comparison guide
Oak, teak, maple and cherry side by side. Hardness, how the color ages, price range and the finish that suits each one. You will also be the first to hear about exclusive deals and get interior design tips from our team.
Questions people ask
Is teak better than oak?
Only outdoors or in a humid room, where teak's natural oils resist water. Indoors, oak is harder, shows more grain, and costs a third to half as much.
Does oak furniture last?
Yes. Oak rates 1,290 on the Janka hardness scale, harder than teak or cherry, and a finished oak table handles decades of daily use. Ours weigh 112 pounds and are built as heirlooms.
Which is more expensive, teak or oak?
Teak. A teak dining table typically runs $2,000 to $4,000 because of sourcing and demand. A solid oak table runs $800 to $1,500.
What is the hardest wood for a dining table?
Of the four common choices, hard maple is the hardest at 1,450 Janka, then oak at 1,290, teak at 1,070 and cherry at 950.
Not sure which finish suits your room? Send us a photo and we will help you choose.
Get in touch
Teak vs Oak vs Maple vs Cherry: Which Wood Is Best for a Dining Table?
Oak is the best all around choice for an indoor dining table. It is harder than teak and cherry, shows a warm visible grain, and costs a third to half of what teak does. Teak wins only where moisture is the problem, which means outdoors or a very humid room. Maple is the hardest and plainest. Cherry is the softest but ages into the deepest color. Our tables are built from solid oak with a hand rubbed finish, and we explain why below.
Most of our pieces are hand finished by artisans who work the grain by hand instead of spraying a factory coat over it. The wood you choose is the wood you will live with every day. That makes this a practical decision for us as much as for anyone who wants a table, dresser or bed that stands up to daily life.
Teak vs oak
This is the comparison most people are really asking about, so it comes first.
If the table lives indoors, oak gives you teak's warmth at a fraction of the price and stands up better to forks, homework and the odd dropped pan.
Solid hardwood with authentic wood grain brought out by a hand rubbed white ceruse finish. 36 x 64 inches, seats 4 to 6, 112 pounds.
Oak vs cherry
Cherry is prized for a smooth, fine grain and a color that deepens from pale pink to rich reddish brown over its first few years. That change is the appeal and also the catch. A face that gets more sun darkens faster, so a runner or a vase can leave a lighter ghost behind. Oak is harder, ages evenly, and costs less. Pick cherry if you want a piece that becomes a talking point. Pick oak if you want one that looks the same in year ten as year one.
Oak vs maple
Hard maple is the hardest of the four and the plainest. Its tight grain takes a smooth finish beautifully, which is why it shows up in modern minimalist rooms. It can stain unevenly without pre treatment, so most maple is left pale. Oak shows more grain and more character, and for a farmhouse or transitional room that is usually the point.
How we finish our oak
Our Sawyer and Granham tables are solid hardwood with the kind of authentic, beautiful wood grain you can see and feel. Most of them are finished by hand. An artisan works a white ceruse into the grain so the pattern comes through in the Natural Oak and Gray Oak finishes, then seals it with a topcoat that is safe around kids and pets. Each table weighs 112 pounds and is built to hold up to years of family dinners, homework and everything in between.
A weathered gray tone with the same hand rubbed ceruse. The grain reads even more clearly against the cooler color.
View table $865Which wood should you pick
Oak, teak, maple and cherry side by side. Hardness, how the color ages, price range and the finish that suits each one. You will also be the first to hear about exclusive deals and get interior design tips from our team.
Questions people ask
Is teak better than oak?
Only outdoors or in a humid room, where teak's natural oils resist water. Indoors, oak is harder, shows more grain, and costs a third to half as much.
Does oak furniture last?
Yes. Oak rates 1,290 on the Janka hardness scale, harder than teak or cherry, and a finished oak table handles decades of daily use. Ours weigh 112 pounds and are built as heirlooms.
Which is more expensive, teak or oak?
Teak. A teak dining table typically runs $2,000 to $4,000 because of sourcing and demand. A solid oak table runs $800 to $1,500.
What is the hardest wood for a dining table?
Of the four common choices, hard maple is the hardest at 1,450 Janka, then oak at 1,290, teak at 1,070 and cherry at 950.
Not sure which finish suits your room? Send us a photo and we will help you choose.
Get in touch