Red Oak vs. White Oak Dining Tables: How to Choose

Red oak and white oak are two of the most popular woods for a solid wood dining table, and from across the room they can look alike. Up close, they're different in color, grain, how they take stain, and price. Here's how to pick the right one for your home.

The Short Answer

Choose red oak if you want a warm, traditional look, a bold grain, and the best price on a solid hardwood table. Choose white oak if you want a lighter, more modern look, a calmer grain, and more freedom with natural, gray, and black stains. Both are hard, durable woods that will last for generations.

Color

Red oak isn't actually red, but it does have a warm, slightly pink undertone. That warmth shows through most stains, which makes it great for honey, brown, and rich mid-tone finishes.

White oak runs tan to light brown with a cooler, slightly olive undertone. That's why it's the go-to wood for the natural, light, and gray-washed tables you see in design magazines. It also takes very dark and black stains cleanly.

Grain

Both woods are open-grained, so you'll feel a little texture under the finish. Red oak has the bolder pattern, with big arching "cathedral" shapes and more visible pores. It reads as classic and lively.

White oak's grain is tighter and straighter, so a white oak top looks calmer and more even. Quarter-sawn white oak shows a shimmering "ray fleck" pattern you'll recognize from Arts and Crafts and high-end modern furniture. Ask us if you'd like it for your table.

Durability

This one is closer than most people expect. On the Janka hardness scale, white oak rates about 1,360 and red oak about 1,290. Both are harder than walnut and cherry, and both hold up to kids, homework, and holiday dinners.

White oak has a natural edge with water because its pores are plugged, which is why it's used for barrels and boats. On a finished table that matters less. Every TRM Woodcraft table gets a commercial-grade conversion varnish that seals the wood against spills, heat, and everyday wear, whichever oak you choose.

Stain Options

Because of red oak's warm undertone, light grays and cool tones can turn a little pink on it. It looks its best in warm colors. On our tables, red oak comes in finishes like Almond, Cappuccino, Briar, Charwood, and Earthtone.

White oak handles almost anything: a clear natural finish, soft neutrals, grays, and near-black. Our white oak finishes include Bamboo, Clove, Manchester, Carbon, and Earthtone. You can see both woods on our stains and finishes page and order real samples for $10 each, credited toward your order.

Price

Red oak is the more affordable of the two. At the same size and base, white oak often runs $1,000 or more above red oak, and the gap grows on larger tables. Pedestal and trestle bases and custom stains add to either one. For more on what drives the price, see how much a custom dining table costs.

Which One Fits Your Home?

• Farmhouse, traditional, or warm transitional: red oak in a mid-tone or dark stain.
• Modern, Scandinavian, or light and airy: white oak, natural or a light neutral.
• Moody and dramatic: white oak in a near-black stain, or take a look at walnut vs. white oak.
• Matching oak floors or trim: start with the same species so the undertones agree. Lots of homes have red oak floors, and a red oak table ties in naturally.
• Best value on a big table: red oak. The price gap grows with size.

Still deciding? See all five woods we build with, including maple and cherry, side by side in What's the Best Wood for a Dining Table?

Red Oak vs. White Oak: Common Questions

Is white oak better than red oak for a dining table?
Neither is better across the board. White oak is the pick for light, modern, and gray finishes. Red oak is the pick for warm tones, bold grain, and value. Both are durable enough for daily family use.

Can you stain red oak to look like white oak?
You can get close in darker stains, but red oak's warm undertone usually shows in light and gray finishes. If you want a light, cool look, start with white oak.

Which oak is more durable?
They're nearly the same hardness. On a finished table, the conversion varnish does most of the work protecting the surface.

How much more does white oak cost?
Often $1,000 or more at the same size, and the gap grows on larger tables.

How long does a custom oak table take?
About 12 weeks to build, not including delivery. Here's what happens during those 12 weeks.

See Both Woods in Person

The easiest way to decide is to hold both in your hands, in your own light. Order samples, browse our dining tables in either wood, or book a free 15-minute design consultation and we'll help you choose.