How To Choose The Right Hardwood Flooring Species
Last Updated on November 3, 2026 by Valeria
The most popular types of wood flooring are white oak, red oak, hickory, maple, walnut and Brazilian cherry. For most homes, oak is the best all-around choice: hard enough for daily life, easy to stain and fairly priced. Hickory is the toughest domestic option for kids and pets, and walnut is the softer, dressier pick for low-traffic rooms.
On the concrete slabs under most Frisco, Plano and Prosper homes, choose any of these species in engineered form for the best stability.
Choosing a wood species is one of the most fun parts of a new floor. It decides the color, the grain you’ll see every day, and how well the floor holds up to dogs, kids and dining chairs. With so many types of wood flooring and wooden floorboards out there, it helps to narrow the field to the species that actually work well in homes. Below we compare the six we get asked about most, with hardness, look, price and the rooms each one suits best.
This is the same advice our team gives homeowners during free in-home estimates across Frisco, Plano and Prosper, where we bring real samples so you can see each species in your own light.
Types of Wood Flooring Compared: Best Wood Species at a Glance
The Janka rating measures how hard a wood is: it’s the force needed to press a steel ball halfway into a sample that has been dried to about 12% moisture. Higher numbers resist dents better. Anything above roughly 1,200 holds up well in a busy home. For the technical background on wood testing, see the USDA Forest Products Laboratory.
| Species | Janka hardness | Look & grain | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White oak | 1,360 | Neutral tan to soft brown; tight, straight grain; takes modern stains beautifully | $$ | Whole-home floors, light and natural looks, kitchens |
| Red oak | 1,290 | Warm with pink-red undertones; bold, open grain that hides wear | $ | Traditional homes, budget-smart whole-home floors |
| Hickory | 1,820 | High color variation from cream to brown; strong, rustic grain | $$ | Busy families, pets, rustic and farmhouse styles |
| Hard maple | 1,450 | Light, creamy and clean; subtle, fine grain | $$ | Modern and Scandinavian looks, bright rooms |
| American walnut | 1,010 | Rich chocolate brown; smooth, flowing grain | $$$ | Formal living and dining rooms, bedrooms, offices |
| Brazilian cherry | 2,350 | Deep red-orange that darkens with sunlight; interlocking grain | $$$ | High-traffic areas where you want a bold, exotic look |
Going deeper on a species? Compare the two most popular choices in our white oak vs red oak guide, or read more about hickory hardwood flooring, maple hardwood floors and black wood flooring.
The 30-Second Wood Species Finder
Hard, stable, on-trend and easy to restain later.
The most affordable real hardwood, with grain that hides scuffs.
The hardest domestic species, and its color variation hides wear.
Clean and bright. Choose a matte finish to keep it looking fresh.
Gorgeous dark color, but softer, so it suits quieter rooms.
Very hard and very rich. Expect it to deepen in color over time.
How to Identify Wood Flooring by Grain
Trying to match an existing floor, or wondering what species you already have? Identifying wood by grain is the quickest place to start. Tighter, more uniform grain usually points to a denser, harder species, while open, bold grain tends to belong to softer woods that show their character.
Pinkish-brown tones and a strong “cathedral” pattern. Pores look open up close.
Tan to cool-gray tones, often with ray flecks on quarter-sawn boards.
Creamy and clean, with the occasional birdseye or curly figure.
Big swings in both grain and color, from cream to dark brown, even in one board.
Rich red-brown color that deepens with sunlight.
Straight “knuckle” lines. Technically a grass, not a wood.
If a board has been stained, look at the end of a plank (under a vent cover or at a threshold) where the grain and natural color are easier to see. Bring a loose piece to a free in-home estimate and we can help you match it.
Best Wood for Busy Family Homes
If your home sees backpacks, toy trucks and dinner guests, look for three things: a Janka rating above about 1,200, a grain or color variation that disguises small marks, and a lower-sheen finish. White oak and hickory check all three boxes. Red oak is a close third, and its open grain is very forgiving.
Finish and texture matter as much as species. A wire-brushed or lightly hand-scraped surface hides everyday scratches far better than a glossy one, and a matte finish doesn’t show dust and footprints. Glossy dark floors, on the other hand, show everything.
Most everyday scratches are in the finish, not the wood. A floor with a tough factory finish can often be refreshed with a screen-and-recoat instead of a full sanding, so ask about finish quality as much as species.
Best Wood for Pets
For homes with dogs, hardness and texture are your best friends. Hickory and Brazilian cherry resist claw marks best, and white oak with a wire-brushed finish is a great middle ground. Softer species like walnut and lighter, glossy floors show scratches more. Our guide to the best wood flooring for dogs goes species by species, and also covers pet-friendly floors beyond hardwood.
Solid vs Engineered on North Texas Slab Foundations
Every species above comes in the two main types of wood floors by construction. Solid hardwood is one piece of wood, top to bottom, and is nailed down to a wood subfloor. Engineered hardwood has a real-wood top layer, in the same species and finishes, bonded to a stable cross-layered core.
Most homes in Frisco, Plano and Prosper sit on concrete slabs over clay soil, and North Texas swings from humid summers to dry heated winters. Engineered wood handles that movement better and can be glued down or floated directly over concrete, so it’s usually the best choice for slab homes. Solid hardwood is still a great option upstairs or anywhere with a wood subfloor, and it can be refinished more times over its life. Curious how the layers work? See how engineered wood flooring is made, or compare all three options in our hardwood vs engineered vs laminate guide.
| Solid hardwood | Engineered hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Over a concrete slab | Only with a plywood subfloor | Yes, glued or floated |
| Stability in humidity swings | Good | Excellent |
| Refinishing | Many times | 1–3 times, depending on wear layer |
| Wide planks (7″+) | More prone to cupping | Stays flatter |
| Look once installed | Identical: both are real wood on top | |
Other Ways Wood Floors Differ
Species is only one of your wood flooring options. These details change the look of the same wood dramatically:
Plain sawn shows the classic “cathedral” grain. Rift and quarter sawn give a straighter, calmer grain and extra stability.
Select grades are clean and uniform. Character and rustic grades show knots and color variation, and often cost less.
Narrow strips feel traditional. Wide planks (7″+) feel open and modern and are best in engineered form.
Prefinished installs faster with no sanding dust. Site-finished is sanded and stained in place for a custom color.
Exotic Hardwood Species and the Janka Scale
Hardwood species vary enormously in hardness. The softest wood ever tested, cuipo, scores just 22 lbf, while Australian buloke reaches about 5,060 lbf. Most homeowners don’t need the hardest species available: very hard exotics look stunning but can be tougher to install, sand and refinish. Mid-range domestic woods like oak, maple and hickory balance looks, durability and easy upkeep.
Bold red-brown color and interlocked grain that darkens with light exposure.
Smoother, more even grain in rich chocolate and reddish-brown tones.
Not a hardwood at all. Well-made strand-woven bamboo is very hard; lower-quality bamboo dents more easily.
Our Most-Installed Species in Frisco, Plano and Prosper
The species we stock and install most are white oak, red oak, hickory and maple, and we can source walnut, Brazilian cherry and many others on request. White oak’s neutral tone pairs well with the lighter, natural looks many North Texas homeowners want right now, while hickory is a favorite in homes with big dogs and active kids.
For engineered and solid hardwood, our customers love Bella Cera, Jackson Hardwood and D&M Flooring. The easiest way to choose is to see samples side by side in your own rooms, since daylight in a west-facing living room can change a color more than you’d expect.
Ready to pick your wood species?
See our solid and engineered hardwood options, or book a free in-home estimate and we’ll bring samples to your door in Frisco, Plano, Prosper and across North Texas.
Explore hardwood flooringFrequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of wood flooring?
The main types are solid hardwood and engineered hardwood. Within each, the most popular species are white oak, red oak, hickory, maple, walnut and Brazilian cherry. Wood floors also differ by cut, grade, plank width and finish.
What is the best wood for wood floors?
Oak is the best all-around choice for most homes because it is durable, easy to stain and fairly priced. Hickory is better for heavy wear and pets, and walnut is best for low-traffic rooms where you want a rich, dark look.
What is the most durable type of wood flooring?
Among popular species, Brazilian cherry and hickory are the hardest, with Janka ratings around 2,350 and 1,820. Hickory is the most durable domestic species. A tough finish and textured surface also add a lot of everyday durability.
Is engineered wood flooring better than solid hardwood?
Neither is better everywhere. Engineered hardwood is more stable and can go directly over a concrete slab, which makes it the usual choice in North Texas homes. Solid hardwood can be refinished more times and works great over a wood subfloor.
Which wood flooring is most popular right now?
White oak is one of the most requested species today, thanks to its neutral tone and how well it takes light, natural stains. Red oak remains a popular, budget-friendly classic.
How can you identify wood flooring by its grain?
Look at the grain pattern and color. Red oak has bold, wavy, open grain with pinkish tones; white oak is tighter and straighter with tan or gray tones; maple is smooth and subtle; hickory shows dramatic color and grain variation; and Brazilian cherry has interlocked grain with a deep red-brown color.
