What Wood Is Most Commonly Used for Flooring? (And the Runner-Ups Worth Knowing)

If you ask the National Wood Flooring Association which species dominates U.S. flooring sales, the answer is short: oak. Red oak and white oak together make up roughly two-thirds of the domestic hardwood flooring market. No other species comes close.

This guide answers the question directly, then breaks down the four other types of wood flooring most likely to come up when oak isn't the right fit for your home. We'll cover why oak earned the top spot, then walk through maple, hickory, walnut, and bamboo. By the end, you'll know which alternatives are worth a sample order and which ones aren't.

We'll also show you how Spokane's climate shapes the choice between solid and engineered wood. That part matters more than most homeowners expect.

What Wood Is Most Commonly Used for Flooring?

Oak is the most commonly used wood for flooring in the United States. According to the National Wood Flooring Association’s Industry Outlook (as reported by Global Wood, Dec 10, 2024), white oak is the leading consumer preference, and hardwood flooring overall represented 11.9% of the U.S. floor coverings market in 2023. Together, red oak and white oak dominate domestic hardwood flooring, making oak the primary choice for American homeowners.

Oak's lead comes from four factors:

• It grows widely across U.S. forests, so supply stays steady
• It's hard enough for everyday traffic (red oak rates ~1,290 on the Janka scale, white oak ~1,360)
• It takes stain better than almost any other species
• It sits in the mid-range on price

Maple and hickory are the next most common hardwood species, followed by walnut and bamboo as specialty picks. For most homeowners shopping for solid hardwood, oak is the default starting point.

Why Oak Dominates the Hardwood Flooring Market

Oak's dominance share of the U.S. hardwood flooring market isn't a fluke. The numbers behind it are easy to follow.

The United States is home to about 90 oak species, roughly 20% of the world’s total. Oaks dominate many North American ecosystems and are considered foundational species by the U.S. Forest Service. Their abundance provides American mills with a reliable local supply, helping keep lumber pricing relatively stable for homeowners.

Four reasons explain why oak keeps winning:

• Availability — domestic supply means shorter lead times and fewer price spikes
• Hardness — both red oak (~1,290 Janka) and white oak (~1,360 Janka) hold up to daily traffic
• Stain compatibility — oak's open grain accepts a wider range of stain colors than maple or hickory
• Mid-range price — it lands below walnut and exotic species but above most softwoods

In our Spokane showroom, oak is the species customers ask about first. They've usually seen it in a friend's home or a model house. The familiarity helps — they know what they're getting before they pick up a sample.

Red Oak vs. White Oak — The Two Versions Most Homeowners Don't Know About

Oak's market share is the headline. The real choice for most homeowners is which version of oak.

Red oak and white oak look similar on a showroom floor, but they perform differently once installed. Here's how they compare:

• Janka hardness: red oak ~1,290, white oak ~1,360 — both handle daily wear, white oak slightly tougher
• Color: red oak has pink and red undertones; white oak runs honey to light brown
• Grain: red oak shows a wider, more open grain; white oak is tighter and more uniform
• Water resistance: white oak's closed grain repels moisture better — a real plus for kitchens and entryways
• Cost: roughly comparable, with white oak slightly higher in many markets

For Spokane homes, the grain difference matters most. White oak's tighter grain stands up better to seasonal humidity swings. Red oak still works well in bedrooms and living rooms, where moisture is less of a factor.

Most Spokane showrooms stock both. If you're not sure which suits your space, bring home samples from each and lay them in the room for a few days. The light in your home will reveal undertones that showroom lighting hides.

Try Our Flooring Visualizer Before You Buy

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Use the visualizer to pick your favorites online. Then ask for those specific samples to test in person. This gives you both online ease and hands-on proof.

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When Oak Isn't the Right Fit — 4 Alternatives Worth Considering

Oak isn't the right answer for every home. Here's when to look elsewhere — and what to pick instead.

Maple (~1,450 Janka) is harder than oak with a uniform, light grain. It suits modern and minimalist looks where a busy grain pattern would distract. The trade-off: maple's smooth finish shows scratches more easily, so it's better for low-traffic rooms. Maple holds a steady but smaller share of the hardwood flooring market than oak.

Hickory (~1,820 Janka) is the hardest of the common species. Its bold, contrasting grain gives a rustic, character-rich look. We recommend hickory for high-traffic homes with kids, pets, or busy entryways. Hickory has been gaining share in recent years, especially in homes that want a tougher, character-rich floor.

American walnut (~1,010 Janka) is softer than oak. Homeowners choose it for the deep, chocolate-brown color — not durability. Keep walnut in bedrooms, formal dining rooms, or home offices where wear is light.

Strand-woven bamboo is technically a grass, not a hardwood. Done right, strand-woven bamboo can exceed oak's Janka rating by a wide margin. The catch: bamboo is sensitive to moisture, so we don't recommend it for kitchens, bathrooms, or basements. Cheap bamboo is also a real risk — some lower-grade products use adhesives that off-gas or warp within a few years. If you're set on bamboo, stick with strand-woven from a reputable mill and ask to see the manufacturer's spec sheet.

How Spokane's Climate Affects Your Wood Flooring Choice

Knowing the species is half the decision. The other half is how it'll perform in a Spokane home.

Spokane winters are cold and snowy, and indoor air gets very dry once the heat runs. Indoor humidity often drops below 30% from December through February. Summers swing the other way, with indoor levels closer to 40–50%. Solid hardwood reacts to those changes — boards shrink in winter and expand in summer. You may see small gaps open between planks in January and close back up by June.

White oak handles those swings better than red oak. Its tighter, closed grain limits how much moisture the wood absorbs and releases. That's why we point Spokane Valley and South Hill customers toward white oak when they're set on solid hardwood.

Engineered oak is the smarter pick for many Spokane rooms. It uses a real oak veneer over a stable plywood or HDF core, so the floor moves less with humidity changes. We recommend engineered oak for:

• Basements where moisture and concrete subfloors are common
• Kitchens with spills and dishwasher leaks
• Homes with radiant heat under the floor
• Slab-on-grade construction in newer Liberty Lake builds

Most Spokane installers default to oak whether you choose solid or engineered. The species fits the climate, the homes, and the look local buyers want.

How to Choose the Right Wood Flooring for Your Home

A clear process beats endless sample browsing. Follow these four steps and you'll narrow your options fast.

1. Pick your hardness threshold. Match the Janka rating to your lifestyle. Busy households with kids, pets, or heavy entry traffic should start at hickory or white oak. Quieter homes can drop down to red oak or walnut without regret.
   
2. Pick a color family. Decide between light and honey tones, mid-browns, or dark chocolate shades. This single choice eliminates more than half the samples on the showroom floor.
   
3. Decide solid vs. engineered by room. Solid hardwood works well in upstairs bedrooms and main living areas. Engineered oak is the safer pick for basements, kitchens, and homes with radiant heat.
   
4. Order samples and live with them. Take three or four samples home. Place them where the floor will go and check them in morning light, evening light, and under your room's lamps. Colors that look perfect in the showroom often shift once they're in your space.

When you're ready to see the full range in person, visit our showroom at 6018 E Broadway Ave Suite #1, Spokane, WA 99212, or call (509) 866-6776 to contact us and request a free wood flooring quote. Personal consultations are by appointment — call ahead to schedule.