Face grain
Look for straight, interlocked, wavy, curly, or open grain patterns and compare them with known examples.
TWG resource
Wood Identification Tools
Start by collecting visible clues, then compare them against reliable references. Grain, end grain, pores, color, density, odor, and where the wood came from all matter; no single clue proves a species.
Where to start
A practical identification path
The goal is to narrow the field, not force a final answer from one photo or one trait. Work from the wood itself, then compare what you see against more than one reference.
Start with face grain and natural color
Look at a clean, unfinished area if you can. Stain, finish, weathering, veneer, and composite material can hide useful clues.
Check end grain when possible
A sharp, clean end-grain view can reveal pore structure, ring patterns, and other traits that face grain alone may not show.
Add weight, hardness, odor, and origin
Density, how hard the wood feels under a tool, any appropriate odor, and where the board came from can narrow the candidate list.
Compare across reliable references
Use more than one database, guide, or sample service before trusting a match, especially when two species look similar.
Treat matches as candidates
Visual comparison can point you in the right direction, but important identifications should be confirmed by a specialist or sample service.
Useful clues
What to observe before comparing
Bring several observations together, especially when the sample is finished, aged, or missing a clean end-grain view.
Natural color
Freshly surfaced color can help, but age, UV exposure, stain, and finish can change what you see.
End grain
A clean end cut can show pores, rays, and ring structure that are often more useful than the board face.
Pore structure
Open pores, ring-porous patterns, diffuse pores, and pore size can separate many hardwood candidates.
Growth rings
Ring contrast and spacing can help describe the sample and compare it against reliable references.
Weight and hardness
How dense the board feels and how it cuts or dents can support or rule out possible species.
Odor
Some woods have a recognizable smell when freshly cut, but odor fades and should not be used alone.
Origin and use
Where the board came from, whether it is domestic or imported, and how it was used can reduce false matches.
Lookalikes
Many woods resemble each other. Keep a shortlist until several clues point in the same direction.
Reference resources
Compare against credible tools and guides
These links open resources controlled by their own owners. Use them together when narrowing possible wood species.
Visual database
The Wood Database Wood Filter
Filter and compare woods by traits such as type, location, color, grain, weight, and hardness.
- The Wood Database
- Public web resource
Reference library
The Wood Database Species Pages
Browse species pages, reference articles, and woodworking-focused information about wood properties and appearance.
- The Wood Database
- Public web resource
Identification service
Wood Identification Public Service
Official Forest Products Laboratory page describing its wood sample identification public service.
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory
- Sample process described by provider
Educational guide
American Hardwood Species Guide
Guide to common American hardwood species with descriptions, uses, properties, and finish examples.
- American Hardwood Information Center
- Public web resource
Database and software resource
The Wood Explorer Database
Commercial wood-species database with search, photo guide, taxonomy, country data, species lists, and comparison tools.
- The Wood Explorer
- Account or subscription may be required for full access
Print references
Wood Database Print References
Optional book and poster references from The Wood Database for shop or desk-side comparison.
- The Wood Database
- Purchase pages controlled by provider