Species Guide

Walnut

Countertops, tabletops & shelving — cut to your size

Rich chocolate browns with dramatic grain movement, our signature premium species.

1,000Janka hardness (lbf)7walnut productsfrom $30entry price100%solid wood
Solid walnut hardwood surface, milled in New York
Origin
Eastern United States
Color
Chocolate brown to purple-black heartwood
Grain
Flowing, often dramatic figure
Best for
Dining tables, islands, statement shelving
Hardness
1,000 lbf Janka
Price band
$$
Outdoors
Interior use
Finish
Food-safe zero-VOC hardwax oil
Where It Belongs

Walnut is the species people picture when they say "custom wood." It carries a dining table or kitchen island as the room's centerpiece, and its chocolate depth makes even a single floating shelf read as furniture. In kitchens it pairs best with lighter cabinetry that lets the grain do the talking. At 1,000 Janka it is a touch softer than the oaks — fine for daily use, just not the board you choose to chop on directly.

Natural vs. Stain

Walnut needs nothing. Natural hardwax oil deepens it to that dark-cocoa richness the species is famous for, and staining it is largely pointless — you would be painting over the most expensive grain in the shop. Expect it to lighten very slightly with years of sun, the reverse of cherry.

See every stain on real wood ›

Built in Walnut

Every walnut piece we build

Countertops

Kitchens, islands, bars, and vanities — milled to your template, sink and stove cutouts included.
Straight Edgefrom $200
Live Edgefrom $240

Tabletops

Dining, desk, and conference tops for your own base — sized to the quarter inch.
Straight Edgefrom $240
Live Edgefrom $290

Round Tabletops

True-circle tops cut on the CNC, from bistro to full dining rounds.
Straight Edgefrom $375

Shelfs

Floating shelves on the concealed 300 lb Hovr bracket, straight or live edge.
Straight Edgefrom $30
Live Edgefrom $40

Want to feel it first? Order a walnut sample › or compare all fifteen woods in the species guide ›

From the Journal

Walnut, in depth

Walnut Butcher Block Countertops: A Buyer’s GuideRead the guide ›Walnut and Maple Butcher Block: The Classic CheckerboardRead the guide ›Walnut Tables for a Brooklyn Waterfront Event SpaceRead the guide ›Case Study: Custom Live Edge Table Tops and Walnut Woodwork for a Dumbo, Brooklyn RestaurantRead the guide ›
Questions

Walnut FAQ

How hard is walnut?
Walnut measures 1,000 lbf on the Janka hardness scale — solidly in daily-use territory for counters, tables, and shelving.
Is your walnut solid wood or veneer?
Solid, always. Every walnut piece is milled from full-thickness hardwood boards in our New York shop — no veneer, no plywood core, no composites — which is why it can be sanded and refinished for decades.
Can I get walnut in a custom size?
Yes — length, width, and thickness to the quarter inch, priced instantly in the Builder. Current lead time is 10–12 weeks, and every piece ships crated, nationwide.
How do I care for a walnut surface?
Every piece ships finished in food-safe, zero-VOC hardwax oil: wipe with a damp cloth day to day, and re-oil high-use surfaces about once a year. Scratches sand out and re-oil invisibly — the advantage of solid wood.
Do you take on custom or one-off projects?
Yes. Beyond the online builder, we take on custom sizes, oversized pieces, matched commercial runs, and bespoke solid-hardwood millwork. Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll quote it by hand, usually within one business day. Start a custom project ›
Milled to Order in New York

Walnut, cut to your project.

Open the Builder in Walnut

Current lead time 10–12 weeks · ships crated, nationwide