Maple

Maple is a hard, fine-grained wood used for furniture, floors, and butcher blocks — and the source of maple syrup. This section covers maple types, finishing, and tapping.

Types: hard vs soft maple and sycamore vs maple.

Finishing: stain maple evenly and finish maple.

Sap & tapping: tap depth, taps per tree, sap shelf life, and a DIY evaporator.

For how maple compares with other species, see our types of wood guide.

What’s the difference between hard and soft maple? Hard (sugar) maple is denser and used for flooring and butcher blocks; soft maple is lighter and easier to work for general projects.

Why does maple stain blotchy? Its tight grain absorbs unevenly — use a pre-stain conditioner or gel stain for even color.