When getting or constructing furnishings for your garden and patio, would you know how to choose the best wood for outdoor furniture?
Outdoor wood furniture almost always goes against extremely damaging elements, including sunlight, storms, and pests.
That is why we have to choose the best wood for outdoor projects carefully.
No wood is entirely immune to weathering, rotting, denting, scratching, and insect damage, but some resist these problems more than others.
The number one go-to option when selecting outdoor furniture wood is hardwood, but some softwoods also qualify for outdoor use.
What Is the Best Type of Wood for Outdoor Furniture?
Let’s discuss the various traits every outdoor furniture wood should possess to answer the question.
Weather and Rot Resistance
Any wooden outdoor furniture should be capable of withstanding exposure to direct sunlight and heavy rains.
Resistive properties against moisture and heat enable the wood to protect itself against biological processes that promote rotting and decay.
There are naturally occurring protective oils in the wood that block heat, moisture, and fungal growth.
Additionally, the natural oils prevent insects such as termites from feeding on the wood.
Stability, Rigidity, and Movability
The best outdoor wood should be rigid and stable.
While wood density allows more rigidity and stability, dense hardwoods have varying cracking and warping tendencies.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that the lighter softwoods cannot compete against the denser hardwoods.
Some hardwoods are so heavy that it is virtually impractical to use for outdoor furniture that you plan to relocate now and then.
Additionally, what softwoods can’t make up for stability and rigidity, they replace with workability.
Workability
Workability is all about cutting, carrying, driving fasteners, finishing, staining, and sealing.
Some outdoor woods do not lend totally to sanding and stain application.
Others easily crack or split, which means they require boring holes initially to drive fasteners effortlessly.
Check all of these traits when choosing your outdoor wood, and weigh out the pros and cons to make a sound choice for your outdoor project.
Availability and Cost
After doing some reading, you may already have decided which wood type to purchase for your project.
Did you check if this particular wood is available nearby? Does it fit your budget?
Some of the best woods presented here can come at a hefty per board foot cost.
Your local hardware may have any of these timbers, but the source's distance can multiply its cost to a price range over your budget.
If you live near a sawmill, it may be the best place to look for wood suitable for your outdoor project.
Better make several choices than what you have in mind because you might end up choosing when you already have the wood in front of you.
Best Wood for Outdoor Furniture Options
Let’s discuss the best hardwoods and softwoods to use for outdoor DIY furniture projects.
We have narrowed the choices down to several outdoor furniture wood types that have reliable to exceptional rot resistance even without any surface finishing.
Hardwoods
The high density of hardwood is attributed to its propensity to grow very slowly and results in the material's greater natural strength.
Hardwoods are more resistant to scratches, scrapes, water, and rot damage.
The following varieties should be on your list when selecting various hardwoods.
- Teak
Teak is the most famous and ideal wood for outdoor use.
Aside from having a beautiful appearance, it is very durable and can resist water and sunlight.
Teak has always been used as the primary wood material for boat building, which is indicative of its resistance to extreme weather conditions.
The high density of teak prevents dirt and insects from burrowing into the wood, and its waterproof factor hinders the growth of fungi.
However, teak has some pitfalls. The tremendously slow growth rate of teak makes it relatively difficult to source and very expensive.
If you decide to use teak, you can counter the high initial cost with long-term savings from low to zero maintenance requirements and lasting usage.
- Brazilian Walnut
Brazilian walnut, also called ipe or ironwood, is an up-and-coming hardwood that is even denser than teak.
It produces natural tannins or oils that make it exceptionally resistant to rot, insects, and fungi, which is why it is one of the best wood for outdoor projects.
In effect, it also develops an incredible resistance to fading over time.
Brazilian walnut is more readily available than teak, but it is more challenging to work because of its higher density.
Expect to have very heavy planks when you order Brazilian walnut.
- Mahogany
Mahogany can be as dense and as rigid as teak and Brazilian walnut, but it is more workable than the two.
It grows faster than other hardwood types, making it more readily available and widely used in carpentry projects.
Mahogany is considered one of the best outdoor wood, but be careful about sourcing the wood.
There are so many types of mahogany, and the real good ones can cost a lot per board foot.
Some sellers may trick you into purchasing low-quality mahogany at the cost of the more expensive ones.
Mahogany comes in various shades that darken after some weathering time.
Additionally, you can make mahogany even darker because it has excellent stain acceptance properties.
The downsides to mahogany include warping tendencies and fading if left without regular care and maintenance.
- White Oak
If you had the chance to see wine and whisky barrels, then you have seen white oak wood in a glorious state after crafting.
White oak has much less porosity than red oak, making it the better choice for resisting water damage.
Extremely durable white oak has straight grains, and it is easily stainable like mahogany.
Its heartwood has resistive properties against rot and decay, making the wood another excellent outdoor choice.
However, white oak has the easy-split property attributed to softwoods like redwood and cedar, which means you will have to predrill fastening holes for screws.
- Eucalyptus
Another robust hardwood is eucalyptus. It grows faster than other hardwoods, and it costs much less.
Eucalyptus requires proper care and maintenance so it stays waterproof and resistant to rot and pests.
Moreover, there are considerations to make when cutting eucalyptus wood to prevent splitting and warping.
Keep sealing and treating the exposed surface of eucalyptus wood furniture to make it have the same long-lasting properties that teak has.
Like mahogany and white oak, eucalyptus is more workable than teak and Brazilian walnut because it is less dense.
It also has better staining and finishing properties than the two densest hardwoods.
With some sanding and polishing, you can make eucalyptus look like more costly woods such as mahogany or cedar.
- Black Locust
Another highly-rated hardwood is black locust. It has remarkable decay resistance and weathering characteristics.
Black locust is a unique hardwood because it grows at a relatively faster pace than most softwoods.
It can match the strength and density of Brazilian walnut even though it grows so fast.
Its workability is similar to Brazilian walnut and tends to blunt cutting edges moderately.
Black locust wood can be cheaper than Brazilian walnut because it can be locally sourced in the eastern USA. Sometimes its price can be similar to white oak.
Softwoods
While hardwoods are dense and more rot-resistant, softwoods allow better workability, staining, and surface finishing properties.
Softwoods are also lighter, cheaper, and more readily available.
The softwoods included in this list keep the strength and durability of wood while providing the versatility of handling and manipulation.
They grow faster than hardwoods, making them the lowest-costing wood for outdoor use.
- Pressure-Treated Pine
Pinewood pressure treated with alkaline copper quat (ACQ) may shrink, crack, or warp, but it does not rot and is typically not susceptible to insect pests.
Although you can transform pine planks into simple tables and benches, they are better suited for decks, ramps, and frames.
Pinewood is readily available, exceptionally cheap, and easily workable.
Even though it is softwood, pine shares the rigidity of mahogany.
- Cypress
One of the most water-resistant softwoods is cypress.
It oozes small, invisible amounts of natural water repellant oils, which is why we call it the wet climate wood.
The best cypress wood comes from older trees because it is more decay-resistant than wood from younger trees.
However, its rot and insect resistance is disputed when used in prolonged direct contact with soil.
Cypress wood belongs to the mid-range cost, with crafting and woodworking planks costing more than construction-grade lumber.
This softwood lasts longer than pine, and locally milled planks can have a comparable cost to pressure-treated pinewood.
- Redwood
Redwood has always been famous for use in outdoor furniture-making applications.
Its increased demand results from its natural grains, coloration, and outstanding durability for outdoor conditions.
With over-logging and diminished supply, redwood has increased in price, but the demand does not seem to lessen over time.
With the correct sealing and finishing, redwood furniture can be beautiful and enticing in your backyard.
If the sealing is inadequate, redwood can be prone to dents and scratches.
- Western Red Cedar
The softwood of western red cedar offers outstanding natural resistance to sunlight, rains, rotting, and pests.
This property makes it a contender along with other outdoor furniture wood types.
Western red cedar produces exceptionally high levels of natural defensive oils that protect against moisture, rot, decay, and insects.
In addition to these properties, western red cedar is lightweight, making it the perfect choice for movable outdoor furniture.
Western red cedar stains well, which means you can pair it with any outdoor furniture that you may already have.
Without proper sanding and finishing, though, the grains on western red cedar become coarse.
Red cedar ages well, and it takes on a grayish hue as it ages over time.
What Wood Is Most Weather Resistant?
Commercially available weather-resistant woods include teak, Brazilian walnut, black locust, redwood, and cypress.
There can be many indications about which one has the highest resistance to rotting over time, but their weather resistance can be comparable.
How Do You Make Wood Waterproof?
If you end up choosing wood that is less water-resistant than other types, you may also want to learn how to waterproof your wooden outdoor furniture.
There are three ways to waterproof your wood regularly and keep them protected from moisture that can lead to rotting and decay.
The most practical way to apply these waterproofing materials is by gently dabbing the substance onto the wood surface with a clean white lintless cloth.
Hand-Wiped Oils
Hand-wiped oils such as linseed or tung oil allow outdoor wood to keep its natural texture and appearance while repelling moisture and insects.
Oil and water do not mix, and the wood absorbs the oil that resists moisture penetration.
Additionally, tiny critters hate oils on wood, and that is why the best wood types have naturally occurring protective oils.
Sealers
Wood sealers such as polyurethane, lacquer, or varnish add a transparent layer of protection on the wood surface.
The downside to using sealers is that it makes the wood look less organic.
Sealers amplify the wood’s color and the appearance of its grains, and they add a shiny patina all over the wood surface.
Stain and Sealant Combos
You can also find chemical products that combine wood stains and sealers.
Choose this method if you want to alter the appearance of wood altogether.
Using a stain and sealant combo is like hitting two birds with one stone.
With products like these, you will be changing the shade or color of wood while giving it an extra glossy layer of protection.
Wood stain sealers come in various shades, allowing you to make furniture look like it has been made using a different wood type.
Typical wood stain sealers have labels that associate with specific types of wood.
For example, you can use a mahogany shade stain sealer on a piece of pinewood to make it appear darker.
What Is the Best Wood to Use for Outdoor Furniture?
The best wood for outdoor furniture will depend significantly on your preferences and budget.
Since all wood types have unique appearances and characteristics, you have to weigh the pros and cons of using a specific type.
If you have experience handling wood, chances are you already know which types are more workable than others.
You can also use readily available wood, and you can use stains and sealers to match its appearance with your existing furniture.
Always keep in mind that outdoor wood should have exceptional weather and rot resistance.
Finally, put emphasis on rigidity and stability, and decide whether you want lightweight, movable furniture or fixed heavy ones.