Where’s All the White Oak Going?
For decades, red oak was the go-to choice for cabinets and flooring. White oak, by contrast, was mostly a niche material, valued primarily for making barrel staves in the bourbon and whiskey industry. Occasionally, homeowners or designers would request quarter-sawn white oak, and rarely was rift-cut specified.
That has changed. In recent years, white oak has surged in popularity. Shaker-style doors in white oak are now among the top sellers, especially with homeowners looking for the sleek, light, modern aesthetic that white oak delivers.
And it’s not just cabinets. White oak demand has increased in the trucking industry (used for trailer flooring), while in residential construction, by 2022, white oak accounted for roughly 50% of U.S. hardwood flooring demand—up from just 19% in 2012.
Bourbon and Whiskey: The Biggest Users
White oak is essential to the bourbon and whiskey industries. By law (a 1938 federal regulation), bourbon and Tennessee whiskey must be aged in new, charred oak barrels for at least two years. White oak is uniquely suited to this purpose: its cellular structure allows liquid to cycle through the wood, enhancing flavor as the spirit absorbs natural sugars and vanillins from the barrel.
As bourbon and whiskey have grown exponentially in popularity, so has the need for more new white oak barrels.
Why Supply is Tight
White oak’s popularity collides with significant supply challenges:
- Low growth: More than 99% of oak seedlings die before reaching five years old. Oaks need abundant sunlight, but shade-tolerant species like maple thrive in today’s denser forests, crowding oak out.
- Reduced logging activity: Lower harvesting levels mean fewer young oaks get the light they need to grow.
- Timberland purchases by distilleries: Bourbon makers are buying up timberland to secure their own future supply, limiting what’s available to lumber mills — and ultimately, cabinetmakers.
What It Means for the Cabinet Industry
With white oak in demand across flooring, trucking, and especially barrel-making, cabinet manufacturers face stiff competition for high-grade logs. The result is tighter availability and higher prices — a trend that isn’t expected to ease anytime soon.