There are no products listed under this category.
Filter by
Wide plank countertops, also called face grain tops, are made from solid hardwood boards glued edge to edge with the wide face up. Each plank shows its full grain pattern, so the top looks like fine furniture. We build every wide plank countertop and table top to order in Middlefield, Ohio, in more than 30 woods and grades. Order any size up to 84" deep and 1" to 1-3/4" thick, and your top ships in 2 to 3 weeks.
- Planks: random widths, typically 3" to 8", running the full length
- Thickness: 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2" or 1-3/4"
- Size: up to 84" deep; most species up to 138" or 162" long
- Species: 30+ woods and grades, including quarter sawn, rift sawn and live sawn oak
- Finish: unfinished, or finished in our shop
- Lead time: ships in 2 to 3 weeks
- Warranty: one year on materials and workmanship
What is a wide plank countertop?
A wide plank top is built from fewer, wider boards than butcher block. We glue random-width planks, typically 3" to 8" wide, edge to edge with the face grain up. Each plank runs the full length of the top. The surface shows the wood's full figure: cathedral arches, ray fleck or curl, depending on the species and how the log was sawn.
It's the natural choice for kitchen islands, dining and kitchen tables, bar tops, desks, vanities and commercial counters. For a surface you chop on every day, see edge grain or end grain, or compare all four constructions in the table below.
Is wide plank right for your kitchen?
Wide plank is the best choice when you want the top to look like a piece of furniture.
- Best for: islands, tables, bar tops and eating areas where the grain is on display.
- Plan for: a cutting board for chopping, so the figured surface stays looking its best, and seasonal movement. Wide boards expand and contract more than narrow strips, so finish every surface and install the top so it can move. Our installation, care and maintenance guide shows how.
How we build it
We select boards for color and grain, then glue random-width planks edge to edge. Each plank runs the full length of the top, so there are no end joints across the surface. Then we sand the top and all four sides smooth.
The underside isn't graded for appearance and may show minor marks. Add the High-Grade Bottom option when it will be visible, such as on a table top or seating overhang. See how each construction is built in 3D.
Our Middlefield, Ohio, shop sits in the heart of one of the state's largest Amish communities. Every top we build reflects the skilled craftsmanship of our local Amish workforce. Hardwood Lumber Company has built hardwood products here since 1958. Read our story.
Choosing a wood and grade
Pick a wood for its color, grain and hardness, and compare species in our wood information guide. Every board is unique, and product photos show one example, so expect natural variation in color and grain.
- Domestic woods: Hard Maple, Soft Maple, Clear Cherry, Hickory, Ash, Beech, Birch, Poplar, Grey Elm, Clear Alder and Douglas Fir.
- Walnut grades: walnut plank countertops come four ways. Walnut has about 60% or more dark heartwood with lighter sapwood for contrast. Premium Walnut is 100% dark heartwood with no sapwood or knots. Steamed Walnut is steamed for a more even tone, and Rustic Walnut shows knots and natural character.
- Oak by sawing method: White Oak and Red Oak for arched cathedral grain, Quarter Sawn White Oak and Red Oak for straight grain with ray fleck, Rift Sawn White Oak and Red Oak for tight, straight grain, and Live Sawn White Oak, which mixes all three looks in each board.
- Rustic, character and figured grades: Rustic Hickory, Rustic Maple, Rustic White Oak, Rustic Cherry, Character Cherry, Knotty Alder, Knotty Pine, Wormy Maple (Ambrosia) and Curly Maple.
- Imported and exotic hardwoods: Sapele, African Mahogany, Genuine Mahogany, Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba), Spanish Cedar, Iroko, Makore, Black Limba, Acacia, Purpleheart, Zebrawood, Wenge, Leopardwood, Tigerwood, Canarywood, Shedua and Burmese Teak.
Not sure which wood is right? Order wood samples before you commit, or browse finished tops in our countertop gallery and customer gallery.
Sizes, options and customization
- Custom size: enter your exact depth, up to 84", and length, up to the limit for your species.
- Island shapes: choose from 11 island top shapes, from curvy and arched fronts to stadium and ellipse tops.
- Thickness: 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2" or 1-3/4". 1-1/2" is our standard.
- Edge profiles: 29 profiles, including thumbnail and classical tabletop edges made for tables. See all edge details.
- Finishes: acrylic polyurethane, full-fill polyester, mineral oil, Salad Bowl Finish or Rubio Monocoat in about 50 colors. Choose a flat, satin or semi-gloss sheen, one of 40 stain colors or a custom stain match. Compare wood finishes.
- Textures: hand planed, hand scraped, wire brushed, saw cut or distressed, for a farmhouse or reclaimed look. See texture options.
- Cutouts and joints: CNC-cut sink and cooktop openings from your drawing, 45° angle cuts, waterfall miters and butt-joint prep with countertop bolts.
- High-Grade Bottom: the underside graded to match the top, for table tops, overhangs and open undersides.
- Inset Stretcher Bars: an extra-cost option for tops 32" deep or more that helps control warping and seasonal movement.
How wide plank compares
| Construction | Look | Thickness | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide plank (face grain) | Wide boards with full grain figure | 1" to 1-3/4" | Tables, islands, bars and display surfaces |
| Edge grain | Long, even stripes | 1" to 4-1/2" | Everyday counters, islands and bar tops |
| End grain | Checkerboard of block ends | 2" to 4-1/2" | Chopping stations and prep islands |
| Signature Blended Grain | Random-length strips in mixed tones | 1" to 3-1/2" | Long runs up to 192" and a lively, handcrafted look |
Ordering, lead time and shipping
Every countertop is made to order in Middlefield, Ohio, and ships in 2 to 3 weeks. Tops under 70 lb and 96" long ship by FedEx or UPS Ground. Larger tops ship on a pallet by freight, with liftgate or white-glove delivery available. See shipping and returns for details.
Each top carries a one-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. To keep it, finish and install unfinished tops within one week of delivery, following our installation, care and maintenance guide.
Need a top sooner? In Stock edge grain tops ship the next business day. For project questions, call 1-800-798-1269, contact our sales team or request a custom quote.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between wide plank and butcher block?
Butcher block is built from many narrow strips or blocks. Wide plank uses fewer, wider boards, typically 3" to 8" wide, with the face grain up. It shows more of the wood's natural figure and reads more like a furniture top.
Is a wide plank countertop good for a kitchen?
Yes, especially for islands, bar tops and eating areas. Use a cutting board for chopping to keep the figured surface looking its best. Around a sink, choose a sealed finish such as acrylic polyurethane or full-fill polyester. Our warranty doesn't cover mineral oil or Salad Bowl Finish tops installed around sinks.
Will wide planks cup or warp?
A little movement is normal for solid wood. Wood takes on moisture in humid months and releases it in dry ones, so each board swells and shrinks slightly across its width. Wider boards move more than narrow strips. If one face takes on moisture faster than the other, the top can cup.
Three steps keep a wide plank top flat:
- Finish every surface. Seal the top, edges and underside so moisture moves in and out evenly. Unfinished tops need to be finished within one week of delivery.
- Let it move. Fasten the top so it can expand and contract, rather than gluing it to the cabinets. Our installation, care and maintenance guide shows how.
- Add Inset Stretcher Bars to deep tops. For tops 32" deep or more, this extra-cost option is set into the underside and helps hold the top flat through seasonal changes.
What's the difference between flat sawn, quarter sawn, rift sawn and live sawn oak?
Flat sawn boards show arched cathedral grain. Quarter sawn boards show straight grain with shimmering ray fleck. Rift sawn boards show tight, straight grain with little fleck. Live sawn boards are cut straight through the log, so each plank mixes all three looks.
How thick is a wide plank countertop?
Choose 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2" or 1-3/4". 1-1/2" is our standard and suits most kitchen counters and table tops.
Can I use a wide plank top as a dining table?
Yes. Choose a tabletop edge profile and add the High-Grade Bottom so the underside looks finished. For a circular table, see our round table tops.
How long will it take to get my countertop?
Wide plank tops ship in 2 to 3 weeks, plus transit time. If you need a top right away, In Stock edge grain tops ship the next business day.