Mahogany vs. Cherry Wood for Cabinets

Similarities

• Mahogany and cherry both have a reddish tone that is darker in appearance than many other types of wood. Both cherry and mahogany are used to make a wide range of products, such as cabinetry, flooring, furniture and decorative accent pieces. One other similarity is that a cabinet that is made from mahogany or cherry wood is generally higher in price than a cabinet made out of other woods like pine, oak or hickory, for example.

Mahogany

• Mahogany trees are widely grown in Latin America. It is a large canopy tree that grows in the rainforest and can reach over 150 feet in height. The grain in mahogany wood is fine to medium in texture. The exact color ranges between yellow and red and deepens to a darker reddish brown shade with age. On the Janka Hardness Rating Scale, mahogany measures near the 800 point range. This wood responds well to woodworking tools and techniques.

Cherry

• The American cherry tree grows in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. It can reach 60 to 80 feet in height and can live 150 to 200 years. The heartwood of a cherry tree is reddish brown and darkens over time. The sapwood has a white, creamy appearance. The wood from cherry trees was commonly used in colonial times as well. Cherry wood's grain is fine, and it also responds well to woodworking, staining and finishing. American cherry wood ranges around the 900 point range on the Janka hardness scale.

Pros and Cons

• Some home owners demand mahogany as the wood of choice for their cabinetry due to the beauty and intricacy of its grain. Mahogany also has a more exotic appeal, as it must be imported. However, this also makes mahogany more expensive than cherry. Cherry is grown with the United States, and therefore, is more cost effective than mahogany. Cherry wood also withstands "bumps and bruises" a little more efficiently than mahogany. The increased durability of cherry wood stems from the fact that it is harder than mahogany.