Poplar vs Pine Wood: Which is Better?

When creating your perfect project, it’s never easy to choose your perfect material. Poplar wood and pine wood are popular choices among artisans in furniture projects, but which one is better? Is there an advantage to using one over the other?

In short, yes, there can be many advantages over using one type of wood over another, but the answer of which one you should use isn’t so cut and dry.

Join me as I look at these popular woodworking wood species and explore what to consider when choosing between poplar vs pine wood.

Poplar vs Pine Wood

When comparing these two wood types and their various qualities, it is essential to note that there isn’t just one type of poplar or pine. 

These terms describe the general poplar or pine family of wood species, and different types of poplar or pine can have other properties from one another.

Poplar

Poplar wood comes from around 35 different tree species, mainly from the northern hemisphere. It is generally regarded as a high-quality hardwood that isn’t necessarily very aesthetically appealing.

White poplar is a type of poplar known for its ability to mimic qualities from any wood and is much softer than other types of poplar. Even though it is hardwood, it is gentle enough to get scratched and damaged easily.

Black Poplar is also soft and light and is similar to maple or oak wood. It is as easy to woodwork as hardwood as these more delicate wood types.

Pine

By contrast, pinewood is primarily a softwood tree, though some are considered hard pines or soft pines depending on the pine tree species it comes from.

They are generally regarded as durable while remaining flexible, are generally less expensive, and come in a broader range of colors.

This versatility makes it great in raw construction and more artisanal woodworking projects.

Soft pines have low density and even grains, which means fewer knot spaces and a finer texture.

Hard pines are more rigid, denser, and have more uneven grain. These are sometimes also called pitch pines or pond pines.

A third category also exists called intermediate pine, which is lightweight and more flexible due to its even grain.

Recently, pine has become harder to import into the US thanks to pest infestations of the supply.

Durability

When examining the durability of the two kinds of wood, it is necessary to consider the Janka scale or the Janka hardness test.

In this test, two wood samples are put through a series of wear and tear tests that measure how well these wood samples hold up, and these results are simplified into a single Janka rating.

The Janka tests are carried out by smashing a steel ball in the wood, and the more force that has to be used to embed the ball into the wood determines how high the wood rates on the Janka scale.

Most pine types will have a higher Janka rating than poplar wood, which means that pine wood will generally be more durable.

However, because so many different types of poplar and pine wood exist, there are poplar woods that are more durable than some of the lower-rated pine woods, so it will sometimes depend on the species of wood more than whether it is poplar or pine wood.

Poplar is still considered a durable wood. However, if durability is your main concern for your project, pine is better overall.

Wood Carving

Poplar is an excellent wood for wood carving and wood whittling because it is very cheap and widely available, and most species have a straight grain wood that is easier to cut into.

As previously discussed, it can hold its own in terms of durability even if it is outranked by pine wood. Its durability is more than capable of holding its shape in the face of an intricate design or complex wood carving technique.

People often use poplar wood to make spoons meant for cooking and food prep. It is a very porous wood, so it isn’t great for fashioning eating utensils, but its texture is suitable for stirring and assisting with other aspects of food preparation.

You can use anything from a dremel to a chainsaw for wood carving projects.

Even though a harder wood, poplar is better for wood carving than pine, as it is easier to work with.

Outdoor Projects

Pine is generally better for outdoor projects because it will last longer than poplar, thanks to its Janka hardness. Pine lasts around five years outside, while poplar only lasts about three years.

Doing your project out of pine instead of poplar ensures that you will be protecting it against the elements better because pine is less porous than poplar and more able to stand up to changes in the environment that can happen over time.

It is worth noting that poplar may be a better fit for a heavy construction project because of its status as hardwood, and it may be better in some instances because of how easy it is to work with.

It is also worth noting that other wood may be worth using for an outdoor project if longevity is your concern, though you can also pressure treat both poplar and pine against the elements if your heart is set on using one or the other.

No matter what, make sure to finish your wood with a sealer like polyurethane or spar varnish. This will protect your wood project for a long time.

In the end, pine is a much more durable (although softer) than poplar, and will last longer in an outdoor setting.

Indoor Projects

While pine mildly outperforms poplar in outdoor spaces, poplar is a popular choice for indoor projects like furniture cabinets because of how easy it is to work with and cut due to its straight and easy grains and hardwood texture.

Easy to cut and assemble, add the best stain to your poplar wood and you can make some amazing wood pieces.

Some pine species have even and non-knotty grains, as well. But, pine is a better choice when you want to embrace its knotty nature. This makes it harder to work with, though.

Poplar is the more popular choice considering both of them as a whole.

Pine is used for window frames, chairs, couches, and flooring, while poplar is used for cabinets, shelves, and interior construction.

Pine also has a nice texture and is more aesthetically pleasing, while poplar is cheaper and isn’t as pretty.

These different properties will choose to use one over the other as a personal preference with pros and cons to each one depending on the project and taste of the woodworker.

In short, both kinds of wood perform well at different functions for indoor use.

Holding Weight

Poplar wood is excellent when you design something that needs to hold its shape underweight, like crafting shelves.

As a hardwood, poplar is more rigid, which means it will break rather than bend when too much weight is applied.

Poplar is generally better than pine when applied. This quality is excellent for shelves because you need to be inflexible and hold its shape, so your shelves don’t sag in the center.

Pinewood, for this reason, isn’t a great choice because it is a softwood and its flexibility is a negative thing in this case for holding weight.

If you must use pinewood for whatever reason, it will do an okay job, but it lacks the heavy-duty application of poplar, so you should try to restrict the weight placed in the center of the shelf to avoid sagging over time.

Poplar is great at holding weight, evidenced by its popularity as a construction material wood.

Final Thoughts

Poplar vs pine, there are many reasons to choose one wood over the other, and the decision of which wood to use in your project ultimately comes down to your personal preference.

Qualities like aesthetics, durability, rigidity, flexibility and the price will all change in importance depending on the scope of your project.

Pine wood is more durable and best for outdoor projects. Poplar is a harder wood more suitable for carving and indoor projects. However, both are very high quality woods that can be used for a variety of projects.

Rather than settling on a favorite wood to work with, it will expand your woodworking capability to consider the advantages each poplar and pine wood has in each situation.