Is hickory or maple harder?

Hickory is harder at 1,820 Janka versus maple's 1,450 Janka. Hickory is the hardest domestic hardwood commonly used for flooring, making it the best choice for homes with large dogs or heavy foot traffic.

Can you stain maple flooring dark?

Maple can be stained dark, but its tight grain tends to absorb stain unevenly, creating a blotchy appearance. If you want dark floors, walnut or dark-stained oak are better options.

Does hickory flooring work in small rooms?

Hickory's dramatic grain variation can overwhelm small spaces. In smaller rooms, choose select-grade hickory with less variation, or consider maple's more uniform appearance for a calmer visual effect.

flooring

Maple vs Hickory Flooring: Clean vs Bold Hardwood (2026)

Prepared by Lumberama's Wood Comparison Team

|Last updated June 2, 2026|Sources & methodology

Maple and hickory are both hard domestic flooring woods, but they deliver completely different aesthetics. Maple brings clean, modern elegance with its uniform light color, while hickory offers rustic character with dramatic grain variation. Both are harder than oak, making them excellent for active households.

Maple

Hickory

Key Takeaways

Maple and hickory are both hard domestic flooring woods, but they deliver completely different aesthetics.
Maple brings clean, modern elegance with its uniform light color, while hickory offers rustic character with dramatic grain variation.
Both are harder than oak, making them excellent for active households.
Both are excellent hard flooring choices at similar price points.
The decision is purely aesthetic: maple for clean and modern, hickory for bold and rustic.

Property	Maple	Hickory
Price/Sq Ft	$4-$8	$4-$8
Janka Hardness	1,450 lbf	1,820 lbf
Color	Cream to light tan	Light tan to dark brown
Grain Variation	Minimal - uniform	Dramatic - wide range
Style Match	Modern, contemporary	Rustic, farmhouse
Stainability	Can be blotchy	Takes stain well
Availability	Excellent	Good

Maple

Pros

Clean uniform appearance, Very hard and durable, Bright modern aesthetic, Widely available

Cons

Can yellow over time, Shows dirt on light surface, Blotchy stain absorption, Less character than hickory

Hickory

Pros

Hardest domestic flooring, Dramatic rustic character, Hides imperfections well, Takes stain beautifully

Cons

Too bold for some tastes, Wide board color variation, Can look busy in small rooms, Harder on tools during installation

Best Use Cases

Choose maple for clean, modern, or Scandinavian-inspired interiors where a uniform light floor is desired. Choose hickory for rustic, farmhouse, or traditional spaces where bold grain character adds to the design.

Verdict

Both are excellent hard flooring choices at similar price points. The decision is purely aesthetic: maple for clean and modern, hickory for bold and rustic. Let your interior design style guide the choice.