lbf, sugar maple
U.S. Forest Service side-hardness value at 12% moisture content.
Source: U.S. Forest Service, 2025 Wood and Timber Condition Assessment Manual.
Hardwood cutting board statistics and facts.
A practical reference for writers, cooks, and woodworkers looking for cited figures on hardwoods, cutting boards, and kitchen care.
Last updated November 6, 2026
The figures below come from U.S. Forest Service and USDA publications. They are presented as source data, not as a promise that one number alone determines how any handmade board will perform.
Hardness figures for three familiar hardwoods.
The U.S. Forest Service lists the following side-hardness values at 12% moisture content. In this test, the number is the force needed to press a 0.444-inch steel ball halfway into the side of the wood.
lbf, black walnut
U.S. Forest Service side-hardness value at 12% moisture content.
Source: U.S. Forest Service, 2025 Wood and Timber Condition Assessment Manual.
lbf, black cherry
U.S. Forest Service side-hardness value at 12% moisture content.
Source: U.S. Forest Service, 2025 Wood and Timber Condition Assessment Manual.
Kitchen context, in the numbers.
Cutting boards live at the intersection of material choice and daily food preparation. These two figures put that work in context.
food-at-home spending
Inflation-adjusted U.S. food-at-home spending in 2025, reported in 2025 dollars.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, 2026 Food Prices and Spending.
spent on food at home
Share of total U.S. food expenditures spent at food-at-home outlets in 2025.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, 2026 Food Prices and Spending.
core food-safety steps
Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill are USDA’s four basic steps for keeping food safe.
Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, updated October 2024.
Methodology and sources.
This page uses public U.S. government and Forest Service sources. Wood-property figures are laboratory reference values, not a substitute for evaluating a particular board’s grain, joinery, finish, or care.
For everyday care, USDA advises keeping cutting boards clean and separating raw-protein juices from ready-to-eat food. For a practical board-care routine, see how to clean a wooden cutting board.
- U.S. Forest Service, Wood and Timber Condition Assessment Manual, March 2025, table of side-hardness properties for commercially important U.S. woods.
- U.S. Forest Service, Janka Hardness Scale reference, definition of the 0.444-inch ball test and 12% moisture-content convention.
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, “How do I keep my foods safe to eat?”, updated October 1, 2024.
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, “Should I use a wooden cutting board or a plastic one?”, updated February 3, 2025.
- USDA Economic Research Service, Food Prices and Spending, June 2026 update using the Food Expenditure Series.
Cite this page.
Use this suggested citation, and link directly to the specific fact where it helps your reader.
Butcher Blocks by X™. “Hardwood Cutting Board Statistics and Facts.” Updated November 6, 2026. https://butcherblockcuttingboards.com/hardwood-cutting-board-statistics