Is poplar good for cabinet doors?

The first wood that comes to mind when you think of “paint-grade” cabinet doors is probably poplar wood. It’s a lightweight, soft hardwood known for its affordability and ease of machining. This makes it the first choice for paint-grade cabinet doors among many cabinetmakers.

But is poplar good for cabinet doors? Despite its popularity, we don’t think so. Poplar cabinets damage easily, are very porous, and lack the visual appeal of similar hardwoods. If you’re in the process of replacing your cabinet doors, there are simply better alternatives on the market.

Continue reading to learn why we don’t recommend poplar for cabinet doors and which wood species you can use instead — even if you’re on a budget. 

5 issues with using poplar kitchen cabinets

While poplar kitchen cabinets are economical, what you save in upfront costs will likely go to frequent repairs, paint touch-ups, and, eventually, another cabinet door replacement. You will benefit in the long run if you spend a little more on a wood with the durability and longevity to make your renovation worthwhile. 

As expert cabinet manufacturers working with dozens of wood species, we’ve encountered several issues with poplar over the years. Here are the top five: 

1. Poplar dents easily

Despite being a hardwood, poplar wood is relatively soft, with a low Janka hardness rating of 540 pound-force (lbf). This means it dents and scratches easily, the last qualities you want in a hard-use environment like a kitchen.

Poplar’s softness also means it doesn’t hold up against heavy use as well as other hardwoods do. In a kitchen environment where cabinets are frequently opened, closed, and subjected to impact, this can result in visible signs of wear over time.

On the other hand, its softness is also why poplar is such a common choice. Because it’s a soft hardwood, cutting and shaping is easier, which translates to lower prices. The trade-off is its low resilience to the demands of daily use, leading to premature repairs or replacements that are ultimately more expensive.

2. Too much movement

As well as being vulnerable to damage, poplar cabinets have a high level of movement. In wood, movement refers to the natural expansion and contraction. It occurs during fluctuations in humidity and temperature. A stable wood species — maple, for example — resists these fluctuations. But with its porous structure and high moisture absorption, poplar struggles. 

Poplar’s high movement is due to its cellular structure. Wood cells absorb and release moisture based on the surrounding environment. When the wood absorbs moisture, it swells. When it loses moisture, it shrinks. Poplar tends to absorb and release moisture more readily than other hardwoods, leading to significant dimensional changes, including:

• Warping
• Twisting
• Cupping
• Swelling 
• Shrinking

In applications where stability is crucial, like cabinetry, this constant movement causes a host of problems, including: 

• Paint that cracks or peels
• Wood that splits
• A distorted cabinet door shape that causes issues with closing or latching

There are things you can do to minimize poplar’s movement. For example, letting it acclimate to your environment gives it time to adjust before work begins. You can also apply sealant to all sides of the poplar, including the ends, to reduce moisture absorption. 

However, these safeguards won’t prevent warping altogether. Poplar’s high movement is an inevitability you should carefully consider before working with this wood.

3. High porosity

Poplar is extremely porous. Not only does this contribute to its high movement, but it also means it soaks up paint and primer and requires multiple coats. 

Poplar’s porosity also affects the adherence and durability of finishes. Poplar kitchen cabinets absorb stains easily and sometimes unevenly. The result is an inconsistent finish, with some areas appearing darker than others. 

Poplar is porous because its grain structure has large and open pores. These allow for the movement of water and air within the wood, so their size and openness absorb moisture more easily. 

Poplar’s high porosity also makes it vulnerable to decay. Its excessive moisture absorption creates conditions that promote the growth of fungi and mold. In kitchen environments with high humidity, this is not only a concern for the long-term durability of your cabinets. It’s a concern for your and your family’s health.

4. Harder to sand

Though its softness makes poplar one of the easiest woods to cut, it offers no favors in terms of sanding. You need to sand poplar wood with finer grits of sandpaper because coarse grits leave sanding marks. This can be more labor intensive — even fruitless — given poplar’s tendency to “fuzz up” during sanding.

“Fuzzing” is when the wood develops a raised grain due to sanding. Poplar’s wood fibers are prone to lifting, creating a rough surface. This requires extra care and additional sanding steps to achieve a smooth and polished finish.

Poplar also has variations in density, leading to uneven sanding results. Softer areas may sand more quickly than denser areas, resulting in an uneven surface that ruins the look of your cabinet doors. 

5. Low visual appeal

Unless you’re staining or painting them, which you now know comes with many issues, poplar cabinets lack the visual appeal of other hardwood cabinets.

Poplar has a light color and less pronounced grain pattern, which doesn’t provide the rich aesthetic many homeowners seek for traditional or rustic kitchens. At the same time, it varies in color from pale cream to yellowish brown. That makes it difficult to achieve a uniform design, clashing with contemporary or minimal aesthetics.

If you value prominent wood characteristics, poplar is too bland to achieve a visually striking effect. Plus, its inherent softness and porosity make it hard to get a sleek stain or paint job.

Even if you manage to get a smooth finish on your poplar kitchen cabinets, the wood is susceptible to aging and turns a darkish yellow when exposed to direct sunlight. Over time, this can cause your cabinets to lose their original color. 

Alternatives to using poplar

Since poplar grows so fast, it’s one of the most available and, therefore, affordable woods on the market. It’s also easy on tooling and saw blades, so it’s understandable why cabinetmakers and homeowners choose it. That said, there are many alternatives to poplar that compete on cost while offering better results. 

• • Birch is a popular poplar alternative because it’s similarly priced and offers nearly double the hardness. With a uniform and attractive grain, birch has a sleeker look and takes stains or finishes well, providing versatile customization options. 
  • Alder is cheaper than most high-end hardwoods while still giving you high-end quality. Its natural luster, light brown color, and straight grain bring a timeless look to any space. Although ranking as a soft hardwood, alder is still denser than poplar and looks great painted.
  • Pine is a staple in cabinetry because even though it’s a softer wood, the right species provides good durability. Southern yellow pine tends to be densest, with a Janka hardness rating of 870 lbf. As a soft hardwood, pine is also cheaper than most hardwoods, including poplar, with Southern yellow pine considered the most affordable lumber among quality woods. Combine this with its warm appearance and prominent grain pattern, and you get cabinets that are sturdy, cost-effective, and characterful.
  • HDF and MDF are another budget-friendly option. As engineered wood composites, they’re dense and wear-resistant, bringing the same sturdiness as hardwood at a fraction of the cost. They also experience less seasonal movement, are much smoother, and require fewer coats of paint.
  • Hard maple has exceptional hardness, durability, and resistance to wear. At 1,450 lbf, its Janka hardness rating is more than 2.5 times greater than poplar’s. While it costs more than poplar, maple’s life span is longer. Alternatively, you can use soft maple for a cheaper price point. Hard maple also has a fine, consistent texture that takes paint or stain very well for a lasting and aesthetic finish.
  • Oak is the best choice if you want long-lasting cabinets with natural characteristics. White and red oak are both highly durable, with white oak being slightly harder. While oak isn’t recommended for painted cabinet doors because of its open grains, it stains beautifully and showcases the wood’s natural characteristics. It’s more expensive than poplar but worth the investment if you want something timeless.

Should I ever use poplar wood?

When deciding whether poplar is good for your cabinet doors, remember that, while it’s cheaper upfront, it’s more expensive in the long run. Its poor durability and tendency to move make poplar wood ill-suited for high-traffic or humid environments like kitchens. The ongoing maintenance will not only add up, but it will also be stressful.

That’s not to say poplar doesn’t have some applications. It’s practical when durability isn’t a concern, making it common for cabinet frames, moldings, and internal cabinet structures. Woodworkers will also use poplar to create smaller, decorative pieces for cabinet door profiles, as its workability allows for intricate details. 

Poplar’s affordability makes it popular for creating prototypes or mock-ups. It’s a cost-effective material for testing your cabinet designs and fit before committing to more expensive hardwoods. If you’re planning a full cabinet replacement, building mock-up poplar cabinets ensures your renovation runs smoothly.

Learn more with The Cabinet Door Store

With so many wood types, choosing just one can be challenging.

If you’re upgrading your kitchen, turn to The Cabinet Door Store. Offering a range of cabinet doors in a variety of high-quality wood species, we help you find the ones that will uplift your kitchen and meet all your needs.

We can even paint or stain your doors to meet your unique design style. For visual cohesion, we also offer matching drawer fronts for every cabinet door profile. 

For more information on how we can help your project, contact us today.