Knotty & Clear Alder Cabinet Doors & Drawer Fronts
Alder is a warm, light hardwood. Choose knotty alder for rustic character, or clear alder for an even, cherry-like look at a lower price.
Starting at $47.21 in alder, made to your size
Alder in 2 grades
Two grades: knotty for rustic character, clear for an even, cherry-like look.
- Color
- Warm light reddish tan
- Grain
- Knotty or clear, soft and even
- Finishes
- Clear topcoat, stained or unfinished
- Price
- $–$$
- Ages
- Ambers slightly over time
- Painting
- Not offered; choose paint-grade maple
Knotty Alder, Flat CutStained or clearBuild in it
Clear Alder, Flat CutStained or clearBuild in it
Hardness
Janka hardness, pounds of force. Higher resists dents better.
- Alder590
- Cherry950
- Walnut1,010
- Red Oak1,290
- White Oak1,360
- Maple1,450
- Hickory1,820
Pick your style
Every style is made in alder to the width and height you enter. Prices are for the smallest size; the product page prices yours as you go.
Hardwood Slab Cabinet Door
Breckenridge Slab Drawer Front
Channing Slab Drawer Front
Concord Slab Drawer Front
Edgewater Slab Drawer Front
Shaker Slab Drawer Front
Hardwood Slab Drawer Front
Pantry Cabinet Door
Appliance Panel
Cabinet End Panel
Alder at home
Why alder?
Knotty alder
Knotty alder has an even color with knots of all sizes and grain variation throughout, for a rustic, lived-in look. Alder knots often have small cracks; we choose wood where they aren’t open enough to let light through, though some checking at the edges is normal.
Clear alder
Clear alder has a uniform color and consistent grain with no knots. It’s an affordable way to get the look of cherry, especially with a stain.
Light stains
Both are usually finished with a light stain, which brings out the warm tone.
Softer wood
Alder rates about 590 on the Janka hardness scale, softer than maple, oak or cherry, so it can dent more easily. Many people like the character that adds over time.
What customers say about alder
Anonymous Verified buyer on Concord Cabinet Door
I ordered cabinet doors for 3 rooms. One in red oak, one set in rustic alder and one in white maple. My favorite was the rustic alder which was for the bedroom. I also loved the red oak for the kitchen. The white maple was nice to but hard to take a stain. Still the quality of the wood was great and the sizes were accurate. Everything was just like I hoped it would be. No complaints at all!
debbie Verified buyer on Breckenridge Cabinet Door
these are beautiful, I love them. Great way to upgrade cabinets without replacing the whole cabinet. I wanted the rustic look and the rustic alder is perfect, great quality, would highly recommend.
Lawny-ray Chapman Verified buyer on Shaker Cabinet Door
The website needs to either have a better description of the wood you are buying or a representative picture. I am not a cabinet maker but I am better than average with DIY projects. If I have all the information. Rustic alder was an upgrade to me over MDF. I had no clue I was buying large knots and holes. I accept my responsibility but you could have made my experience better with a little more information.
Micki S. Verified buyer on Covington Cabinet Door
My doors arrived perfectly built to the 1/8" directions and the basic sanding was smooth enough to apply stain & sealer without any extra sanding (great time saver). The door's milling matched my existing doors very well thanks to good online pics showing choices. The rustic alder wood perfectly matched my existing doors so I couldn't be happier.
Nancy Kacir Verified buyer on Shaker Drawer Front
I would have wanted a more clear explanation of the kinds of wood. I did not realize the Rustic Alder would have so many flaws. Not what I expected.
Michael on Shaker Cabinet Door
I ordered this door in Rustic Alder. I'm extremely satisfied with the quality and the way it was packaged. Will definitely buy from them again!
Customer photos
Don't see your style?Start from a blank door and choose the panel, profiles and hinge boring, in alder. See it in 3D as you build.
Build your own in alderAlder questions
Can I order alder doors in any size?
Yes. Every alder door and drawer front is made to the width and height you enter, and the product page shows the price as you go. How to measure
Knotty alder or clear alder?
Knotty alder has knots and grain variation for a rustic look, and costs less. Clear alder has no knots and an even color, often used for a cherry look.
Are the knots in knotty alder open?
Alder knots often have small cracks. We choose wood where they’re not open enough to let light through, but some checking along the edges is normal and part of the look.
Is alder good for kitchen cabinets?
Yes. It’s softer than maple or oak (about 590 on the Janka scale), so it can dent more easily, but it machines and finishes beautifully and is very popular for cabinet doors.
How long does it take?
Every order is made to order. See our current lead times.
