How To Choose Hardwood Floor Width

Introduction

Hardwood floor width is an essential element of wood flooring design that can determine the overall outlook of your hardwood floor. It can make a space appear busy, elegant, smaller, or bigger. As a wholesaler, interior decorator, or building contractor, it’s essential to understand how to choose the correct hardwood floor width for every project.

If you want a traditional classic look, you can go for narrow planks between 2¹/₄ inch to 3 inches wide. Nowadays, wider planks of 4 to 5 inches are becoming popular. Wider floorboards reveal the floor’s character like the knots and grain. Wider planks are preferred because they create fewer seams and work well for most rooms. However, your preference and goal should determine your choice of hardwood floor width.

This article provides a detailed guide on choosing hardwood floor width and vital factors to consider when selecting hardwood floor width.

What Is the Standard Width of Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floor width standards have changed over time. Traditionally, hardwood floor planks used to be 2¹/₄  inch to 3 inches wide. These narrow planks are versatile and work well with most interior decor styles. However, hardwood width standards have grown wider over the years, and wide plank floors are the modern trend.

4-inch to 5-inch boards have become the new hardwood floor width standard in recent years. Wider planks ranging from 6 inches (150 mm) to 12 inches (300mm) are now also fairly common. People prefer wide planks because they create fewer seams and work well for most rooms. 

Hardwood Floor Width Sizes

Hardwood floor width can be broadly categorized into three types: narrow plank, wide plank, and random width. We’ll look at each of these in detail below.

Narrow Plank

Narrow plank, also known as strip flooring, was the traditional hardwood width standard until recently. Classic narrow planks are usually 2″ to 3″ wide and work well for both traditional and modern home decor. It offers the best width for creating floor designs like block parquets, chevrons, and herringbone.

Narrow floorboards are cut from small blocks of wood, showing fewer blemishes. They also show fewer knots and grain patterns because of their small width. Narrow floorboards are great for small spaces. They can make a small room look and feel larger. However, installing them will take longer because there will be many planks to lay.

Wide Plank

Wide plank is the current trend in hardwood flooring, having displaced narrow planks as the industry standard. While 4″ to 5″ are the standard wide plank width, 6-inch to 12-inch wide planks are increasingly becoming popular.

Broad-width planks are perfect for creating rustic style designs or contemporary minimalist designs. The planks are cut from larger pieces and show lots of genuine wood characteristics -knots and grain patterns. It makes it a perfect fit for rustic style designs.

Because of their large widths, wide planks have fewer seams when installed, creating a clean and elegant flow. It’s also faster to install because there are fewer boards compared to when installing strip flooring. 

Our wide plank regular width sizes are 150/165/190/220/240/300 mm.

Random Width Planks

This type of flooring involves installing floorboards of varying widths in one space. This style of wood flooring is becoming popular and works well for various kinds of interior decor. The random width of the floorboards mirrors the natural variations of tree widths, creating an authentic natural look.

Random-width planks are highly versatile and can be used to create a variety of floor designs and patterns, adding warmth and character to every space. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing Hardwood Floors Width

Certain factors will influence the best hardwood floor width for your project. They include room size, decor style, wood grain, subfloor type, purpose, personal preference, and budget. These factors are important considerations when deciding the best hardwood width for your home, brand, or interior decor project. We’ll look at each of them in detail below.

Room Size

One of the vital factors to consider when choosing hardwood floor width is the size of the room you’re installing the floor. Different widths work best for various room sizes. 

Narrow planks are best for small and narrow rooms, as they can create an illusion of space, making the room look larger than its size. If you prefer wide planks, it’s best to maintain the standard 4 or 5-inch boards. 

Wider planks can also be laid perpendicular to the long wall in a narrow room to create an illusion of wideness. It’s best to use light-colored boards no more than 8 inches wide in such a situation, as a larger-width plank can somewhat shrink the room. Light-colored floorboards give the room an airy and roomy appearance.

Wide planks are a great option for large rooms and open-plan areas. They add a touch of class and grandeur to modern interior designs. You can use uniform or random width wide planks for rustic or contemporary designs. Uniform width wide planks are best for a clean, consistent look, whereas random width wide planks create a visually appealing rustic look.

Style

Wood flooring is an essential component of interior decor. Hence, the interior decor design style is an important consideration when deciding on hardwood floor width. 

If you’re going for a traditional home setting, narrow planks are the way to go. Narrow planks are also the best option for creating patterned flooring like chevron, herringbone, or block parquet.

Wider planks are more suitable if you’re going for a rustic style because they show more wood character. They’re also a popular choice for a contemporary look because they create a clean and elegant look.

Wood Species

While strip flooring and standard-width boards are generally available in several wood species, wider planks are often only available in specific wood species. Broader floorboards with 12″ to 24″ widths are rare in most wood species and usually have to be custom-made, making them more expensive.

Subfloor Condition

Consider the type and condition of your subfloor when choosing a hardwood floor width. Wider floorboards require a flat, even subfloor to prevent slippage during installation. Minor subfloor imperfections do not affect narrow plank installation.

Functionality of the Space

The purpose of the space where you’ll install the floorboards is a crucial consideration when choosing hardwood floor width. Narrow floorboards are more suitable for high humidity and moisture exposure areas because they require less space to expand. This makes them ideal for moisture-prone areas like kitchens.

Wider floorboards need more space to expand and contract. Hence, they’re more likely to cup or gap when installed in high humidity areas.

Purpose

The purpose for which you’re ordering hardwood flooring can determine the most suitable board width for you. If you’re a wholesaler or hardwood flooring brand, it is recommended to choose regular wide plank widths, which range from 6 inches (150mm) to 12 inches (300mm). These are the most popular hardwood floor widths.

If you’re a builder, interior decorator, or contractor ordering wood flooring for a specific project, you have more flexibility when choosing hardwood floor width. Manufacturers that offer custom wood flooring designs can customize your order to your preferred dimensions.

Final Thoughts!

Choosing the width of your hardwood floor directly impacts the overall appearance of your home or building interior. Therefore, when selecting hardwood flooring width, you need to carefully consider multiple factors, including decor style, room size, wood species, costs, subfloor conditions, and space functionality.

Different width options can affect the feel of a space: narrow planks can make small areas appear more spacious, while wide planks are ideal for rustic or contemporary decor.

Whether you prefer the currently popular wide or random width planks or traditional narrow planks, DuraMagicfloor offers high-quality wood flooring in various widths. Feel free to contact us via our website to learn more about our wood flooring solutions.