Best Wooden Cutting Boards 2024, Tested & Reviewed

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Our top picks will protect your knives and make meal prep a cinch. Bamboo Cutting Board With Edge

Best Wooden Cutting Boards 2024, Tested & Reviewed

The best wooden cutting board can do more than provide a secure base for chopping. Wood (especially end-grain wood) is more gentle on your blades, allowing kitchen knives to stay sharper longer, even with daily use. It also has natural antiseptic properties and won’t harbor bacteria in the same way that plastic cutting boards can, so you can meal prep knowing your kitchen is a more hygienic place. Plus, wooden cutting boards double as serveware, seamlessly transitioning to cheese or charcuterie boards.

To help you find the best wooden cutting boards for your needs, we tested 21 top-rated cutting boards, paying close attention to their shape, durability, and performance. From classic butcher block styles and grooved designs for carving meat and corralling juices to all-in-one prep stations, the below wooden cutting boards earned high marks during our tests.

This thick cutting board is super stable and won’t budge during chopping.

This cutting board is bulky, heavy, and most easily stored on the countertop, which may not be possible in smaller kitchens.

John Boos is an iconic name in the wooden cutting board category, with a presence in nearly every professional kitchen around the country. One look at this durable (and, dare we say, beautiful) cutting board, and it’s not hard to see why. Made of end-grain maple and weighing a whopping 10 pounds, this hefty cutting board offers a firm yet gentle surface for any number of kitchen prep tasks — and it looks good on your counter.

In testing, this cutting board quickly gained an edge over the competition thanks to its substantial size. The large surface made it easy to dice up bigger items, like watermelon, while allowing users to create a mini mise en place around the board with smaller ingredients like herbs and aromatics. This piece can be a bit cumbersome to wash due to its size, but the quality and functionality outweigh any wrestling required to get it into your kitchen sink. To keep your Boos board in tip-top shape, the brand recommends oiling it regularly with a food-safe mineral oil.

Materials: Maple | Size: 20 x 15 inches | Weight: 10 pounds

Food & Wine / Katherine Gallagher

There are four silicone corners on the edges of this piece which keep the board in place during use.

Pigmented sauces may stain the wood and silicone on this cutting board temporarily, but they fade after several washes.

For a quality cutting board that won’t break the bank, we like this thoughtful design from Farberware. Sized to an approachable 14 inches long, it’s tipped in silicone corners to prevent slipping and sliding during use. The lightweight bamboo design also has a shallow trench around the perimeter to catch any water or juices (in the case of cutting proteins) before they roll off onto your countertops.

While testing this cutting board, we were immediately impressed with how sturdy it was. It barely budged as we were slicing and dicing ingredients, with the silicone corners offering the stability that its weight would not. The thin design makes it mobile and easy to store, making it a great option for cooks who don’t want to keep their cutting board out in the open permanently. The durable bamboo material was gentle on our chef’s knives and didn’t nick easily, though stains from red sauces and pigmented foods did hang around through a few washes before dissipating.

Materials: Bamboo | Size: 14 x 11 inches | Weight: 2.2 pounds

Food & Wine / Awa Dia

Any eye-catching design means this wood cutting board doubles as decoration in your kitchen — make sure to keep it out in the open for an added dose of style.

This is the priciest pick on our list, and some home cooks won’t feel comfortable splurging in such a big way on a utilitarian piece of equipment.

All eyes will be on this cutting board from The Boardsmith the second you break it out to carve up a rack of lamb or julienne carrots. It’s handcrafted from sustainably sourced premium-grade maple and built to last decades with the proper care so, although it’s a hefty investment, it’s a worthy one. You can personalize some elements of this board, including adding a juice groove around the perimeter or finger grooves to make picking up the substantial piece easier.

During testing, we were wowed by its overall beauty and quality. Every detail is considered with the utmost care, from the protective layer of board butter each piece is treated with to the subtly integrated feet at the base which allow the board to dry thoroughly and keep it from sliding around on your countertop. Because this design is a few inches smaller than the John Boos board on our list, it more easily fits into the sink for cleaning, and the finger grips make it simple to move around the kitchen or tote it to the table for serving.

Materials: Maple | Size: 18 x 12 inches | Weight: 10 pounds

Food & Wine / Riddley Schirm

With this set, you’ll score three cutting boards, plus a handy stand that keeps everything organized in your cabinets.

These boards are made from pale birch wood, so they’re a bit more likely to show food stains than other darker options on our list.

There’s no getting around the fact that cleaning off your cutting board in between prep tasks can be a pain, which is why many home cooks prefer to have two or three surfaces at their disposal. This comprehensive trio from Caraway Home will set you up for success, with three durable wood boards in useful sizes. Each piece is made from lightweight birch wood that is never treated with harmful chemicals.

As we were testing this trio, we were impressed by how helpful it was to have three quality cutting boards to carry us through meal prep. The sizes of the boards were useful for different chopping tasks, and they were thick enough to be sturdy without feeling cumbersome or bulky. We also appreciated the thoughtful addition of grooves on two boards. While they don’t work as well as a perimeter juice trench, they are a helpful place to section off ingredients or corral runaway items, like rolling berries or dried spices. The light birch wood material was aesthetically beautiful, but we did find that it showed stains more easily than some of the other wood options on our list. Ultimately, it took a bit more scrubbing and some lemon juice to get them out.

Materials: Birch | Size: 17 x 12 inches (large); 14 x 10 inches (medium);10 x 7 inches (small); | Weight: 3.55 pounds (large); 2.67 pounds (medium); 0.85 pounds (small)

Food & Wine / Mary Claire Lagroue

This cutting board is designed with a hole in one corner so it can easily be stored hanging from a hook in your kitchen.

This board is lighter than many of the solid wood options on our list and doesn’t have grippers at the base, so it may be more prone to slipping.

Unlike most wooden cutting boards, which must be washed by hand, this Epicurean surface is made of paper composite and thus can be put in the dishwasher for a hassle-free clean. The unique makeup of this board also means it requires less maintenance care than true wood cutting boards — no oiling or waxing here. At 20 inches long, it’s big enough to allow for prepping multiple ingredients at once, but not so large that you’ll struggle to fit it into your sink (or dishwasher) or find a spot to store it in your cabinets.

During our tests, we loved how straightforward this cutting board was in design. The rectangular shape touts a hole in one end, which makes it easy to pick up the board or store it by hanging it. The wide juice groove around the edge catches any liquid your ingredients create and the composite material was impervious to food stains and visible nicks from our knives (though we could still feel them slightly). We noticed a slight odor when the board was washed, but it dissipated over time as it dried.

Materials: Paper composite | Size: 17.5 x 13 inches | Weight: 3.09 pounds

Food & Wine / Libby Nichols

This board has an integrated phone holder to make following a recipe while you cook a breeze.

There are no base grips on this design and the board does slip a bit, especially slick countertops.

This mid-sized surface from FiveTwo harnesses bamboo’s antimicrobial and water-resistant properties to craft a wood cutting board that is as functional and durable as it is beautiful. The double-sided design fulfills every need with a perimeter juice groove, a pour spout on one side, and a phone slot on the other where you can prop up your device to follow your favorite roast chicken recipe.

This board quickly became a favorite during testing thanks to its lightweight design and user-friendly features. We loved the mid-range thickness of this surface, which was weighty enough to feel sturdy and substantial but not so heavy that it became cumbersome. Because this wooden cutting board is designed to be dual-sided, there are no silicone or rubber grips to keep it from slipping. While this didn’t bother us when using a smaller paring knife, it did slide a bit when using a larger chef’s knife; putting a towel beneath the board seemed to help with this issue.

Materials: Bamboo | Size: 11.25 x 14.5 inches | Weight: 3.75 pounds

Food & Wine / Elise Wang

This board has cut-in handles on both sides, which make it easy to pick up and move around.

There’s no perimeter groove on this board, so it’s not the best option for carving juicy meats or other watery ingredients.

Any good groupie knows: a John Boos cutting board isn’t just a John Boos cutting board. It’s also a spot to style up your favorite cookware accessories (like that vintage salt cellar and collection of wooden spoons), an impressive place to serve a seasonal dish, and even a surface to keep you organized during lunch prep for the week. It’s one of the most versatile additions to your kitchen — not to mention one of the most beautiful.

The brand’s maple edge grain cutting board earned high praise in our testing for its versatility. Its hefty construction and oversized profile make it suitable for prep tasks. Like the other Boos model that made our list, this version was gentle on our knives and didn’t hold on to too many stains or food smells, though garlic did linger for about a day. While this piece doesn’t have a juice groove around the perimeter, it does have integrated handles, so if you want to use it to serve up an impressive roast or array of veggies, you absolutely can.

Materials: Maple | Size: 20 x 15 inches | Weight: 12 pounds

Food & Wine / Brierley Horton

Two slightly different sides make this board adept at any number of kitchen prep tasks.

This board weighs 8 pounds, so it requires ample storage space.

If you’re a self-proclaimed pit master or love to whip up your signature chicken in your smoker, this Made In cutting board is a must for your kitchen. Uniquely designed to cater to butchering and carving meat, it has two slightly different sides to help with everything from recipe prep to food presentation. The first side has a deep juice groove around the edge to catch the runoff from your steak carving before it hits your countertop; the flip side is flat, providing a seamless surface for chopping up herbs for a chimichurri or whipping up a charcuterie board pre-dinner. Both sides are gentle on steak knives, butcher knives, and brisket knives.

As our top pick for the best carving board, we weren't surprised that it rose to the top of the pack in our testing of the best wooden cutting boards. The grooves caught every drip and the board felt sturdy and secure, even given the absence of any nonslip feet (since it’s dual-sided). We used both sides equally, and cleaning the board was a breeze thanks to its modest size. We did notice the wood seemed a bit drier than other models post-wash, so you may need to oil or moisturize this piece more frequently than the brand suggests.

Materials: Maple | Size: 17.75 x 11.75 inches | Weight: 8 pounds

Food & Wine / Jennifer Zyman

Food & Wine / Lindsay Hale

Slightly concave sides allow you to easily pick up the board and carry it around.

The angled trench at one end allows juice to drip down the board but it may also cause things like berries to roll slightly.

Looking to make a bold statement? There’s no better way than with this rich, luxe-looking walnut wood cutting board from Our Place. The deep brown hue offers something different in style, while the solid hardwood construction and user-friendly features like a curved edge, concave sides, and juice trench keep things functional in your kitchen. We're fans of Our Place's drinking glasses and non-toxic cookware, so we weren't surprised that this was one of the best wooden cutting boards we tested.

During testing, we were immediately taken by this board’s high-end appeal — and pleased to realize shortly after that it functions well, too. Like other picks on our list, the hardwood makeup of this board is gentle on knives, without allowing for too many visible nicks or food stains in the process. The unique curved front of this piece makes it easy to brush chopped ingredients into a bowl and helps you stash it away in a cabinet without causing too much bulk. The juice trench was an innovative swap for the more traditional juice groove, and we found it worked just as well in collecting any liquids on the board.

Materials: Walnut | Size: 17 x 12 inches | Weight: 5.6 pounds

Food & Wine / Amanda McDonald

Unlike solid wood cutting boards, this board (and the cup attachment) are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.

This board is the smallest on our list, so while it’s great for tiny kitchens it may mean you can’t prep everything at once.

Choosing the best wooden cutting board is all about making your meal prep work easier and more streamlined. No other board on our list takes that more to heart than this one by Cup Board. It’s designed to act as an all-in-one command station for your chopping needs, with a sturdy paper composite board and integrated silicone cup “tray” where you can stash scraps or corral your chopped ingredients until it’s time to add them to the frying pan or Dutch oven.

While testing, we loved its simple and streamlined design. The board is smaller than others on our list, but the tray allows you to easily clear space as you go and keep things moving. The paper composite material is durable and didn’t show stains or hold onto food smells; that said, a few knife marks were visible and, overall, it didn’t feel as gentle on our knives as some of the thicker wood cutting boards on our list. All parts of this cutting board are dishwasher-safe. Plus, it’s slim and easy to store, making it a great option for the cook who prioritizes ease and organization.

Materials: Paper composite, silicone | Size: 16 x 15 inches | Weight: 5 pounds 4 ounces

Food & Wine / Megan Moran

We tested a lot of quality wood cutting boards for this piece, but our top honors went to John Boos’ Chop-N-Slice Board. Not only is the heritage brand known for making quality constructed hardwood cutting boards, but this specific design offered heft, surface area, and durability that other designs couldn’t quite touch.

We tested 21 wood cutting boards, all of which varied in size, thickness, type of wood, and extra features. Some boards were designed to be used on both sides, while others featured silicone or rubber feet for added stability. Each wood cutting board was rated on five different attributes, including:

Food & Wine / Amanda McDonald

One of the first things you need to consider when shopping for the best wood cutting boards is what type of wood your board is made of. There are many options on the market, ranging from hardwoods like walnut and maple to birch and bamboo and alternatives like paper composite. Each type of wood has an aesthetic, look, and perks; bamboo is notoriously impervious to moisture and known for its antimicrobial properties, while maple is a bit hardier than walnut. You also want to consider the porosity of your chosen wood, which essentially speaks to how susceptible your wood is to soak up liquids and bacteria.

The size and weight of your surface are another important consideration when shopping for the best wood cutting board. Because they’re made of solid hardwood, many of the higher-end boards on our list tend to be on the heavier side, weighing at least 8 to 10 pounds. If bulk is a concern, either on your countertop or when it comes to storage, you may want to consider going with a lighter weight or smaller cutting board, like one made of birch, bamboo, or paper composite.

Food & Wine / Brierley Horton

While wood cutting boards have many perks, they do require a bit of upkeep to stay in tip-top shape. If you opt for a hardwood cutting board, you can expect to have to oil or wax it occasionally to ensure that the wood stays hydrated and doesn’t begin to crack or flake. To learn the exact frequency with which you should treat your board — and the best wax or oil for doing so — be sure to consult the manufacturer’s instructions.

Not all wood cutting boards are created equal, and there are several on our list that cater to specific tasks or needs in the kitchen. As you’re shopping for a wood cutting board, consider which additional user-friendly features may suit your chef style, from a perimeter juice groove to catch liquid while carving meats, to a phone niche that will keep your smartphone upright as you read a recipe.

In terms of food safety, all wood is a fairly sanitary pick for cutting boards, though some cooks prefer not to prep raw meat on the surface because the pieces themselves typically can’t be put in the dishwasher. That said, bamboo is known to have anti-microbial properties and is among the most sanitary wood options for a cutting board. Regardless of what type of wood you choose for your cutting board, you should always be diligent about cleaning the surface well when working with raw proteins to prevent cross-contamination.

Both wood and plastic cutting boards are safe for use, provided they feature a sturdy, non-slip surface. There is some discussion around plastic boards chipping into food, but in general, they are fine to be used for any given task. That said, wood boards are more gentle on your knives than plastic cutting boards.

Wood cutting boards are an investment and are meant to last years in your kitchen with the proper care. As long as you treat your wood cutting board regularly with a moisture application (typically food-safe mineral oil or wax), it can last you up to a decade or more.

While the 10 wooden cutting boards that earned a spot on our list were the best, we still found several strong contenders throughout our testing. The surfaces below are still great options for your kitchen, falling short in just one or two testing categories that prevented them from making our best list. Here’s what stood out — and where they could have done better:

Totally Bamboo 3-Piece Cutting Board, Set of 3

This trio of boards from Totally Bamboo earned high praise in our testing for their versatile sizes and convenient handles (on two of the three), which made for a secure grip. The boards were lightweight and slim, making them easy to carry about the kitchen while in use and a cinch to store. Even better? At under $20, they were among the most affordable we tested and offered great bang for their buck. Ultimately they were slippery and didn’t feature a juice groove, so drips were common.

KitchenAid Classic Rubberwood Cutting Board

Made of rubberwood, this KitchenAid cutting board was the only of its kind on our list, and we loved the pale color of the wood and how lightweight the piece was overall. It’s designed to be dual-sided, with a flat surface on one end and a juice groove perimeter on the other. The board didn’t hold onto smells or food pigments noticeably, though the marks from our knife were fairly visible. This is a great option for a mid-weight wooden cutting board design that doesn’t break the bank.

Epicurean Kitchen Series Cutting and Chopping Board

Another Epicurean pick, this quality cutting board is bare bones in a good way. It forgoes bells and whistles (save for a hole meant for easy grabbing and hanging), relying on durable paper composite material to create a stable and sturdy chopping surface. We enjoyed using this board but did find that it slipped around more than other options, though we did like that it was also dishwasher safe.

Ironwood Charleston End-Grain Prep Station

This large cutting board is in the same category as our John Boos picks in that it’s a better option for those home cooks willing to keep their board out on their counter long term. Made of stunning acacia wood, it features durable end-grain construction and an extra-deep juice groove that collects liquid effectively. During testing, we noticed a few rough areas that could have used more sanding, which had us docking this pick a few points.

J.K. Adams Maple Pro-Classic Board

Unlike the FiveTwo wood cutting board that made our list, this version from J.K. Adams does not feature a juice groove on the flip side; instead, it’s flat for serving. We felt this was a good quality board, but it didn’t match the heft of other designs. Without feet, it also slipped around a bit, and we noticed food stains that hung around.

Teakhaus Edge Grain Professional Carving Board with Juice Canal

Made of teak wood, this stunning board won praise in our testing thanks to its deep juice grooves, which worked to catch everything from meat juices to a rogue blueberry. We found this piece extremely heavy (it weighs a whopping 15 pounds). It was simply too cumbersome.

Food & Wine / Elena Garcia

Bamboo Cutting Board With Feet Our goal with product testing is always to bring you the best gadgets on the market. There are inevitably some options that don’t meet our rigorous criteria. In the case of several wood cutting boards from brands like Dexas, Greener Chef, Hiware, and Material, there were several instances where each fell short, either in durability, style, or functionality. We also took the price and size into consideration, as well as how heavy each wooden cutting board was.

Best Wooden Cutting Boards 2024, Tested &amp; Reviewed

Best Wooden Cutting Boards 2024, Tested & Reviewed