Buyer guides
Beech or oak for restaurant chairs? Choose by the look, not by the strength
Many buyers pay more for oak because they think it is stronger. For chairs, beech is actually the harder wood. A plain comparison of beech and oak for restaurants, hotels and event chairs.
The problem
"Is it oak?" is often the first question a buyer asks. Oak sounds premium and strong, so many restaurants pay extra for it. But for a chair, "stronger" is not the right reason to choose oak.
The numbers
The Wood Database gives these figures (sources 1 and 2):
| European beech | English oak | |
|---|---|---|
| Janka hardness | 1,450 lbf (6,460 N) | 1,120 lbf (4,980 N) |
| Average dried weight | 710 kg/m³ | 675 kg/m³ |
| Steam bending | "responds superbly" | bends well |
| Grain | fine, even | straight, coarse, uneven texture |
| Colour | pale straw, sometimes pinkish | light to medium brown |
Beech is the harder wood. Janka hardness measures how well a wood resists dents, which matters for chair legs that meet table legs, trolleys and vacuum cleaners every day.
What each wood is good at
Beech
- Hard and dense, so it takes knocks well.
- Bends very well with steam. Bentwood café chairs are traditionally made of beech.
- Glues and finishes well, with a fine, even grain (source 1).
Oak
- Strong, open grain that you can see and feel. It looks natural and premium.
- Very good resistance to decay, a plus near moisture.
- Takes stain and finish well, but avoid contact with iron when wet: it can leave dark marks (source 2).
How to choose
- You want the wood to show: natural or light finish, Scandinavian look → oak.
- You want a colour: black, white, gold or a dark stain. The paint or stain covers most of the grain → beech gives the same result.
- You want a bentwood shape or a very slim frame → beech.
- You are comparing quotes: ask for both woods. Pay for oak because of how it looks, not because you expect a stronger chair.
Where RikoStyle fits
Most of our models are made in solid beech, and 93 of them can also be made in oak (source 3). The same 10 frame finishes are available on 171 of our chairs, armchairs and bar stools, from natural beech to wenge, so you can pick the wood for the look and the finish for the room.
We offer our models to furniture retailers and importers, interior designers, restaurant and hotel owners, event rental companies and care homes, and we are looking for long-term partners in each of these groups.
Sources
- The Wood Database, European beech: https://www.wood-database.com/european-beech/
- The Wood Database, English oak: https://www.wood-database.com/english-oak/
- RikoStyle product data as published on rikostyle.com, November 2026.
