Butcher block countertops are a popular countertop option for homeowners seeking a country cottage look or a farmhouse-style appearance. But butcher block remains more versatile than that because it can come in a variety of woods, designs and colors. Butcher block countertops remain a solid value for kitchen countertops and installation can be a DIY project.

What Are Butcher Block Countertops?

Butcher block countertops are wooden countertops that come in a variety of styles and colors. Several types of woods, like maple, cherry, walnut and oak can be used for butcher block countertops fashioned in different styles.

Butcher block is typically made of straight cuts of wood glued together in slabs for edge grain butcher block. Blended grain butcher block has rails of different lengths that get finger-jointed together, laminated and glued side by side.

End grain butcher block looks like a checkerboard and is made with edge grain boards that are glued and stacked on top of each other. Then, it gets placed in a vice to squeeze the wood and glue together. Once dry, the block gets set on its end.

Butcher Block Countertop Pros

• Versatility: Butcher block countertops not only come in traditional woods like cherry, oak, maple, cherry and walnut, but also bamboo, teak, tigerwood, zebrawood, wenge, beech, hickory and mahogany can be used. Plus, you typically have the option to choose edge grain, end grain or blended styles with butcher block.
• Cost: Butcher blocks aren’t as cheap as laminate countertops, but they aren’t as expensive as natural stone countertops. Butcher block typically runs between $30 and $40 per square foot, depending upon the type of wood you choose. The labor cost to install a butcher block countertop is between $50 and $70 per square foot.
• Longevity: Butcher block can last for around 20 years with regular maintenance, which places it in line with granite countertops. Butcher block will typically outlast laminate countertops.
• Easy to Clean: Butcher block doesn’t need any crazy cleaning solutions. A sponge dipped in a mix of two cups of warm water with a teaspoon of dish soap will usually do the trick. If you want to disinfect the butcher block, use some vinegar. To remove a butcher block stain, put salt over the stain and rub the spot with half of a lemon.
• Easy to Refinish: This could be a con in the eyes of other people, but should you have to refinish butcher block because of nicks or scratches, all you need to do is sand it down. Sand butcher block with fine-grit sandpaper, like 220-grit, to remove affected spots and re-oil the surface with food-safe oil.

Butcher Block Countertop Cons

• Stains and Scratches: Harder woods might not suffer from scratches as much as softer woods, but all wood will stain if not cleaned quickly. Some people will use butcher block like a cutting board but they invite germs, mold and even warping. To prevent those issues, butcher block needs sealing upon installation and on a monthly basis after that. Find a suitable oil for the type of wood used in your butcher block.
• Can Dry Out: With any wood material, the possibility of it drying out can materialize. It’s important to routinely apply food-grade mineral oil to butcher block to prevent it from drying out.
• Not Heat Resistant: Any hot items placed on butcher block can scorch the wood and leave you having to refinish it to remove the burn mark.
• Collects Dust: Butcher block will show crumbs and dust more visibly than its stone counterparts, so beware that they’ll require more upkeep.

Butcher Block Countertop Cost

Butcher block typically runs between $30 and $40 per square foot, depending upon the type of wood you choose. The labor cost to install butcher block is between $50 and $70 per square foot. Higher-end butcher blocks can cost more than concrete countertops and run as high as $200 per square foot. Maple butcher block can cost around $80 per square foot while cherry butcher block can be $150 per square foot and bamboo runs around $72 per square foot. Teak can be the most expensive at $180 per square foot.

Butcher Block Countertop Maintenance and Care

Butcher block needs routine maintenance to make it last. After installed and sealed, the butcher block needs to be sealed monthly to guard against stains, dings and nicks. Use a food-grade oil and apply it with a soft cloth to help prevent stains.

Butcher block will need resurfacing. How often it needs resurfacing depends upon the amount of wear and tear the countertop takes, but some recommend resurfacing every 10 years. All you need to do is sand with a fine-grit sandpaper, like 220-grit, to remove stains and reseal.

For daily cleaning, a solution of warm water and dish soap will clean butcher block. If you have a tougher stain, try putting salt on the spot and rubbing a lemon over the salt.

Butcher Block Design Options

There are four butcher block design options: end grain, face grain, edge grain and blended.

• Edge grain: This is the most popular kind and is characterized by long boards glued together. The boards can vary in length so there aren’t joints or they can be finger-jointed. It’s one of the least expensive options.
• Face grain: This uses the top of the wood as the countertop. It’s the most visible part of the wood as well as the widest and broadest side.
• End grain: This uses the end of the wood and is characterized by a checkerboard look.
• Blended grain: This combines interior rails and exterior rails. It will have color variations between light and dark wood. The rails can vary in length and woodshops will create blended grain to reduce waste, which means deals for homeowners.

Butcher Block Installation

Installing butcher block countertops can be a DIY project, but you’ll need to measure carefully and cut accurately with a circular saw so the countertop will fit around a sink and faucet. Wood will expand in summer and contract in winter, so you need to account for that when installing a butcher block. Butcher block will also need to acclimate to your home before you install it to prevent future warping. You might need to shim spots on the cabinets so the butcher block rests properly.

Butcher Block Lifespan

Butcher block countertops will last around 20 years, which compares to other countertops like granite. Butcher block will last longer than laminate countertops but need monthly resealing to have a long lifespan. Butcher blocks also need occasional resurfacing to remove deep stains, dings and scratches.

Top Butcher Block Brands

• Created Hardwood: Features live-edge wood slabs.
• John Boos & Co.: Garners a lot of attention for its quality and routines tops the list as one of the top butcher block countertop brands.
• Grothouse: Located in Pennsylvania, Grothouse won Houzz design awards in 2019 and 2020. It also won a service award in 2018.
• The Home Depot: Features a number of butcher block brands.
• Craft-Art: A high-end manufacturer of butcher block countertops, search for retailers that carry the brand.
• IKEA: Features a number of butcher block countertops at a reasonable price, but there isn’t a ton of variety or uniqueness.
• Timeless Timber: Located in Wisconsin, Timeless Timber recovers lumber that sank from milling companies more than 100 years ago. Timeless Timber will certainly give you an impressive and unique look.

Bottom Line

Butcher block countertops can fit in seamlessly with most kitchen styles and if maintained properly, they’ll last a long time. Butcher block won’t fade as a fad so consider it a one-time investment. Just beware of its limitations and don’t treat it as a cutting board. For its price, it’s one of the best deals around for kitchen countertops.

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