We Tested the Best Wood Cutting Boards, and These 8 Picks Stood Out (2024)

Our Top Picks

The Epicurean Gourmet Series Groove Cutting Board isn’t a traditional wood cutting board, but it still came out on top compared to the other ones we tested. Instead of solid pieces of wood, it’s made of recycled paper mixed with food-safe resin which is then compacted to form an environmentally-friendly wood alternative known as richlite, a paper composite. We were impressed by how well this material held up to knife cuts. For such a durable cutting board, it’s surprisingly thin and lightweight, yet not so light that it slides around the counter during use.

Since it technically isn’t wood, this cutting board doesn’t require any oiling, and it can go in the dishwasher. We did observe a distinct chemical smell when we ran it through the dishwasher, however Epicurean confirmed on its website that this is common and dissipates after three or four washes. Though this smell was off-putting while it lasted, it wasn’t a major concern for us — the raw material used to make the paper composite of this cutting board comes from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified sources. Plus, the manufacturing process breaks down the resin’s volatile organic compounds into harmless substances.

Like many wood cutting boards, this one features a canal that runs along the perimeter, but its uniquely wide design sets it apart. It accommodates not only juices, but also food debris or trimmings. Plus, when ordering through Epicurean website, you also have the option to customize the board with engravings of text or graphics of your choosing for a more personal touch.

Dimensions: 17.5 x 13 x 0.38 inches | Wood Type: Paper composite | Grain: N/A

Few things are as frustrating as realizing your sole cutting board is in the dishwasher awaiting cleaning, right when you need it. This Caraway Cutting Board Set provides three cutting boards to add to your rotation, but what sets them apart is their unique feature: Each board features a recessed area designed to keep ingredients and their flavors separate. In our testing, we found this made it easy to avoid cross-contamination, like while cutting vegetables and raw meat on the same cutting board.

Aside from the recessed design feature, we were also impressed by the material. We like that this set is made from FSC-certified birch wood, and that the mineral oil and wax finish is non-toxic. We did notice, however, that the cutting boards do nick fairly easily when using a serrated knife. Despite this, they are easy to maintain, especially since the set also includes a rack that allows them to air dry without warping.

Dimensions: 10.5 x 7 x 0.5 inches, 14 x 10.5 x 0.9 inches, and 17 x 12 x 0.5 inches | Wood Type: FSC-certified birch | Grain: Closed

This FiveTwo Bamboo Cutting Board seems to have a solution for almost every problem you could possibly run into when using a cutting board. With its double-sided design, it provides two clean cutting surfaces without occupying as much counter space as an oversized cutting board or three-piece set might. In our experience, both sides of this cutting board are equally useful. One side has a deep juice canal to collect excess liquid, plus a spout on one corner that allowed us to easily pour the liquid out. On the other side, there’s a phone slot, which was a game changer when following recipes on our phone.

Unlike the other bamboo cutting board on this list, this one doesn’t seem to be as prone to staining. It’s also noticeably effective at absorbing the impact applied by knives during cutting. However when using large knives, we discovered that the cutting board does slide a bit. But while it may not be 100 percent non-slip, its weight does provide a decent amount of stability, and any sliding that did occur was minimal.

Dimensions: 11.25 x 14.5 x 1 inches | Wood Type: Bamboo | Grain: Not specified

If you always find yourself putting a kitchen towel under your cutting board to prevent it from moving as you cut, you'll like the stability of the Farberware Thick Non-Slip Bamboo Cutting Board. The corners of this cutting board are enforced with a strong, slip-resistant material that we found to be highly effective at keeping it in place. Based on our observations, the heavier weight helps to anchor it firmly on the counter.

This cutting board also features a juice canal to catch any liquid that could otherwise end up under your cutting board and cause more slippage. The only downside we noticed is the non-slip grips and the board itself are prone to staining, but this problem only appears if you wait too long to wash it after using. Luckily, it’s dishwasher safe, and the grips are removable to prevent food particles from culminating underneath them.

Dimensions: 14 x 11 x 0.6 inches | Wood Type: Bamboo | Grain: Not specified

The John Boos Chop-N-Slice Board makes it easy to prepare multiple ingredients simultaneously without risk of overcrowding. It’s 20 x 15 inches in size, which proved to be ample space for us to chop and slice large food items like loaves of bread and whole watermelons, without having to transfer any cut pieces to make more room. The edge grain maple also has a slight roughness that prevents produce like carrots and tomatoes from rolling off the board.

At over an inch thick, this cutting board is sturdy and durable enough to handle any big carving duties without sliding around on the counter. But even though it’s very heavy duty, the wood isn't so hard that it dulled our knives any faster than usual during the testing period. The only foods we had difficulty cutting were juicy meats, and that was only because the board doesn’t have any groves to catch their juices.

Dimensions: 20 x 15 x 1.25 inches | Wood Type: NSF-certified northern hard rock maple | Grain: Closed, edge

Constructed from multiple layers of hardwood rather than a single piece, butcher blocks are designed to withstand more rigorous use than standard wooden cutting boards and therefore tend to have a longer lifespan. This Boardsmith Maple End Grain Cutting Board in particular is made by hand and uses premium, sustainably harvested maple hardwood. We customized ours with all of the available add-ons including the juice grooves, finger grooves, and feet. Our favorite feature was the feet, which are designed to keep the board stable and prevent moisture from becoming trapped in the wood.

Like most butcher blocks, this one is hefty, but the hand holds make it easier to handle when washing or holding over a pot to transfer chopped ingredients into a pot. Adding customizations such as this one does increase the price, but after repeated use of the cutting board we felt the craftsmanship and quality made it worth the investment.

Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 2 inches | Wood Type: FSC-certified maple | Grain: Closed, end

The KitchenAid Classic Rubberwood Cutting Board is ideal for those who may be new to using wood cutting boards, or anyone who wants a basic yet high quality surface for chopping ingredients. Compared to others in a similar price range, this cutting board stood out to us for being the most low maintenance and versatile. This is largely due to the rubberwood, which is the same type of wood used to make rubber. Because rubberwood is non-absorbent, it doesn’t retain odors such as those from garlic and onion and allows you to cut raw meat on the board (in case you’re worried about wood cutting boards harboring germs.)

We like the fact that the rubberwood makes this cutting board relatively lightweight, as it’s easier to maneuver when draining the juice canal or washing it. But despite being on the lighter side, it isn’t flimsy. Its durability is perfectly sufficient for everyday food preparation tasks, and the board doesn’t require much upkeep to maintain this durability. We didn’t have to season it with oil like other wood cutting boards often require, and it can technically be put in the dishwasher too, though KitchenAid recommends handwashing it.

Dimensions: 18.11 x 12.01 x 0.79 inches | Wood Type: Rubberwood | Grain: Not specified

For a casual home cook looking to upgrade their plastic cutting board, the Totally Bamboo 3-Piece Cutting Board is a reliable option that comes with three cutting boards for less than $20. Given its lower price compared to other wood cutting board sets, we were pleasantly surprised by the quality. After weeks of testing, there were hardly any visible knicks or wear, likely due to the fact that they're made with the sturdiest part of the moso bamboo stalk.

Due to its lower price point, this cutting board doesn’t come with a ton of extra features, and we noticed some spillage during use because there aren't any juice grooves. Though it lacks this particular feature, it had another useful one — the handles on the medium and large boards, which made it easy when transferring ingredients and storing the board itself. Although the smallest cutting board does not have a handle, we found it convenient for minor cutting jobs since it prevents the need to dirty a larger cutting board entirely.

Dimensions: 13 x 9.5 x 0.38 inches, 11 x 8.5 x 0.38 inches, and 8 x 6 x 0.38 inches | Wood Type: Moso bamboo | Grain: Not specified