Finishes & Stains · Stain Chart
Hardwood Floor Stain Color Chart
Browse real stain samples from completed Hardwood Guys projects, then bring your favorites to your free on-site estimate — we'll show you the color on an actual sample of your own floor's wood species and grade.
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Common Types of Wood
We work with both red oak and white oak, each available in a few grades. Toggle below to see what each grade means.
- Red Oak Select — the most uniform color and grain, with minimal character marks.
- Red Oak No. 1 — some natural color variation and small character marks.
- Red Oak No. 2 — the most rustic red oak grade, with the widest color and grain variation.
- White Oak Select — the most uniform color and grain, with minimal character marks.
- White Oak No. 1 — some natural color variation and small character marks.
- White Oak Character — the most rustic white oak grade, prized for mineral streaks and knots.
The color swatches below apply to either species — exact appearance varies with wood grade and grain. We bring physical samples on your actual grade to every estimate.
Pick a Color
These are our own charts, photographed on both red oak and white oak so you can see how the same stain lands differently on each. Screen colors vary by device — treat these as a starting point, not a final match. We bring physical samples to every free on-site estimate and wipe them on your actual floor, which is the only way to know for certain.
Browns, Reds & Neutrals
Our full stain range, photographed on real oak. Oil-based, penetrates deep, and covers nearly everything homeowners ask for — from the whitewashed Country White through to True Black. Names below are the ones we use on the job, so you can point at one and we will know exactly what you mean.
Additional Color Options
A second range we carry. Several colors overlap with the charts above but pull slightly differently on oak, so we sample from both when a customer is deciding between two that look close on paper.
Rubio Monocoat — a different animal
Rubio Monocoat is not a stain, so it is not on a chart above. It is a hardwax oil that colors and protects in a single coat, bonding to the wood fibre rather than sitting on top of it. The look is matte and natural, and a scratch can usually be spot-repaired without refinishing the whole floor — which no stain-and-polyurethane system can do. If that is the direction you are leaning, see the full Rubio Monocoat page, or ask your estimator to bring samples alongside the stain boards.
Stains & Finishes We Work With
Professional-grade stains for color, Bona for the finish coat that goes over it, and Rubio Monocoat or Pallmann Magic Oil when a hardwax oil is the better call.
Recent Refinishing Projects
Found a Color You Like?
Request a free estimate and we'll bring a physical sample to your home.
Request a Free Estimate
Tell us about your project and we'll get back to you with an estimate — usually the same business day.
Thanks — We'll Be In Touch
A member of The Hardwood Guys team will call or text you during business hours (Mon–Fri, 7AM–5PM) to schedule your free on-site estimate.