Maple lumber comes principally from the Middle Atlantic and Lake States, which together account for about two-thirds of the production. The wood of sugar maple and black maple is known as hard maple; that of silver maple, red maple, and boxelder as soft maple. The sapwood of the maples is commonly white with a slight reddish-brown tinge; the heartwood is light reddish brown, but sometimes is considerably darker. Some species of maple average 130 feet in height with diameters of 2 to 3 feet. Seasoned weight is about 45 pounds per cubic foot.

Its uses include lumber, distillation, veneer, crossties, paper pulp, flooring, furniture, pallets, boxes and crates, shoe lasts, handles, woodenware, novelties, spools and bobbins, bowling alleys, dance floors, piano frames, bowling pins, cutting blocks, pulpwood and turnery.

Hard maple wood has medium density, good bending and crushing strengths. It is heavy, hard, strong, and normally close-grained; tough and stiff with a uniform texture. Pre-boring is recommended when nailing and screwing. It machines well, turns well, glues satisfactorily and can be stained to a beautiful finish. Reduced cutting angle is sometimes necessary with wavy or curly grained material.