At Carolina Game Tables, our commitment to gaming and the gaming community is one that is lifelong. How do we show that commitment? By creating and delivering a high-quality game table that stands the test of time. In this update we’re diving into what we believe is the best wood for a game table and how it compares to the other materials commonly used in game room furniture today.

The Key to a Sturdy Game Table

Did you know Carolina Game Tables has been making game tables for 10 years – as of this year?! Our tables are designed to handle dinner parties, Monopoly marathons, roleplaying campaigns that stretch for years, and everything in between. The secret ingredient? A sturdy foundation – literally!

That sturdiness is one of the key features of our game tables. 

When designing our first tables, we knew we didn’t want to make just another table. 

We wanted to create a well-built, functional, and beautiful piece of furniture that could last for generations and help stop the cycle of expensive “disposable” home décor (read more about that below). This meant finding the right wood to build a high-quality game table that could double as heirloom furniture.

After careful consideration – and with Clint’s extensive knowledge of the furniture industry –we settled on using Indonesian Mahogany. And we’ve never looked back!

What is Indonesian Mahogany?

“Indonesian Mahogany” refers to a variety of mahoganies grown in Indonesia, which is usually the species Toona Sureni. Sureni is native to Southeast Asia and responsibly grown throughout Indonesia. 

The trees used to build our mahogany game tables are plantation grown and government monitored to ensure sustainable forestry practices that protect against overharvesting or environmental harm. This also allows us to support the many family farms who grow these trees as part of a collective.

Not only is Indonesian Mahogany eco-friendly and sustainable, but the stats are stacked in strength and durability! It is typically classified in the classes of strength and durability as Class 2 & 3. While Indonesian Mahogany may be strong and durable it finds popularity in high end furniture manufacture due to its light color, which can be stained anywhere from a pale color (like our Elm finish) to dark (like our Sagamore Hill)..

Strong and sustainable? Yes please! When it comes to the best wood for a game table Indonesian Mahogany checks all the boxes—and then some. 

Why Wood It Matter?

Wood isn’t just about looks—it determines how your table feels, how long it lasts, and how well it holds up to wear and tear.

Indonesian Mahogany offers a solid, substantial feel that sets Carolina Game Tables apart from lighter or composite options. It’s strong enough to support your most elaborate tabletop terrain and elbow leaning, while refined enough to belong in your dining room. It’s the game table designed for real life.

How does Indonesian Mahogany Compare to Other Wood?

              Many game tables are made from a variety of materials such as rubberwood, plywood, and MDF. Every manufacturer has their reasons for choosing a specific wood whether it’s cost, availability, or other production considerations.

Rubberwood, also known as “Malaysian Oak,” might be easier on the wallet – but that bang for your buck could cost you in the long run, especially if you expect your game table to see heavy use.

While rubberwood doesn’t always fall into the same classification system used for hardwoods, its natural durability is typically rated as Class 4. That’s one of the lower durability scores, giving the wood a lifespan of just 5 to 10 years. It’s a softer wood, which makes it easier to cut and shape, but also makes it more susceptible to moisture, dents, and scratches – so clean up those spills quickly!

Rubberwood has limited resistance to decay and can be vulnerable to fungi and insects if not properly treated. Most reputable manufacturers apply thorough sealing processes, but it’s still worth researching your supplier. Rubberwood goes through an intensive treatment process to minimize moisture, mold, and pests.  It’s often leached to remove most latex (worth noting for those with latex sensitivities), pressure treated, and kiln dried. The pressure treatment is typically boron-based, though some manufacturers use chemicals that may release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the environment over time.

Lower than rubberwood on the quality scale are plywood and MDF. These engineered woods share a major drawback: neither is made from solid wood. Instead, they consist of thin layers or fibers of wood bonded into a panel. While more affordable, these materials can be highly susceptible to moisture, which may cause swelling, warping, or delamination over time. A “solid wood” table can still be made of these materials. 

The Disposable Furniture Problem

Cheaper construction materials like MDF and plywood became available in roughly the 1980s–about fifty years ago. This reduced the cost of housing and became used for quick assembly furniture products, typically sold by big corporations like IKEA or Wal-Mart. It seemed like a fantastic idea, right?

The problem is this poorer quality material does not last very long. Joints wiggle apart, shelves droop when reacting to humidity and pressure, and eventually the aesthetic is such that the furniture is disposed of in favor of a new piece. 

This “disposable furniture” ends up in your local landfill. There is no recycling process for disposable furniture at this time, and it cannot be burned without problems releasing VOCs into the environment.

The time tested methods of building furniture with solid wood–real wood with a species name and location of harvest–is better for the families growing it, the laborers building it, and the families who use this piece of furniture.

Built for Generations, Not Just Game Night

Our tables aren’t meant to last a season; they’re meant to last a lifetime. That’s why we believe Indonesian Mahogany is the best wood for a game table. It’s not only strong, sustainable, and beautiful, it’s reliable – just like the memories you’ll make gathered around it.

We think gamers want more than just one game night – they want decades of game nights. From raising your kids on Ticket to Ride Jr. to hosting RPGs with your friends or passing down your favorite games to the next generation, your Indonesian Mahogany game table will be right there with you. So the next time you lean in to roll a nat 20 or debate whether CATAN really is the friendship-ending (or starting!) game some say it is – know that your table was built to handle it all.

Contact us know if you’d like help choosing a finish that fits your space or if you want to see how a table in Indonesian Mahogany looks in person! And if you’re ready to invest in furniture that’s made to last and made for play… you know where to find us.