How Much Does a Custom Table Cost?

One of the first questions people ask us at TheOleWoodShack is:

“How much does a custom table cost?”

The honest answer is: it depends — but not in a vague or unhelpful way.

The price of a custom table is mainly shaped by two things:

• The materials

• The design and build complexity

In this guide, we’ll explain what actually affects the cost of a custom table, what’s worth investing in, and how to think about budget when commissioning a truly special piece.

What Goes Into the Price of a Custom Table?

Every table we build is made one at a time, by hand, from solid wood. There’s no assembly line and no shortcuts. Pricing is influenced by:

• The species and quality of the wood

• The size and thickness of the table

• The complexity of the design

• The time required to build and finish it properly

Let’s start with the most important part:

Materials: We Start With Exceptional Wood

You’ll often see custom furniture makers break materials into “standard,” “mid-grade,” and

“premium” categories.

While that’s common in the industry, we don’t actually offer “standard” materials at TheOleWoodShack.

Other shops frequently use woods like pine, alder, teak, and fir as entry-level options. While they have their place, they don’t meet the quality, durability, or long-term expectations we have for our work — so we simply don’t build with them.

For us, every table starts in what most shops would call “mid-grade” or “premium.”

Because lumber is priced by volume:

• Larger tables cost more than smaller ones

• Thicker slabs cost more than thinner ones

• Denser, rarer species cost more than common ones

Here’s how we generally think about materials:

Our Starting Point: Quality Hardwoods

Most of our tables are built from hardwoods such as:

• Maple

• Ash

• Cherry

• Oak

• Black Walnut

These are beautiful, durable species that hold up to daily life and age gracefully. Tables in this category typically start around $3,000 and up, depending on size and design.

Premium & Select Slabs

We also work with higher-end species and special slabs, including:

• Bastogne Walnut

• Claro Walnut

• Mappa Burl

• Big Leaf Maple

• And other exceptional woods

These materials are more limited, more visually striking, and often thicker or wider. Tables built from these woods typically start around $5,200 and up, and can go significantly higher depending on the slab and the design.

Design: Complexity, Time, and Craftsmanship

The second major factor in cost is the design itself.

Some tables are intentionally simple and restrained. Others are more sculptural, more complex, or require significantly more time to build and finish.

In general:

• Simpler designs take less time and cost less

• More complex designs require more labor, more problem-solving, and more finishing time

One way to stay more budget-conscious is to start from an existing design and adjust the size or material. That said, we also love working from a blank page.

Because every piece is built by hand, most fully custom tables typically fall in the range of:

$4,500 to $10,000+

The final price depends on:

• Size

• Thickness

• Wood species

• Base and structural design

• Finish process

• And overall complexity

Why Custom Furniture Costs More (And Why It’s Worth It)

A custom table isn’t just an object — it’s a process.

You’re paying for:

• Careful slab selection

• Proper drying and preparation

• Thoughtful design decisions

• Precision joinery and construction

• A finish that’s meant to last for decades

This is not fast furniture. It’s furniture meant to be lived with and kept.

So What Should You Budget?

As a general guideline:

• Smaller or simpler hardwood tables often start around $3,000–$4,000

• Most fully custom builds fall between $4,500–$10,000+

The best way to get a real number is to have a conversation about what you’re looking for.

We’re always happy to:

• Walk you through options

• Explain trade-offs

• Suggest better material choices

• Or help design something truly special

Final Thoughts

At TheOleWoodShack, we believe the wood should be worthy of the work.

That’s why:

• We don’t offer low-grade “standard” materials

• We start with beautiful, high-quality slabs

• And we build furniture meant to outlast trends and moves

If you’re considering a custom table and want to explore what’s possible, we’d love to talk.