Cutting Board Buying Guide
Cutting Board Kits vs Wood Strips
If you want to make your own cutting board, you will usually choose between a fixed cutting board kit, a mixed pack of hardwood strips, or individual cutting board wood strips. Each option can work well, but the best choice depends on how much control you want over the final design.
This guide compares cutting board kits, cutting board packs, mixed species wood strips, and individual hardwood strips so you can choose the best option for your DIY cutting board, edge grain board, charcuterie board, or small woodworking project.
Quick Answer
A fixed cutting board kit usually gives you a pre-selected set of wood pieces and a simple starting point. Individual cutting board wood strips give you more control because you can choose the species, length, and quantity yourself.
Mixed wood strip packs are a good middle option. Our 16-pack and 50-pack mixed cutting board strips give you a variety of random hardwood species so you can create your own design without picking every strip individually.
Three Ways to Buy Cutting Board Wood
Fixed Cutting Board Kits
A fixed cutting board kit usually includes a pre-selected group of pieces chosen by the seller. This can be convenient for beginners, but it gives you less control over species, layout, colour, and finished size.
Mixed Wood Strip Packs
Mixed packs are a flexible kit-style option. You get a variety of random species, then create your own cutting board layout using the strips included in the pack.
Individual Wood Strips
Individual hardwood strips give you the most control. Choose the exact species, lengths, and quantities you want for your DIY cutting board, edge grain board, or charcuterie board.
Cutting Board Kits vs Mixed Packs vs Individual Strips
Here is a simple way to compare the main options when buying wood for a cutting board project.
| Option | Best For | Main Advantage | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Cutting Board Kit | Beginners who want a simple pre-selected layout | Easy to start | Less control over species, quantity, and design |
| 16-Pack Mixed Wood Strips | DIY builders who want variety in a smaller pack | Random species variety with room to design your own layout | Species are mixed/random instead of fully selected one by one |
| 50-Pack Mixed Wood Strips | Making multiple boards or experimenting with layouts | More pieces, more variety, better for batches or gifts | Requires more planning and layout decisions |
| Individual Cutting Board Strips | Custom designs and specific species combinations | Maximum control over species, length, and quantity | You need to plan the strip count and layout yourself |
Why Mixed Cutting Board Strip Packs Are a Great Option
If you like the idea of a cutting board kit but still want creative control, a mixed pack is a great option. Instead of receiving a fixed layout, you get a variety of hardwood strips and decide how to arrange them yourself.
Our 16-pack and 50-pack mixed cutting board strips are ideal for experimenting with patterns, trying new species, building gifts, making multiple boards, or creating colourful layouts with domestic and exotic hardwoods.
Shop Mixed Cutting Board Strip Packs →Which Option Should You Choose?
Choose a Mixed Pack If...
You want a variety of hardwood strips, like surprises, want to experiment with designs, or plan to make one or more custom cutting boards without choosing every species individually.
Choose Individual Strips If...
You already have a specific layout in mind and want to choose exact species like maple, walnut, cherry, padauk, purpleheart, wenge, or canary wood.
Choose a Fixed Kit If...
You want a pre-selected layout with very little design planning. This can be useful for beginners, but it gives you less flexibility than individual strips or mixed packs.
Build Your Own Cutting Board Kit
One of the biggest benefits of individual cutting board strips is that you can build your own kit. Choose a simple combination like maple, walnut, and cherry, or create a more colourful board with exotic accent strips like padauk, purpleheart, wenge, black limba, or canary wood.
This gives you more control over the final look than a standard cutting board pack. You can make a clean classic board, a bold exotic wood cutting board, or a mixed-species layout that fits your own style.
Cutting Board Strip Size and Layout Options
Our cutting board strips measure approximately 1.75" wide x 3/4" thick and can be used in two different orientations depending on the style of board you want to build.
Face-Up Layout
Glue the strips edge-to-edge with the wider face showing to create an approximately 3/4" thick board before sanding and finishing.
On-Edge Layout
Rotate the strips on edge so the 1.75" dimension becomes the board thickness, creating an approximately 1.75" thick board before sanding and finishing.
Are Wood Strips Better Than a Cutting Board Pack?
Wood strips are better if you want design flexibility. A cutting board pack can be convenient, but it usually limits your choices. Individual hardwood strips let you choose your own species and quantities, while mixed packs give you variety without needing to pick every piece.
For many woodworkers, mixed cutting board strips are the best balance. They feel like a kit because you receive a group of pieces, but they still allow you to create your own layout and design.
Best Option for Beginners
If this is your first cutting board, a mixed pack is a strong starting point because it gives you variety without needing to know every species before ordering.
If you want more control, choose individual strips and keep the layout simple. A classic maple, walnut, and cherry combination is a good beginner-friendly cutting board design.
Helpful Cutting Board Guides
Shop Cutting Board Supplies
Start with hardwood cutting board strips or mixed packs, then finish your board with the right sanding and finishing supplies.
Cutting Board Kits vs Wood Strips FAQ
What is the difference between a cutting board kit and wood strips?
A cutting board kit usually includes a pre-selected set of pieces. Wood strips give you more control because you can choose the species, length, and quantity yourself.
Are mixed wood strip packs like a cutting board kit?
Yes, they are a flexible kit-style option. You receive a variety of hardwood strips and create your own layout instead of following a fixed design.
Is a 16-pack or 50-pack better?
A 16-pack is a good option for a smaller project or experimenting with one board. A 50-pack is better if you want more variety, plan to make multiple boards, or want extra strips for different layouts.
Should beginners buy a kit or individual strips?
Beginners can use either option. Mixed packs are often a good starting point because they provide variety, while individual strips are best if you already know which species and layout you want.
Can I build my own cutting board kit?
Yes. Choose the strip length, species, and quantity you want, then arrange them into your own cutting board layout before glue-up.
Choose the Cutting Board Wood Option That Fits Your Project
Whether you want a flexible mixed pack or individual hardwood strips, you can build a custom cutting board layout using the species, length, and quantity that works for your project.
