What is the Difference Between Plywood and Plyboard?

September 24, 2025

Understanding the difference between plywood and plyboard is critical before selecting a material for your next furniture design project, interior design project or construction project so that you make the right choice for desired style, durability, cost and overall look of the final project.

While plywood and plyboard are often used interchangeably, it is very important to note that while they are both engineered particles and have a lot of common properties they are also different products and have functions, advantages, and different applications.

Royale Touche manufactures plywood and plyboard high quality wood products for all types of uses, including furniture, cabinets, paneling, and flooring products. This guide will help to explain the difference between plywood and wipeboard, the pros and cons, when and how to use, and hopefully provide helpful suggestions on how to decide which material to use for your next furniture design project or the portion of your design project that requires wood material.

Understanding Plywood and Plyboard

Before we talk about the difference between plywood and plyboard, it's imperative that we understand what each term describes.

Plywood is a structural engineered wood product made by bonding together wood veneer sheets. Plywood consists of numerous (thin) sheets of wood (veneer) that are bonded together in cross laminated grid form, that provide good strength and stiffness, dimensional stability, and excellent resistance to warping.
Plyboard is produced by layering together wood particles, chips or shaving together with glue and pressed (by heat) to produce a wood material composition. The surface can be laminated and smooth as required but plywood doesn't have solid wood and cross laminated layers like plywood.

Understanding this difference is the first step in understanding the difference between plywood and plyboard in the context of their functionality, durability, and applications.

Construction and Composition

In construction style, plywood and plyboard develop a big difference.

Plywood has thin layers of wood veneer bonded together with the grain direction of the veneer layer periodically skewed. This cross-laminated material will provide strength, deformation resistance, and long-term dimensional stability.
Plyboard is composed of bonded wood chips or particles. Cured in a single direction with no layers, the plyboard is relatively lighter than plywood or solid wood, but it also cannot tolerate as much environmental changes, stress, or weight.

For the reasons above, while plywood can be used structurally, plyboard can only be used for non-structural decorative applications and minimum loads.

The following sections will focus on the properties of both plywood and plyboard related to structural capacity and durability.

Strength and Durability

First, one of the most important considerations for when matching plyboard and plywood is strength.

Plywood is designed to put on weight, restrict bending, and make use for years! When regarding the structural aspect of plywood, due to its more structured layering, plywood tends to have high tensile strength. Therefore, it is an ideal product to use in furniture, flooring, and cabinet making.
Plyboard has decent strength, yet is still limited to the strength that it can hold in a non-loading application. Over time, the plyboard will sag or rather, buckle, with pressure applied.

The varying range of durability for plyboard and plywood have been primary factors, in projects, when walking traffic or use of ferrules is to be considered and also the longevity of usage throughout the course of a day.

Moisture Resistant Properties

Second, another detail that compares plyboard to plywood, is the action of each material when moisture is introduced.

Plywood can offer a range of products that when moisture is introduced (BWP) boiling water-proof ply or the marine ply card, can handle moisture, humidity, and even fungal attack. Since plywood can deal with a certain degree of environmental stress better than plyboard, it will serve better in the kitchens or bathrooms, or even outside.
Plyboard does not deal with moisture well. It will swell and eventually break down under wet or damp conditions, and the use of a plyboard would only settle in dry-in environments.

These differences between plyboard and plywood are a large consideration in projects that cannot avoid exposure to moisture.

Surface Finish and Aesthetic Options

Plywood and plyboard can be laminated or veneered, representing a high standard of finish but in slightly different ways.

Plywood is smoother and more uniform than plyboard which presents a stable substrate for laminates, or veneering, or paint. Because of liquidity from the layer of product, the impact of the surface finish% is also more durable in plywood than plyboard.
Even though plyboard offers some aesthetic mark-up when the plyboard is laminated, plyboard tends to mark up more easily and lacks the super strength as constructed in multiple layers tied together as a resource.

These differences between plywood and plyboard directly contribute to the selection of remaining material for quality furniture, quality cabinets, or quality panels where aesthetics are of utmost importance.

Cost Considerations

Cost is an important consideration when it comes to plywood or plyboard.

Plywood is generally more costly due to labour intensive manufacturing, and being stronger, and is considered a 'long term investment' for constructing structural furniture, and quality purposes.
Plyboard offers lower cost and is much better suited for decorative furniture, wall paneling, or temporary structures.

Being aware of the differences of plywood and plyboard, in regards to cost will help homeowners, designers, and contractors to make informed decisions that link quality, and budget together.

Applications for Plywood and Plyboard

The differences of plywood and plyboard are evident as extended to application.

Plywood is most frequently used for kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, table tops, flooring, bonded panels to a larger construction in the same manner (as flooring), and for roofs in the same manner as flooring. Normally the combined strength, and durability are most often realized in more situations when required - everywhere materials might be tested in terms of structural constraints or frequency of use.
Plyboard is great for decorative wall panels, light furniture, such as shelves and TV units, and partitions for dry indoor areas. Plyboard is not ideal for heavy-duty or moisture-prone applications.

Whether you should use plywood or plyboard is highly dependent on where the material is going to be used, a type of loading, or expected exposure condition.

Weight and Handling

Another substantial difference between plywood and plyboard is weight and handling.

Plywood is a little bit heavier than plyboard due to the dense, layered structure of plywood but it is substantially more stable and achieves a longer life.
Plyboard is lighter and easier to handle. This could allow for a quicker installation process and increase ease of handling during multiple-stage processes when working on decorative or modular furniture applications.

This plywood and plyboard difference is applicable for both DIY users and professional contractors when looking to plan for installations of various processes.

Environmental Considerations

Royale Touche Plywood offers environmentally safe options for both plywood and plyboard.

Plywood meeting E-0 emission standards ensures a very low amount of formaldehyde making it very safe for indoor spaces and for furniture.
Plyboard does have eco-friendly options, but it may not be as durable and may not have as long a life as high-quality plywood options.

The plywood and plyboard difference indicates that although they can be eco-conscious choices, plywood is generally the more stout and will better service sustainable projects long-term.

Key Takeaways – Which Material You Decide on

Understanding the plywood and plyboard difference will enable you to make better decisions for furniture, cabinets, paneling, etc.

If you want strength, moisture and durability, plywood is right for you.
Plyboard is the lighter version and good for decorating or light duty furniture.

Each option has unique advantages and Royale Touche offers quality options in both, so you can be stoked on your project!

Why Choose Royale Touche?

Royale Touche is a trusted source when it comes to plywood and plyboard solutions. Our products guarantee:

Strength and durability offer ultimate longevity.
A smooth surface that allows for laminates, veneers, finishes, etc.
Eco-friendly choices that inform a healthier indoor air quality.
Countless options including: BWP, MR, Marine, Gurjan, Calibrated plywood, and premium plyboard.

Having the plywood and plyboard difference explanation helps you to determine the best material for any furniture, interior, or construction project.

Conclusion

Plywood and plyboard are deciding factors bigger than aesthetics and cost. The plywood and plyboard difference covers construction, strength, moisture, surface finish, weight and applications. Plywood dominates structural, heavy-duty and moisture applications; while plyboard is best for decorative and light-duty furniture.

No matter which material you choose with Royale Touche, plywood or plyboard, you can rely on high quality materials, premium finishes, and durability that goes the distance. Knowing the plywood and plyboard difference gives you confidence in your project for your home, office, or commercial space that brings synergies of style, function, and longevity.

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