HDF Vs MDF: Which Is Better For Your Home’s Furniture?

By Usha Balasubramanyan- October 11, 2024

Fiberboards are a popular option if you’re looking for economic and sustainable alternatives to using wood or plywood in your home. HDF (high-density fiberboard) or MDF (medium-density fiberboard) are composite boards that are used in woodworking to make cabinetry, wall panels, shelving, and furniture.

They can be pasted with veneers or laminates on one or both sides or can be finished with paint.

HDF vs MDF

Wondering how HDF High-Density Fiberboard differs from MDF? The following table compares and contrasts the two boards.

Features	HDF High-Density Fiberboard	MDF Medium Density Fiberboard
Density	Premium HDF is over 800 kg/cubic m and up to 900 kg/cubic m	Standard grade MDF has a density of 600-800 kg/cubic m
Hardness	The high-density board is harder than MDF	Less hard than high-density fiberboard but harder than particleboard
Surface finishing	The high-density fiber wood is smooth and has a uniform surface	Smooth and uniform surface
Workability	Not as easy to route and plane as MDF	Easy to cut into shapes, smoother and plane
Cost	HDF cost is more than MDF	Cheaper than the HDF cost
Use	Indoor furniture, floors, wall paneling, doors. Not suitable for exterior use.	Furniture that has grooves and moldings, cornices, cabinetry
Thickness	As it is denser, high-density fiberboard sheets are typically thinner than MDF. This makes them unsuitable for making moldings and skirting boards.	Available in various thicknesses.
Nail holding capacity	Better than MDF	Does not have a very good nail/screw-holding capacity
Resistance to water or humidity	With edging, premium HDF can resist water or humidity if it is finished on all sides. Never expose it directly to water, as it will swell up. Slightly more water-resistant than MDF.	If finished on all sides with edging, it can resist water or humidity. Never expose it directly to water, as it will swell up.
Finishing	Finishing high-density fiberboard sheets can be done using veneer, laminate, or paint.	Finish with veneer, laminate, or paint
Environmental aspects	HDF density contains formaldehyde and other resins and binders and comes with a risk of harmful out-gassing.	Contain formaldehyde and other resins and binders and come with a risk of harmful out-gassing.

As you can see, both the HDF MDF boards are similar in composition, with the main difference being in their density and thickness.

How is HDF High-Density Fiberboard Manufactured?

HDF High-Density Fiberboard is an engineered wood product that is manufactured by hot pressing wood fibers that are extracted from waste chips or wood pulp and binding them into a board at very high pressure using synthetic resins and binders. This is also called a high-density MDF board.

Features of High-Density Fiberboard HDF

Like MDF, high-density MDF board also does not have any grains in cross-section, as it is a composite material with uniform density. However, it is more compact than MDF and is a correspondingly thinner and denser material.
As the name indicates, HDF High-Density Fiberboard is highly dense, which makes it very thin. It is, therefore, not suitable for making grooves or moldings.
Since high-density board wood is manufactured using waste products like sawdust and wood fibers, it can be considered to be ‘green’ or environmentally friendly. But do watch out for toxic gas emissions due to the formaldehyde used in its binding material.
HDF fiberboard does not contract or expand with heat and is, therefore, dimensionally stable.
High-density boards can be finished using veneers, laminates, or paint.
It will swell when exposed to water and should be finished by completely covering all exposed surfaces.
HDF fiberboard is much more economical than plywood or solid wood but is more expensive than MDF.

HDF Fiberboard in Home Interiors: How is it Used?

Flooring Substrate

HDF fiberboard is the preferred substrate for laminated wood flooring as it is hard and strong. As we have already mentioned, all the surfaces of the high-density wood fiberboard should be finished well, and the core should never be left exposed, as even a little moisture that enters will cause it to swell, causing the flooring boards to pop out of alignment.

This is why wooden laminate floors should never be mopped with too much water and should only be cleaned with a damp cloth.

hdf fiberboard in home interiors

Kitchen Cabinets

HDF fiberboard, like MDF, is a good choice for the core of kitchen cabinets. When finished well with no exposed surfaces, it stands up well to changes in heat and is able to withstand humidity.

Shutters of the high-density wood fiberboard are popularly finished with decorative membranes, matt or glossy laminate, and edge band tape. A membrane is a very thin foil that is hot-pressed onto all the surfaces of the shutter, creating a completely sealed and seamless finish that is durable and aesthetic.

kitchen cabinets hdf fiberboard

HDF Wardrobes

HDF plywood is also a good choice for the framework, boxes, shutters, and internal shelves of fitted wardrobes. Similar to kitchen cabinets, the high-density wood fiberboard shutters can be finished in many different ways to give a traditional, classic, or contemporary appearance.

HDF plywood shutters can also be fitted with mirrors on the surface to enhance the space and make it look larger visually.

hdf plywood

Wall Panelling

Veneered and grooved high-density fiberboard panels can be used to create decorative wall paneling. They can be used as a backing for wall murals or in partition walls.

Premium HDF is very dense and has acoustic soundproofing properties, making it the ideal choice of material for use in home theatres and music rooms.

veneered and grooved high-density fiberboard

HDF Wall Shelves

Open shelves in kitchens or living rooms, bookshelves in reading rooms, or shelves in laundry and utility areas can all be crafted out of high-density fiberboard. As this board is stronger and denser than MDF, it has a significantly greater load-bearing capability.

hdf wall shelves

Conclusion

As you can see, HDF density can be used as a substitute for MDF in places requiring more strength, bearing capacity, and comparatively higher performance. Looking for creative décor ideas for your home? The HomeLane team is always at hand!

FAQs

1. What is HDF high-density fiberboard?

HDF High-Density Fiberboard, also known as hardboard, is made by compressing wood fibers and is an artificial product. This panel product is a high-density MDF board known for its durability, strength, and hardness compared to the other categories of MDF board.

This high-density fiber wood is used in several industries and is popular in home interiors. HDF density can go up to 900kg/m3, and this makes it effectively strong.

2. Is HDF high-density fiberboard better than MDF?

HDF high-density fiberboard and MDF have their pros and cons. While both are not meant to be used externally, HDF headboard is known to have better water-resistance power than MDF.

Also, the high-density fiberboard is thicker and harder than MDF, which makes it apt for wall-cladding, flooring, ceiling, etc., but makes MDF more suitable for furniture and fittings, etc. As well as HDF cost is concerned, it is higher than MDF.

3. What is HDF high-density fiberboard used for?

HDF high-density fiberboard is best used in various industries and the construction business. HDF high-density fiberboard is extensively used for home interiors as it is great for curating wall panels, shelves, cabinets, furniture, wardrobes, headboards, and wooden ceilings.

The HDF fiberboard would need a finishing done with paint, veneer, or laminate, which keeps the gloss and makes it look great and highly functional.

4. Is HDF MDF board stronger than plywood?

Plywood is quite a strong material, which comes after solid wood. HDF high-density fiberboard is as strong as plywood and can be used in all areas where plywood is used, especially for home interiors, construction, and other industries. As compared to plywood and HDF fiberboard, MDF is the weakest in strength.

5. How many types of HDF thicknesses are there?

HDF fiberboards are artificial panels that are formed using extreme heat and pressure. The product formed is much thinner and stronger than MDF. HDF fiberboard can be found in various types of HDF thicknesses ranging from 1/8″, 3/16″, or 7/32″.

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