How to Choose a Personalized Cutting Board (Without Overthinking It)
You've decided to get a personalized cutting board. Maybe it's a gift. Maybe it's for your own kitchen. Either way, you're staring at options and wondering what actually matters.
Here's what to consider — and what doesn't matter as much as you'd think.
Wood Type: The Only Decision That Really Matters
The wood determines how the board looks, feels, and holds up over time. Everything else is secondary.
Cherry
- Warm, reddish-brown tone that deepens with age
- Medium hardness — gentle on knife edges but durable
- Beautiful natural grain patterns
- Engraves with great contrast
- Best for: gifts where appearance matters, charcuterie display
Maple
- Light, clean look — ranges from creamy white to light golden
- Harder than cherry — very durable and scratch-resistant
- Tight, subtle grain
- Classic kitchen workhorse
- Best for: daily-use boards, lighter kitchen aesthetics
Walnut
- Rich, dark brown — the most striking of the three
- Medium hardness, similar to cherry
- Dramatic grain patterns with natural color variation
- Premium look and feel
- Best for: statement pieces, dark kitchen decor, premium gifts
For a deeper dive on wood types, check out our Walnut vs. Cherry vs. Maple buyer's guide.
Shape and Size
This depends on how the board will be used.
- Rectangular/arched (12" x 9") — the all-rounder. Big enough for meal prep, small enough to store. Our arched cherry & maple board fits this category.
- House shaped (13" x 14") — the statement gift piece. Perfect for realtors, housewarmings, and wall display. Not the most practical for daily cutting, but it's not meant to be.
- Live edge (16" x 9") — the charcuterie star. The natural edges make it look organic and high-end. Great for serving and display.
- Butcher block (12" x 9") — thick, heavy, serious. This is the board that says "I cook." Dark walnut with a juice groove.
What to Engrave
The most popular engraving requests we get, in order:
- Family name + "Est." year — "The Johnsons, Est. 2019." Simple, classic, always works.
- First names + wedding date — "Sarah & Mike, June 14 2025." The go-to wedding gift.
- New home address — realtor closing gift staple. The house-shaped board is perfect for this.
- Recipe or ingredients list — "Grandma's Famous Chili" with the recipe engraved. Sentimental and unique.
- Monogram or initial — single letter, big and bold. Elegant and universal.
- Business logo — corporate gifts, restaurant branding, promotional items.
What NOT to Engrave
- Avoid engraving on the cutting surface if the board will see heavy kitchen use — the engraving will wear over time with knife contact
- We engrave on one face, and the board can be flipped for daily use
- If it's purely decorative (wall display, charcuterie), engrave away — it won't see a knife
Price: What's Normal?
For a quality hardwood cutting board with custom laser engraving:
- $40-60 — standard size, single wood species, basic engraving
- $60-80 — larger boards, mixed woods, more detailed designs
- $80-120+ — premium wood (walnut butcher block), large format, complex engravings
If you're seeing "personalized cutting boards" for $15-20 online, they're almost certainly thin bamboo with a printed (not engraved) design. It'll look great in the listing photo and mediocre on your counter.
Ready to Pick?
Head to our cutting board collection — choose your board style, pick a pre-made design or create something custom in our design studio. We'll send you a proof before we engrave anything.
Still not sure? Send us a message — we'll help you figure out the right board for whatever you've got in mind.
