What Is Veneer Matching? Techniques and Patterns

• Center Match : Leaves are trimmed to equal sizes and centered on the panel, creating horizontal symmetry. This premium method, often used in architectural paneling, is visually pleasing but requires more veneer, increasing costs.
• Balance Match : Leaves are equal in width but not centered, offering symmetry without precise alignment. Grain may shift across long runs, and panels can be sequenced for adjacency.
• Running Match : Leaf widths vary naturally, starting from one side and continuing to the edge. This non-symmetrical approach uses as many leaves as needed, with minimal horizontal grain alignment.

• Thinnest Veneers (1/64”) : Used in budget-friendly manufactured furniture.
• Thicker Veneers (1/16”) : Preferred by woodworkers for high-quality custom pieces.

• Rotary Cut : 0.125” (1/8”) to 0.026” (1/38”).  
• Plain Sliced : 0.028” (1/36”) or 0.024” (1/42”).  
• Rift or Quarter-Sliced : 0.063” (1/16”) to 0.020” (1/50”).

• MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard) : Smooth, flat, and highly stable, MDF is a top choice. It’s affordable, consistent, and bonds well with veneer glue.
• Plywood : A lighter alternative to MDF, such as Baltic birch, works for weight-sensitive projects like large doors. However, it may warp or have hidden voids.
• Particle Board : Suitable if sanded first (melamine surfaces resist glue). It’s cost-effective but less stable than MDF.
• Solid Wood : Budget woods like poplar or pine can serve as substrates, though they’re less common due to stability concerns.

VENEER MATCHING

All veneers, except the rotary cut veneer, to have full sized panels must be assembled into large sheets or “spliced” together. This process is known as veneer matching, and different matches produce a specific pattern in the finished panel.

Here are some of the types of splicing that you will see:

Book Match

Book matching is the most common technique and is often used with plain, quarter or rift sliced veneers.  This occurs when consecutive leaves of veneer are flipped open facing each other like pages in a book. This creates a mirror image of the previous leaf. The symmetrical pattern accentuates the grain, figure, and decorative characteristics of the log. Book matching can create color variation and can produce alternating “tight” and “loose” faces that reflect light and accept stain differently – often producing a “barber pole” effect.

Slip Match

Consecutive leaves of veneer are slid or “slipped” across each other and joined side by side, like sliding a deck of cards and creates a repeating grain pattern across the panel. Slip matching is a common technique that is often used with quarter and rift cut veneer to provide a clean straight grain look. In veneers with a straighter grained the joints won’t be prominent, but some rotary cut veneers, especially those that include both heart and sap wood, can highlight the flitch joints.

End Match

Two consecutive leaves of veneer are book matched and the next two are flipped, creating a four-piece end match (also called a book-and-butt match). End matching creates beautiful patterns and accentuates swirly grains and the irregular characteristics of veneer. This method makes good use of shorter veneer leaves and is often used with burls and crotches.

Reverse Slip Match

Alternating leaves of veneer are slipped across each other and every other leaf is flipped end to end. Reverse slip matching creates an alternating grain pattern that breaks the repetitive “marching” pattern of the traditional slip match. It balances the character of the veneer and is often used where curved shapes might cut off the grain in peculiar ways.

Random Match

Random Matching assembles veneer flitches without regard to grain pattern or color. Visual continuity is not guaranteed, though some species are naturally more uniform than others.

Panel Matching Methods

Once a sheet of veneer has been matched into a panel you can then match each of the panels to form a pattern.

Center

All veneer leaves are trimmed to the same size and applied to the panel in patterns using an even number of leaves. Horizontal symmetry results from centering the veneer face on the panel and then trimming the edge. Center matching creates the most symmetrical pattern in architectural paneling and is often considered the most pleasing match. It is typically more expensive as the trimming and centering requires more veneer than other panel matching techniques. Panels may be sequenced and numbered for adjacent use.

Balance

The width of each veneer leaf used is the same giving a more symmetrical look than running matched panels. In balance panel matching the face is not center balanced and an odd or even number of leaves may be used. Grain may change between panels over long runs as the characteristics of the veneer change through the use of the flitch. Panels may be sequenced and numbered for adjacent use.

Running

A natural change in the veneer leaf width is common and acceptable and each veneer face is assembled from as many veneer leaves as necessary producing a non-symmetrical look. The pattern starts on one side of the panel and leaves are added next to each other until the edge of the panel is reached. Each veneer face is assembled from as many leaves as necessary and horizontal grains are generally not matched.

What is the Thickness of Veneers

Different mills produce veneers of varying thicknesses but it is typically 1/16th of an inch thick, ranging all the way down to 1/64th of an inch thick.  The thinnest veneers are used in manufactured inexpensive furniture. On the other hand, woodworkers use the thicker veneers to make higher grade custom furniture pieces.

Mills based in the US will generally cut to the following thickness:

• rotary cut range between 0.125” (1/8”) and 0.026” (1/38”)

• plain sliced are generally 0.028” (1/36”) or 0.024” (1/42”)

• rift cut or quarter-sliced veneers thicknesses range between 0.063” (1/16”) to 0.020” (1/50”)

Veneer Substrates

Veneers must be glued to something – that’s a substrate!

Technically, any smooth surface that can be glued to can be a substrate for a wood veneer. The substrate is the material that the veneer is glued on to. The best substrate is the one that is the most stable. This means that it does not expand and contract with temperature or moisture and is as flat as possible.

In general, common veneer substrates are:

• MDF – is smooth, flat, and incredibly stable. It is also relatively inexpensive and consistent in its makeup. Its surface readily accepts being glued to veneer

• Plywood – Although plywood is not as good a choice as MDF it can be used as well. If weight is an issue, for example on large doors, baltic birch plywood can be used instead of the heavier MDF. However, plywood can warp, especially if stored improperly, and may have voids within its core that you may not see until it is cut

• Particle board – Particle board is also a good substrate.  However, if it has a melamine surface a proper glue bond cannot be applied to this surface. It will need to be sanded first.

• or other less expensive pieces of wood such as poplar or pine.