Poplar is highly stable, consistent, and highly workable and takes paint and stain famously well. The combined factors of low cost and high availability in a variety of widths and thicknesses make Poplar an outstanding secondary or paint-grade wood that is perfect for interior building or furniture applications. Poplar is commonly used in architectural millwork, because it is soft enough to be gentle on cutting tools, yet hard enough to retain details. The fine pores finish very well, taking an even and smooth coat of paint, primer, varnish, or shellac.

Workability:  Very easy to work as it is a soft wood. Due to its low density, Poplar can sometimes leave fuzzy surfaces and edges: especially during shaping or sanding. Sanding to finer grits of sandpaper may be necessary to obtain a smooth surface, but poplar is still one of the cheapest and easiest woods to saw with.

Poplar is used for pallet making, crates, upholstered furniture frames, paper (pulpwood), and plywood. modelling, hobby projects, hobby wood, carvings, and cnc template making. Often made S4S (surfaced four sides) and used as hobby boards.