Short answer: Authentic Wine Barrel furniture is made from the staves, heads and hoops of retired oak barrels, so you can see the curve, the hoops and often the wine stain. Prices at Oak Wood Wine Barrels go from $19.80 for a pack of used barrel bungs, to the Multi-Use Bar ($1,237.50), to the six-chair Game Table Set ($7,875). Most pieces are constructed from retired Bordeaux-type Wine Barrels and finished with spar varnish. In this guide we'll go through what to look for, how much each category costs and how to size it for your room.
Prices as of October 6, 2026; each link shows live stock.
What is Wine Barrel furniture?
Furniture made from the parts of a retired barrel rather than new boards cut to look like one. In barrel furniture, you will find four parts of the barrel:
- Staves: the curved oak boards that make up the sides.
- Hoops: the metal bands that bind the staves together.
- Heads: the round, flat ends.
- Bung: the stopper in the hole where the barrel was filled up.
A barrique is a Bordeaux-style barrel holding about 225 liters, which is roughly 59 gallons or 300 bottles of wine. A standard American Whiskey Barrel is approximately 53 gallons. When a barrel is retired by a winery, its oak may become a bar, chair, table or wall rack.
Wine Barrel or Whiskey Barrel: what's the difference for furniture?
Size, and what's in the staves. Bourbon must be aged in new charred oak, so a used bourbon barrel is charred inside. Wine Barrels are usually toasted, not charred, and their staves hold the color of the wine. All bourbon barrels are Whiskey Barrels, but not all Whiskey Barrels are bourbon barrels.
Most of the furniture at Oak Wood Wine Barrels is made from Bordeaux-type Wine Barrels. Also, two pieces are available in a Whiskey Barrel size, for an existing barrel: the Foot Rail ($236.50), sized either for a 59-gallon Wine Barrel or a smaller Whiskey Barrel, and the DIY Bistro Kit (from $801). For a more in-depth comparison, see Wine Barrel vs. Whiskey Barrel Furniture.
How can you tell a real barrel piece from a lookalike?
Look for what flat lumber can't copy:
- A continuous curve. Real staves bow along their whole length.
- Hoops that hold something. Bands wrapped around the staves, not trim tacked to a flat panel.
- Wine stain. Inner faces and edges that show a purple or red-brown color.
- Barrel marks. Some barrel chairs still have a bung hole in the back. Our product pages say so: "Not all chairs will have hole in back."
- Honest sizes. Real listings give sizes with a tolerance, as no two barrels are alike. Ours say ±5–10%. The shade of oak varies from piece to piece.
What does Wine Barrel furniture cost?
Prices at Oak Wood Wine Barrels by category, from the live catalog:
| Category | Price range | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Stave accessories and gift packs | $19.80 to $166.50 | Barrel bungs, candle centerpiece, flight-shooter packs |
| Wall and wine racks | $100.50 to $490.50 | Coat rack, 3- and 5-bottle racks, 9-bottle free-standing rack |
| Tables | $260.50 to $1,169.10 | Steel-leg table, hoop side table, coffee tables |
| Stools | $337.50 to $895 | Barrel stool, hydraulic luxury stool |
| Chairs and ottoman | $479.10 to $1,349.10 | Stave dining chair, ottoman, barrel chairs, captain chairs |
| Bars and cabinets | $1,237.50 to $1,259.10 | Multi-Use Bar, Bar Cabinet, Top Shelf Bar Cabinet |
| Tops, rails and kits | $236.50 to $2,151 | Foot rail, round top, DIY Bistro Kit with or without stools |
| Bar sets | $1,404 to $5,544 | Bistro sets, pub sets, double bars |
| Table and chair sets | $2,450.70 to $7,875 | Coffee table sets, dining set, game table set |
If you spend under $200, you are buying a piece of a barrel: a stave, a bung, a gift pack. You're buying one piece of furniture from about $250 to $1,350. Above that, you're buying a room: a bar with stools, or a table with chairs.
Which piece should you buy first?
The anchor: the one piece the room revolves around.
- Basement or bar room: a barrel bar. The Multi-Use Bar ($1,237.50) holds wine, hangs stemware and stores spirits.
- Living room: the Half-Barrel Coffee Table ($783), with a glass-center top and an interior display.
- Reading corner: a Wine Barrel Lounge Chair ($1,079.10) with under-seat storage.
- Dining or game room: the Game Table Set ($7,875), a poker table with a removable dining top and six chairs.
How big is barrel furniture?
| Piece | Width × depth × height |
|---|---|
| Barrel bar | 27.4 × 27.4 × 37 in |
| Barrel bar with round top | 35.4 × 35.4 × 38.6 in |
| Barrel stool | 18.9 × 18.9 × 27.6 in |
| Barrel lounge chair | 28.2 × 27.8 × 36.9 in |
| Ottoman | 28 × 28 × 24 in |
| Half-Barrel Coffee Table | 35.4 × 35.4 × 20.3 in |
| Game table | 55.3 × 55.3 × 30.7 in |
Take measurements of the room, doors and stairs. The round tops lift off, and that helps in tight turns.
Are barrel tables sturdy?
They are made from solid oak staves and held together with metal hoops. Tables with steel legs use 3 mm or 5 mm thick steel. Load ratings are not published in the catalog, so treat barrel furniture like any good wood furniture: sit on the seats, put things on the tops, and don't stand on them.
How do you clean and care for barrel furniture?
- Dust with a soft, dry cloth; use a soft-bristled brush on wire-brushed grain.
- Wipe spills immediately. Spar varnish protects the wood, but standing liquid can mark it.
- Keep it away from direct sunlight, heat vents and fireplaces.
Read more in Caring for Your Wine Barrel Furniture So It Lasts Generations.
Can you keep barrel furniture outside?
Only one piece in the catalog is finished for that. The Half-Barrel Planter ($316.50) is protected for outdoor use with marine varnish. Everything else is for indoor use.
Where can you buy Wine Barrel furniture?
Oak Wood Wine Barrels is a Houston, Texas-based family-owned business, and its barrel furniture was featured in the Netflix series Mo. Most items are in stock and ship within five business days, with free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S. Larger orders, such as sets and cabinets, are delivered by appointment. We deliver anywhere in Houston, and local pickup is by appointment at (832) 933-8787.
Shop everything in Best Sellers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Whiskey Barrel table made of?
Barrel parts: oak staves, metal hoops and occasionally the barrel head. Our barrel tables are made with Bordeaux-type Wine Barrel oak and have metal hoops or satin black steel legs. The round glass-center tops are wire-brushed fir.
What do wineries do with old barrels?
They retire them when they finish aging wine. Some are resold. Some become furniture, like the pieces in this guide.
Why do the sizes say ±5–10%?
Each barrel is a bit different. The tolerance is the honest way to describe something made out of real barrels.
Do you sell raw barrels?
Raw barrels are not part of our in-stock catalog. If you already have one, the DIY Bistro Kit (from $801) includes a round top and foot rail.
Is shipping free?
Yes, in the continental U.S.