Berta Store · Plywood comparison
Compare Berta’s white melamine Baltic birch with the White Melamine option in our poplar-core plywood range for cabinets, closets, and shelving.
The quick answer: choose Baltic birch when your design specifies an all-birch core at 18 mm. Choose poplar core when it meets your specification and you need 18, 12, or 6 mm options. The 6 mm poplar panel has one finished face.
White melamine Baltic birch
Keep the core requirement separate from the surface color. A white face alone does not identify the plywood underneath.
White melamine over poplar
Check which faces will be visible: the 18 mm and 12 mm options are finished on both sides; 6 mm has one finished side.
This comparison covers two specific Berta products. Melamine describes the surface; Baltic birch and poplar describe the plywood core.
On a small screen, swipe the table horizontally to see both products.
| What to compare | White melamine Baltic birch | White melamine poplar core |
|---|---|---|
| Core construction | Listed as 13-ply solid Baltic birch at 18 mm. | Multi-ply poplar plywood core. |
| White surface | Factory-applied white melamine. | Factory-applied white melamine. |
| Listed thicknesses | 18 mm, sold as nominal 3/4 in. | 18, 12, and 6 mm, sold as nominal 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 in. |
| Finished faces | Both faces on the listed 18 mm sheet. | 18 mm and 12 mm: both faces. 6 mm: one face. |
| Listed sheet size | 4 × 8 ft; the current listing also gives 1220 × 2440 mm. | 4 × 8 ft (48 × 96 in). |
| 18 mm price / sheet | $137.90 USD | $81.29 USD |
| Selection to check | White Melamine Baltic Birch Plywood. | White Melamine plus the required thickness in the combined Birch / White Melamine listing. |
| Work after cutting | Plan cut-edge treatment, joinery, and protection of the white faces. | Plan cut-edge treatment, joinery, and any treatment needed for the unfinished back of a 6 mm panel. |
Confirm usable sheet dimensions before nesting parts. Nominal inch labels do not mean an exact inch thickness: 18 mm is about 0.709 in. Measure the actual sheet before sizing grooves, dados, and fitted parts.
Both cards show white melamine, nominal 3/4 in (18 mm), 4 × 8 sheets. Check current availability and fulfillment on the product pages.
White faces · All-birch core
Shown: 3/4 in (18 mm) · 4 × 8 sheet
$137.90 USD / sheet
Available to order · Confirm fulfillment before ordering.
White faces · Poplar core
Shown: White Melamine / 3/4 in (18 mm)
$81.29 USD / sheet
Available to order · Confirm fulfillment before ordering.
Prices update from the selected product options when the page loads. Photos illustrate the products; compare physical samples for white tone and sheen. Review bulk-pricing details and confirm the final total at checkout.
Keep the part’s design requirements and visible faces on your material list. The poplar-core range includes these White Melamine selections:
18 mm · Nominal 3/4 in
Consider for cabinet boxes and shelves when the design specifies this thickness. Check span, supports, joinery, and hardware requirements.
12 mm · Nominal 1/2 in
Consider for parts specified at 12 mm. Confirm the component’s load, groove dimensions, and hardware compatibility before changing thickness.
6 mm · Nominal 1/4 in
Consider for specified backs or drawer bottoms with suitable support. Plan which face is visible and how the unfinished reverse will be treated.
The white Baltic birch product compared here lists 18 mm only. Do not assume thinner sheets are available in that same construction or that whites from different ranges will match.
Check both samples in the room’s lighting, next to the planned doors and edge banding. Compare white tone, sheen, surface feel, core appearance, and actual thickness. Samples are small pieces for review, not full sheets.
01 · List the parts
Write down core, thickness, finished-side count, and visible edges for each part. Confirm hardware requirements and shelf support before selecting a panel.
02 · Check the dimensions
Get the actual sheet dimensions before using the cut-list calculator. Allow for saw kerf, trimming, and waste.
03 · Finish the edges
Use the edge-banding calculator and review delivery and unloading details before ordering.
Yes. The two products compared here use plywood cores: solid Baltic birch in one, multi-ply poplar in the other. The word “melamine” identifies the surface and does not by itself tell you the core material.
Both compared 18 mm sheets already have white melamine on both faces. The main specification difference is the core construction. Compare the live sheet prices above, then check which core your project requires and the cost of edges, waste, and delivery.
Do not assume an exact match from the product names or photos. Compare samples under your project lighting and alongside doors and edge banding before mixing the two ranges in a visible assembly.
The white Baltic birch sheet compared here is 18 mm with both faces finished. In the poplar-core range, 18 mm and 12 mm have two finished faces; 6 mm has one. Check the reverse face requirements for backs, drawer bottoms, and other thin parts.
Confirm the change against the project specification before ordering. Face color does not establish equivalent core construction, stiffness, or fastener performance. Neither product listing provides a load rating for your particular shelf span, support arrangement, or hardware installation.
The listed melamine finish is on the faces. Cutting exposes the plywood core, so plan compatible edge banding or another appropriate edge treatment. Use these options for suitable protected interior applications and keep cut edges and joints away from persistent moisture.
Send the core requirement, thickness, finished-side count, quantity, and delivery ZIP code. We can help confirm the listed option and usable sheet size before you order.