The wood is a valued lumber, as is the wood of other hickories. It is a hard and heavy wood, and is used to manufacture handles for different tools, basketry, agricultural implements, floorings, cabinets, and veneer for furniture.

The wood also makes excellent fuel, and the nuts are edible. Historically, the wood was made into wooden wheels because it is dense, has bending qualities, and can withstand compression and shock better than most other woods. Early settlers were able to boil the bark in vinegar to extract a black dye.