What is bendable plywood?
Bendable plywood, often called fexible plywood or flexi-ply, is a specialized type of plywood that possesses a unique property: it can be bent or curved easily without breaking or splintering. This feature of flexibility is achieved through its construction and composition, which makes it a valuable material in special applications when conventional standard plywood can’t be used.
Trade names of Bendable plywood: Multiflex, bendy plywood, flexoply, Flexply, bending plywood, bendable ply, curve-ply, wiggle wood, super form,…
> Read more: plywood sizes, 3/4 plywood, 4×8 plywood, 1/2 plywood, 5/8 plywood, 1/4 plywood
How is flexible plywood made?
Flexible plywood is made by selecting thin veneer sheets, soaking them to increase flexibility, applying a flexible adhesive like phenolic resin, layering them with alternating grain orientations, pressing them under even pressure in a hydraulic or vacuum press, and curing to set the adhesive. This process allows the plywood to bend without cracking, making it suitable for curved furniture, interiors, and architectural applications.
Key Benefits of Bendable Plywood
1. Highly Flexible for Creative Designs
Bendable plywood is engineered to curve effortlessly without cracking, splintering, or losing structural integrity. This makes it ideal for architects and designers seeking to create non-linear, organic shapes such as wave walls, circular counters, or elliptical furniture. Depending on grain orientation, panels can bend along length or width—unlocking complex forms that would be extremely labor-intensive with solid wood.
2. Reduces Fabrication Time & Cost
Unlike traditional joinery methods that require custom shaping, steaming, or layering thin boards manually, bendable plywood bends cold and fast. This significantly cuts down on labor time, tooling complexity, and overall fabrication cost—particularly in curved wall cladding, reception desks, or built-in shelving units with radius requirements.
3. Lightweight Yet Strong
Despite its flexibility, bendable plywood retains the core strength of multi-layered veneer construction. It’s lighter than MDF or hardwood panels, making it easier to transport, lift, and install—especially on vertical or ceiling-mounted applications. For projects where weight matters (e.g., mobile furniture, display structures, boats), this is a major advantage.
4. Ready for Finishing
One of the biggest advantages of flexible plywood is that it's finishing-friendly. Whether you plan to apply natural wood veneer, HPL laminate, or direct paint, the surface bonds well with adhesives and coatings after bending. This ensures a clean, polished result even on the tightest curves. For decorative elements in hotels, retail stores, or offices, this aesthetic flexibility is critical.
5. Compatible with Common Tools & Fasteners
Bendable plywood can be cut, glued, stapled, or nailed using standard carpentry tools—no need for special treatment. It holds fasteners better than MDF flex boards, and doesn’t crumble or fray when shaped correctly. Whether you're attaching it to a frame or cladding it onto a form, you can work with confidence using conventional woodworking methods.
6. Sustainable and Efficient Use of Materials
Many bendable plywood products use fast-growing or renewable veneer species like poplar or eucalyptus. These contribute to lower environmental impact compared to tropical hardwoods. Additionally, their high yield during shaping means fewer offcuts and less waste—ideal for LEED-focused or sustainable building projects.
What is flexible plywood used for?
As its name, flexible plywood is used for a wide range of practical applications, its flexible nature offers a lot of advantages over its other wooden counterparts. Flexible plywood can withstand bending and shaping that would cause normal sheets to split and break. It is mainly used for furniture and decorative accessories.
Furniture
One of the most popular uses of flexible bending plywood sheet material is furniture making. As this flexible bendy plywood sheet curves and can bend with ease, it can be used to make many creative furniture designs.
Decorative accessories
Bendy plywood is ideal for creating irregular and curved designs such as those used in decorative accessories for the home. Flexible bendy plywood can be used to create items such as lamp bases and decorative panels.
But Flexible plywood is used to make furniture more than constructions. Flexi plywood is used in furniture for hard curved structures.
- It is used to make the back of the chair.
- Modern curved chairs are used to make
- MP3 station
- Bookcase
> Read more: laminate flooring, hardwood flooring, baltic birch plywood, maple plywood, ACX plywood, BBOES plywood
Is bendable plywood strong?
Of course, the biggest difference between bendable plywood and other plywood is its strong and different rigidity. This is because of the way flexible plywood are manufactured.
What thickness does bendable plywood come in?
Bendable plywood comes in different thicknesses, you can choose your desired thickness during the ordering process, just make sure that the plywood you choose meets your requirement: both the format and the thickness of the material. There are 3 thicknesses available: 5mm, 7mm and 8mm.
What is the minimum radius for bendable plywood?
The recommended minimum bending radius for Flexi Bending plywood is approximately 340mm, while European Bending plywood is approximately 110mm for 8mm sheet thicknesses and 80mm for 5mm sheet thicknesses.
Is Flexible plywood waterproof?
This special kind of plywood can bend in all manner of ways and is both moisture-resistant and termite-proof. This duality of resistance ensures it holds up well in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms where exposure to water and humidity is high. Flexi ply gets its innovative pliancy from its multi-layer composition of thin plies.
> Discover more: furniture grade plywood, plywood underlayment, shuttering plywood, concrete forming plywood
Is lauan plywood bendable?
Lauan plywood, also known as meranti plywood, is generally not considered bendable in the same way as flexible plywood. It is a type of tropical hardwood plywood that is known for its strength and durability but does not have the same inherent flexibility as plywood specifically engineered for bending.
FAQs About Bendable Plywood
Is bendable plywood the same as flexible plywood?
Yes, both terms refer to the same material designed for curvature in construction or design applications.
Can I laminate or veneer bendable plywood?
Yes. After shaping, you can apply veneer, laminate sheets, or paint—just ensure the curvature is stable first.
What is the tightest radius I can achieve?
Panels as thin as 3mm can bend to a radius as tight as 150mm depending on grain and orientation.
Can it be used outdoors?
Not directly. Bendable plywood is for interior use. If needed outdoors, it must be sealed thoroughly and protected from moisture.
Where can I buy bendable plywood?
Manufacturers like Vinawood supply flexible plywood panels for export and custom architectural applications. Always specify grain direction and thickness before ordering.
In Conclusion
Flexible plywood is constructed differently from normal plywood sheets. Instead of creating a short cross grain design by layering veneers at right angles is created by keeping all the grain patterns in the same direction. This makes it so easy to manipulate.
Here at Vinawood, we offer our customers a wide choice of plywood sheets and materials. We pride ourselves on providing an excellent range of FSC certified products manufactured to the highest standard. We are proud to serve both individual and commercial customers and sell every type of plywood. If you are wondering about the appreciated plywood for your project, please contact us to get recommendations you need for your project. We have excellent customer service, we are always happy to assist you. Our fast delivery throughout America is available on items we have in stock. At Vinawood, we offer the best prices possible on our plywood sheet products, including flexible plywood sheets. You can save on your order thanks to our discount offer.
> Learn more:
- Can you stain pressure treated wood
- What is CDX plywood
- What is the best outdoor plywood
- Plywood for cabinets
- How to waterproof plywood
VINAWOOD – Vietnam Plywood Supplier & Manufacturer
