Beech wood is used to make flooring, furniture, veneer plywood, and railroad ties. It is especially favored as fuel wood because of its high density and good burning qualities. Coal tar made from beech wood is used to protect wood from rotting. Beech is regarded as a poor deer browse.
Beech grows relatively slowly and has a low tolerance to fire.
Beechnuts are roasted and eaten or used a coffee substitute. Repeated clearcutting at short intervals may eliminate beech. Beech is seriously affected by beech bark disease.