Cedar Wood Types: Properties, Janka Hardness & Uses Compared

Cedar is not one wood. The boards sold as cedar at a lumberyard, the aromatic planks lining a closet and the “cedar” in a humidor come from different trees, and their hardness differs by a factor of more than 2.5. Western red cedar is a soft, light wood at 350 lbf. Eastern red cedar measures 900 lbf. None of the four common “cedars” covered here is a true cedar. This guide sorts out which is which, what the numbers say about each, and where each one belongs in a project.

Cedar Is a Name, Not a Species

True cedars belong to the genus Cedrus (cedar of Lebanon, deodar, Atlas cedar) and are rarely sold as lumber in North America. Nearly everything labeled cedar in a woodworking context is something else. Eastern red cedar is a juniper. Alaska yellow cedar is a cypress. Spanish cedar belongs to the mahogany family. Western red cedar is a Thuja, in the cypress family. The shared name comes from a similar fragrance and reddish color, not from botany.

That matters because the properties you are buying are species properties. A “cedar” closet lining, a “cedar” fence board and a “cedar” guitar top are three different woods with three different jobs.

Cedar Species Compared: Hardness, Weight and Decay Resistance

Wood	Species	Janka (lbf)	Dried weight (lb/ft3)	Decay resistance
Western red cedar	Thuja plicata	350	23.0	Durable to very durable
Eastern red cedar	Juniperus virginiana	900	33	Excellent
Alaska yellow cedar	Cupressus nootkatensis	580	31	Durable to very durable
Spanish cedar	Cedrela odorata	600	29	Durable to moderately durable

Two numbers in that table decide most real-world choices. Western red cedar is the lightest at 23 lb/ft3 and the softest at 350 lbf, which is why it dents under a dropped hammer but also why it is easy to nail and cut. Eastern red cedar is nearly 2.6 times harder (900 lbf versus 350) and about 43 percent heavier (33 versus 23 lb/ft3), so it holds an edge and a screw far better, but it is usually sold in short, knotty pieces rather than long clear boards.

Western Red Cedar: The Siding, Fence and Deck Cedar

If you ask a home center for cedar fence boards, decking or siding, you are almost certainly getting western red cedar. The Wood Database rates its heartwood as durable to very durable against decay, and describes it as easily machined but prone to denting and scratching. It also sands unevenly across the growth rings, so finish with a sanding block rather than only a random-orbit sander. It glues and finishes well, and it is a standard choice for shingles, exterior siding, boxes and guitar soundboards.

For more on how it behaves outdoors, see whether cedar rots, how long cedar lasts and how to stop it turning gray.

Eastern Red Cedar: The Aromatic One

Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is the strongly scented, red-and-cream wood used for closet linings, chests, pencils, fence posts and small turned or carved items. The Wood Database rates it excellent for decay and insect resistance. One practical warning from the same source: its high silica content can dull cutting tools, so expect to sharpen plane irons and saw blades sooner than you would on western red cedar.

Because the two woods look similar but behave differently, we wrote a direct comparison: eastern red cedar vs. western red cedar. For the closet use specifically, start with how to cedar line a closet.

Alaska Yellow Cedar: The Cypress in Disguise

Alaska yellow cedar is the one most woodworkers have never heard of. At 580 lbf and 31 lb/ft3 it sits between the two red cedars, with decay resistance rated durable to very durable and resistance to most insects. It works easily with hand and machine tools, though wavy-grained pieces can tear out in the planer. It is used in boatbuilding, siding, decking, outdoor furniture and carving.

Spanish Cedar: Not a Cedar at All

Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata) is in the mahogany family, and the Wood Database notes it is more closely related to the true mahoganies. At 600 lbf it is used for cabinetry, veneer, plywood, musical instruments and humidors, where its scent is a feature. Neotropical Cedrela species are listed in CITES Appendix II and the species is rated vulnerable by the IUCN, so ask your supplier about sourcing.

Heartwood vs. Sapwood: Why Two Cedar Boards Age Differently

Cedar’s rot resistance lives in the heartwood. The pale sapwood along a board’s edges has little of the natural preservatives the darker heartwood carries, so two boards from the same species can perform very differently outdoors. When you buy fence boards or decking, look at the end grain and favor boards that are mostly red or brown heartwood. Sapwood edges are the first place graying, moisture staining and rot show up.

Working With Cedar: Fasteners, Dust and Tools

Use stainless steel or hot-dip galvanized fasteners with outdoor cedar. Plain or electroplated steel reacts with the natural extractives in the wood when it gets wet and leaves dark streaks around every nail head, and the fastener will eventually corrode away.

Wear a dust mask or respirator when you cut or sand any cedar. Western red cedar dust in particular is a recognized cause of occupational asthma and skin or eye irritation in some people, and the fine dust from sanding softwood is easy to inhale without noticing. A shop vacuum on the tool and a respirator rated for fine dust are cheap insurance.

Keep tools sharp. Soft cedar tears and fuzzes under a dull blade instead of cutting cleanly, and the silica in eastern red cedar dulls edges faster than you would expect from a softwood. A fresh blade and a light final pass give a much cleaner surface than extra sanding.

Common Cedar Myths Worth Correcting

• “Spanish cedar and yellow cedar are real cedars.” Neither is. Spanish cedar is a mahogany relative and Alaska yellow cedar is a cypress.
• “Cedar is a hardwood.” Western red cedar, eastern red cedar and yellow cedar are conifers, so they are softwoods in the botanical sense, even though eastern red cedar at 900 lbf is harder than many people expect. Our guide to whether cedar is a hardwood or softwood covers the details.
• “Cedar never needs finishing.” Untreated cedar outdoors weathers to silver-gray. If you want the red color to last, see how to stain cedar and the best cedar sealer. If you prefer paint, our guide to painting cedar explains the primer and timing that stop tannin bleed.
• “Cedar always repels moths.” The scent is strongest in eastern red cedar and fades as the surface oxidizes; light sanding brings it back. Treat moth repellence as a mild deterrent rather than a guarantee.

Which Cedar for Which Project

• Fences, siding and decks: western red cedar. See the best cedar for a fence, cedar vs. pressure-treated decking and whether cedar can be used outside.
• Closets, chests and small keepsakes: eastern red cedar, for the scent and the harder wood.
• Boats, outdoor furniture and carving: Alaska yellow cedar if you can source it.
• Humidors, cabinetry and instruments: Spanish cedar.
• Choosing against another wood: cedar vs. pine is the most common decision.

How Much Does Cedar Cost?

According to the Wood Database, western red cedar is moderately inexpensive in construction grades, and higher grades cost more. Prices swing by region and grade, so use our current breakdowns in cedar plank pricing and how much cedar wood costs rather than a single number.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cedar wood best for?

Cedar is best for outdoor projects such as fences, siding, shingles and decks when it is western red cedar, and for closets, chests and small keepsakes when it is aromatic eastern red cedar. Its heartwood resists decay and insects naturally.

Is cedar a hardwood or a softwood?

Cedar is a softwood, because it comes from a conifer. Western red cedar is very soft at 350 lbf on the Janka scale, while eastern red cedar is harder at 900 lbf.

Is cedar rot resistant?

Cedar heartwood is rated durable to very durable against decay, but the pale sapwood has little natural protection. Boards with more heartwood last longer outdoors.

Are Spanish cedar and Alaska yellow cedar true cedars?

No. Spanish cedar is in the mahogany family and Alaska yellow cedar is a cypress. True cedars belong to the genus Cedrus.