Cedar vs cypress
Western redcedar and baldcypress are both sold for their decay resistance. Cypress is much the harder and heavier of the two.
- Baldcypress is about 46% harder than western redcedar.
- Baldcypress is about 44% heavier than western redcedar.
Each column is the species its page leads with: western redcedar for western red cedar, baldcypress for cypress.
Side by side
| Property | Western red cedar | Cypress |
|---|---|---|
| Janka hardness, 12% MC | 350 lbf | 510 lbf |
| Weight, 12% MC | 22.4 lb/ft³ (358 kg/m³) | 32.2 lb/ft³ (515 kg/m³) |
| Specific gravity, 12% MC | 0.32 | 0.46 |
| Tangential shrinkage | 5.0% | — |
| Radial shrinkage | 2.4% | — |
| 12 in flatsawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.168 in | — |
| 12 in quartersawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.08 in | — |
| Bending strength (MOR), 12% MC | 7,500 psi | 10,600 psi |
| Stiffness (MOE), 12% MC | 1.11 million psi | 1.44 million psi |
| Crushing strength, 12% MC | 4,560 psi | 6,360 psi |
One source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, the authority for species properties it measured
Wood Handbook Tables 5-3b, 4-3 and 13-5; weight and movement worked with its Eqs. 4-14 and 13-3. A dash means the Handbook prints no value.
What sets them apart
- Decay
- Western redcedar heartwood is very resistant to decay. Old-growth baldcypress heartwood is one of the most decay-resistant US woods, but second-growth cypress is only moderately resistant, and old growth is now difficult to find. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-11 and 2-17)
- Shrinkage
- The Handbook says baldcypress shrinkage is moderately low: somewhat higher than the cedars’ and lower than southern pine’s. Its 2021 tables print no shrinkage or movement figure for baldcypress, so those cells are empty. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-11)
- Pecky cypress
- Some baldcypress has pockets attacked by a fungus. The decay stops once the wood is sawn and dried, so pecky cypress is durable and is used for paneling where its look is wanted. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-11)
- Uses
- Second-growth cypress goes into siding and millwork, including paneling. Western redcedar goes into shingles, siding, decking, greenhouses and boats. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-11 and 2-17)
For any other pair, open each species page from the wood hub; every page uses the same layout and the same sources.