Cedar vs pine
Western redcedar and eastern white pine are about equally soft and light. What sets the cedar apart is decay resistance; southern pine is the heavy, hard one of the three.
- Eastern white pine is about 9% harder than western redcedar.
- Eastern white pine is about 9% heavier than western redcedar.
- Western redcedar has about 10% more movement across a flatsawn board than eastern white pine.
- Longleaf pine is about 149% harder than western redcedar.
- Longleaf pine is about 84% heavier than western redcedar.
- Longleaf pine has about 6% more movement across a flatsawn board than western redcedar.
Each column is the species its page leads with: western redcedar for western red cedar, longleaf pine for southern yellow pine.
Side by side
| Property | Western red cedar | Eastern white pine | Southern yellow pine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janka hardness, 12% MC | 350 lbf | 380 lbf | 870 lbf |
| Weight, 12% MC | 22.4 lb/ft³ (358 kg/m³) | 24.5 lb/ft³ (392 kg/m³) | 41.3 lb/ft³ (661 kg/m³) |
| Specific gravity, 12% MC | 0.32 | 0.35 | 0.59 |
| Tangential shrinkage | 5.0% | 6.1% | 7.5% |
| Radial shrinkage | 2.4% | 2.1% | 5.1% |
| 12 in flatsawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.168 in | 0.153 in | 0.179 in |
| 12 in quartersawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.08 in | 0.051 in | 0.099 in |
| Bending strength (MOR), 12% MC | 7,500 psi | 8,600 psi | 14,500 psi |
| Stiffness (MOE), 12% MC | 1.11 million psi | 1.24 million psi | 1.98 million psi |
| Crushing strength, 12% MC | 4,560 psi | 4,800 psi | 8,470 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. For southern pine used as crossties, piles, poles or exterior decking, the Handbook says it is usually treated with preservatives. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-15 and 2-17)
- Shrinkage
- The Handbook gives western redcedar very low shrinkage and eastern white pine low shrinkage with high stability; the southern pines have moderately high shrinkage but are stable when properly dried. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-13 to 2-17)
- Uses
- Western redcedar goes into shingles, siding, decking and greenhouses. Eastern white pine goes into patterns, sashes, doors, furniture and paneling. Southern pine goes into framing, plywood and treated lumber. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-13 to 2-17)
For any other pair, open each species page from the wood hub; every page uses the same layout and the same sources.