Cedar Wood Guide

Wood species guide · Aromatic softwood

Western Red Cedar is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.

Scientific nameThuja plicata
Janka hardness350 lbf
Average dried weight23 lb/ft³
Best fitDecking
Western Red Cedar wood grain sample showing typical colour and figure
Western Red Cedar wood grain reference for colour, texture, and figure comparison.

Overview

Why choose Western Red Cedar?

Western Red Cedar is a aromatic softwood associated with Pacific Northwest United States and Canada. It is useful when the project calls for decking, fence boards, posts, planter boxes, siding, outdoor accents, boxes, and lightweight exterior projects.

For SEO and customer usefulness, this page separates the science from the buying decision: appearance, working behaviour, durability, project fit, and then the right Kingma shopping path.

Scientific nameThuja plicata
DistributionPacific Northwest United States and Canada
ShrinkageRadial 2.4% · Tangential 5.0% · T/R 2.1
DurabilityDurable to very durable against decay, with mixed insect resistance.

Western Red Cedar colour, grain, and figure

Reddish to pinkish brown heartwood with darker streaks and narrow pale sapwood.

Straight grain with coarse texture and moderate natural luster.

Western Red Cedar wood face grain showing colour, grain, and texture
Western Red Cedar face grain reference.
Western Red Cedar wood grain close-up for identification and project planning
Western Red Cedar secondary identification reference.

Working notes

Very easy to work, glue, and finish, but it dents easily and can sand unevenly. Iron fasteners may stain it in moisture.

Western Red Cedar contains plicatic acid and is associated with occupational asthma; dust control and PPE are important.

Western Red Cedar should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.

Best uses for Western Red Cedar

Best projects

Decking, fence boards, posts, planter boxes, siding, outdoor accents, boxes, and lightweight exterior projects.

Use caution

High-wear tabletops, cutting boards, heavy impact surfaces, and applications where softness is a problem.

Finish strategy

Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.

Buying note

Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.

Shop path

Buying Western Red Cedar from Kingma

Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.

Kingma option

Cedar lumber collection

Best route for boards, posts, and exterior cedar stock.

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Kingma option

Cedar planter box kits

Good fit for outdoor projects where cedar’s decay resistance matters.

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Kingma option

4x4 Cedar posts

Useful for structural-looking outdoor projects, fencing, and garden builds.

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Similar woods and alternatives

If the customer needs interior furniture hardness, cedar is not the right substitute for hardwoods. For outdoor use, cedar is often the better choice than indoor hardwoods because of its decay resistance and low weight.

Western Red Cedar FAQ

Is Cedar a hardwood?

No. Western Red Cedar is a softwood, even though it is often sold alongside lumber used for serious building projects.

Is Cedar good outdoors?

Yes. Western Red Cedar is valued for exterior uses because it is lightweight and naturally decay resistant.

Is Cedar good for cutting boards?

No. It is too soft and aromatic for that use. Maple, Walnut, and Cherry are better cutting board options.