Western Redcedar
Thuja plicata · softwood · Pacific Northwest · low movement
- Janka hardness 350 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 22 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.32 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 5%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 2.4%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 2.1 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes Decks, fences, saunas, strip canoes. Very stable and very soft — pre-drill near ends, and wear a mask (the dust bites).
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for western redcedar across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 1/16″ (0.064″) | 1/32″ (0.031″) |
| 12″ | 1/8″ (0.129″) | 1/16″ (0.062″) |
| 24″ | 1/4″ (0.257″) | 1/8″ (0.123″) |
| 36″ | 3/8″ (0.386″) | 3/16″ (0.185″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to western redcedar:
Typical swings:
Western Redcedar questions
How much does western redcedar move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn western redcedar board moves about 1/8″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 1/16″. Its tangential shrinkage is 5% and radial 2.4% (green to ovendry) — a low-movement wood.
How hard is western redcedar?
Western Redcedar rates about 350 lbf on the Janka scale — soft enough to dent in daily use (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 22 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is western redcedar good for wide panels and tabletops?
Carefully. Its tangential-to-radial ratio of 2.1:1 makes flatsawn boards prone to cupping — choose quartersawn stock for wide glue-ups, alternate growth rings, and fasten tops so they can slide.
Similar species
Atlantic White-Cedar · Northern White-Cedar · Eastern White Pine · Sugar Pine · Engelmann Spruce · Balsam Fir
Shrinkage, specific gravity, and hardness from the Wood Handbook, FPL-GTR-282 (2021 edition), USDA Forest Products Laboratory (public domain). Values are species averages — individual boards vary with growth conditions and how they were dried.