Home / Wood Compare / Hinoki Cypress vs Western Red Cedar
Professional Comparison · Verified Engineering Data · Updated 19 July 2026
Hinoki Cypress VS Western Red Cedar
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
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Hinoki Cypress
42/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood🌧Outdoor
- Harder wear surface (Janka 1010 vs 350 lbf)
- Stronger in bending (MOR 75.0 vs 51.7 MPa)
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Western Red Cedar
22/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood🌧Outdoor
- Easier to machine and fasten
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
Hinoki CypressWestern Red Cedar
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Tie |
| Stability | Tie |
| Hardness | Hinoki Cypress |
| Strength (MOR) | Hinoki Cypress |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Hinoki Cypress |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Western Red Cedar |
| Lightness | Western Red Cedar |
Engineering data
| Property | Hinoki Cypress | Western Red Cedar |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1010 lbf | 350WD lbf |
| Density | 0.42 g/cm³ | 0.32FPL g/cm³ |
| MOE | 9.0 GPa | 7.7FPL GPa |
| MOR | 75.0 MPa | 51.7FPL MPa |
| Durability | Class 2 Durable | Class 2 Durable |
| Stability | Moderate | Moderate |
| Fire (E84) | Class C indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 2 % | 2.4WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 4.5 % | 5WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 2.25 | 2.08 |
Figures carry the same source status as the species pages they come from — verified where cited, indicative where marked.
Best for
| Application | Recommended | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor decking / pergola | 🥇 Hinoki Cypress | ★★★☆☆ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Western Red Cedar | ★★★★☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Hinoki Cypress | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Western Red Cedar | ★★★★☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Hinoki Cypress | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Hinoki Cypress
Advantages
- Rated for exterior exposure (EN 350 Class 2)
- Easy to machine, glue and fasten
- Lightweight — easy handling and installation
Limitations
- Noticeable seasonal movement — allow for it in design
Western Red Cedar
Advantages
- Rated for exterior exposure (EN 350 Class 2)
- Easy to machine, glue and fasten
- Lightweight — easy handling and installation
Limitations
- Noticeable seasonal movement — allow for it in design
- Soft surface — dents under point loads
Recommendation
Choose Hinoki Cypress if…
- The surface takes traffic or impact
Choose Western Red Cedar if…
- Ease of working and fastening matters
- Its profile matches the application better than a single overall score
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Hinoki Cypress or Western Red Cedar?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 2, Durable). For outdoor decisions between them, weigh dimensional stability and hardness instead.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
They are closely matched outdoors — durability and stability come out almost level. Let the application decide: harder surface for decking traffic, lighter weight for cladding.
Is Hinoki Cypress harder than Western Red Cedar?
Yes — Janka 1010 lbf vs 350 lbf.
How we score. Each wood gets a weighted composite of the verified figures shown above: durability 22%, stability 18%, hardness 12%, bending strength 12%, machining ease 12%, stiffness 8%, flame spread 8%, lightness 8%. The Library Score is that composite's percentile rank within our 60-species library — 50 means the library median, 90 means it outperforms nine of every ten species we cover. No price data is scored — cost guidance is qualitative. The score summarises the data; it does not replace judgement about your specific application.