Home / Wood Compare / Western Red Cedar vs Sugi Japanese Cedar
Professional Comparison · Source-attributed engineering data · Updated 19 July 2026
Western Red Cedar VS Sugi Japanese Cedar
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
🥇
Western Red Cedar
22/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood🌧Outdoor
- Higher durability (EN 350 Class 2 vs Class 3)
- Better dimensional stability (Moderate vs Poor (warp-prone))
- Stronger in bending (MOR 51.7 vs 36.4 MPa)
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Sugi Japanese Cedar
2/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood
- Close second across most categories
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
Western Red CedarSugi Japanese Cedar
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Western Red Cedar |
| Stability | Western Red Cedar |
| Hardness | Tie |
| Strength (MOR) | Western Red Cedar |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Tie |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Tie |
| Lightness | Tie |
Engineering data
| Property | Western Red Cedar | Sugi Japanese Cedar |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 350WD lbf | 320WD lbf |
| Density | 0.32FPL g/cm³ | 0.38WD g/cm³ |
| MOE | 7.7FPL GPa | 7.65WD GPa |
| MOR | 51.7FPL MPa | 36.4WD MPa |
| Durability | Class 2 Durable | Class 3 Moderately Durable |
| Stability | Moderate | Poor (warp-prone) |
| Fire (E84) | Class C indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 2.4WD % | 2.1WD % |
| Tangential Shrink | 5WD % | 6.8WD % |
| T/R Ratio | 2.08 | 3.24 |
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 | 🥇 Western Red Cedar | ★★★☆☆ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Western Red Cedar | ★★★★☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Western Red Cedar | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Western Red Cedar | ★★★★☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Western Red Cedar | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Western Red Cedar
Advantages relative to Sugi Japanese Cedar
- MOR is 51.7 MPa vs 36.4 MPa, about 42% higher
- Density is 0.32 g/cm³ vs 0.38, about 16% lower — supporting the documented lightweight applications where low mass matters more than bending strength
- Durability is Class 2 vs Class 3 — one class more durable in exterior service
Limitations relative to Sugi Japanese Cedar
Sugi Japanese Cedar
Advantages relative to Western Red Cedar
Limitations relative to Western Red Cedar
- MOR is 36.4 MPa vs 51.7 MPa, about 30% lower
- Durability is Class 3 vs Class 2 — one class less durable in exterior service
Recommendation
Choose Western Red Cedar if…
- Exterior siding and cladding, shingles and shakes, decking, boat building and outdoor furniture where the higher bending strength, lower weight, and Class 2 durability all matter in specification and the shared Class C fire class is the baseline
- Interior panelling, joinery and sauna interiors where the documented lightweight softwood role is what the project is specifying
Choose Sugi Japanese Cedar if…
- Exterior cladding and yakisugi siding, structural post-and-beam framing, interior panelling and feature surfaces where the documented Japanese cedar role is what the project is specifying
- Furniture and tansu, sake barrels (where the aromatic heartwood shapes the flavour), bento boxes and veneer where the working properties are sufficient and the Class 3 durability is acceptable for the interior use
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Western Red Cedar or Sugi Japanese Cedar?
Western Red Cedar — it carries the better EN 350 rating (Class 2 vs Class 3). Lower class numbers mean higher natural durability.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
Western Red Cedar — outdoor performance combines decay durability with dimensional stability, and it leads on that combination.
Is Western Red Cedar harder than Sugi Japanese Cedar?
Yes — Janka 350 lbf vs 320 lbf.
How we score. Scores shown are percentile ranks within our library, weighted towards durability and dimensional stability. They shortlist; they do not decide. Full weighting and what it excludes.