Last updated: May 2026 | Reading time: ~8 minutes
📋 Table of Contents
- 1. What Is Cedar Timber?
- 2. Types of Cedar Timber for Construction & Furniture
- 3. Factors Affecting Cedar Timber Price Per m³
- 4. Cedar Timber Price Per Cubic Meter (Comparative Table)
- 5. How to Calculate Cedar Timber Cost
- 6. Is Cedar Timber Worth the Price?
- 7. What to Look for When Buying Cedar Timber
- 8. Storing and Handling Cedar Timber Before Use
- 9. Frequently Asked Questions
- 10. Conclusion
What Is Cedar Timber?
Cedar timber comes from a group of coniferous trees in the Cedrus and Thuja genera, known for their aromatic, lightweight, and naturally durable wood. Unlike dense hardwoods such as oak, cedar is a softwood — but one with exceptional outdoor performance. It grows relatively quickly in the right conditions, typically reaching harvestable size in 25 to 50 years, which is much faster than oak's 60–100 year timeline. This shorter rotation partly explains why some cedar species can be more affordable than premium hardwoods, though the highest grades still command serious prices.
What really sets cedar apart is its natural chemistry. The wood contains thujaplicins and other compounds that repel insects and resist fungal decay — no chemical treatment needed. That's why you'll find cedar used in saunas, shingles, outdoor furniture, and even cigar boxes. It's also significantly lighter than most hardwoods, which makes it easier to work with on site. Understanding why some softwoods outperform hardwoods outdoors helps explain cedar's unique market position.
Types of Cedar Timber for Construction & Furniture
Not all cedar is created equal. The name gets applied to several different species, and their properties — and prices — vary considerably. Here are the main ones you'll encounter at timber yards:
- Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata): The industry standard for outdoor use. It's lightweight, dimensionally stable, and naturally resistant to decay. Rich reddish-brown heartwood with a straight grain makes it popular for siding, decking, and shingles. This is what most people mean when they simply say "cedar."
- Alaskan Yellow Cedar (Cupressus nootkatensis): Denser and harder than Western Red, with a pale yellow colour and fine, even texture. It machines beautifully and holds detail well, which makes it a favourite for boatbuilding, outdoor furniture, and carved architectural elements. Expect to pay a premium for it.
- Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata): Actually a hardwood relative of mahogany, not a true cedar. It's light reddish-brown with a distinctive spicy aroma. Widely used for humidors, cigar boxes, and interior millwork. Prices can swing quite a bit depending on import conditions.
- Aromatic Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana): The one you smell in cedar chests and closet linings. It's highly fragrant but tends to have more knots and smaller dimensions. More often sold as boards for lining projects than as structural timber.
Factors Affecting Cedar Timber Price Per m³
Cedar pricing moves around based on a mix of biological, logistical, and market factors. When you're budgeting, here's what influences the final number on your quote:
- Cedar Species: Western Red Cedar is the most widely available and sets the baseline price. Alaskan Yellow Cedar costs more because it grows slower and in more remote regions. Spanish Cedar's price depends heavily on import costs and availability from Central and South America. If your budget is tight, sticking with Western Red from a regional supplier is usually the most economical path.
- Grade and Knot Content: Clear, knot-free cedar is significantly more expensive than knotty grades. A clear vertical-grain board might cost two to three times what a knotty rustic board sells for. The choice really comes down to your project's visual requirements — structural fencing doesn't need clear stock, but a high-end sauna interior does. Learn more about how timber grades affect pricing.
- Heartwood vs. Sapwood Ratio: The darker heartwood contains the protective oils and commands higher prices. Boards with a high percentage of pale sapwood are cheaper but less durable outdoors. Some suppliers will sell mixed heartwood/sapwood stock at a discount — acceptable for painted exterior trim but not for natural-finish siding.
- Moisture Content: Kiln-dried cedar costs more than air-dried or green cedar. The drying process takes time and energy, but kiln-dried stock is more stable and ready for interior use immediately. Green cedar is cheaper and perfectly fine for exterior applications where the wood will naturally season in place. Read our guide on timber moisture content for details.
- Board Dimensions: Wide, long, clear boards are increasingly rare and priced accordingly. A 300mm wide clear cedar plank is harder to find than a 100mm one, and the price per cubic meter often reflects that scarcity rather than just raw volume. Thick stock for beams or mantels also pushes costs up.
- Import and Transportation Costs: Much of the world's Western Red Cedar comes from British Columbia, Canada. Shipping costs, tariffs, and local port conditions can noticeably affect prices in Europe, Australia, and Asia. Supply chain disruptions — like those seen during recent years — can add 15–25% to prices almost overnight.
Cedar Timber Price Per Cubic Meter
The table below provides approximate price ranges for different cedar species and grades. These are rough guides for moderate-sized orders from typical timber merchants — your actual quote will depend on location, order volume, and current market conditions. Use these as a starting framework rather than firm numbers.
| Cedar Type & Grade | Average Price per m³ | Common Use | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Red Cedar (Knotty/Rustic Grade) | $650 – $950 | Fencing, garden structures, exterior cladding (painted) | Most economical cedar option, visible knots |
| Western Red Cedar (Clear Grade) | $1,200 – $1,800 | Siding, shingles, sauna interiors, fine exterior trim | Knot-free, premium appearance, stable |
| Alaskan Yellow Cedar | $1,500 – $2,200 | Boatbuilding, outdoor furniture, architectural millwork | Harder than WRC, pale colour, excellent workability |
| Spanish Cedar | $900 – $1,600 | Humidors, interior paneling, windows | Hardwood, aromatic, variable import pricing |
| Aromatic Red Cedar (Lining Boards) | $700 – $1,100 | Chests, closet lining, small craft projects | Smaller boards, strong scent, many knots |
Important: All prices shown are indicative estimates only. Actual quotes depend on your location, order size, current market conditions, and supplier-specific pricing. Always request a written quote before budgeting for a project.
📊 Regional Variance Note: In North America (particularly near British Columbia), Western Red Cedar typically sits at the lower end of these ranges. In Europe and Australia, where most cedar is imported, expect prices toward the higher end — sometimes 20–30% more once shipping and local distribution are factored in. Local softwood alternatives like Siberian Larch are sometimes used as a lower-cost substitute in regions far from cedar sources. We've covered these regional hardwood and softwood cost dynamics in our hardwood timber price comparison.
How to Calculate Cedar Timber Cost
Calculating your cedar cost follows the same volume-based formula used for other timbers:
Total Cost = Cubic Meters × Price per m³
For example, 1.5 m³ of clear Western Red Cedar at $1,400/m³ comes to approximately $2,100, excluding delivery, taxes, and any milling or finishing surcharges.
In practice, most cedar buyers don't purchase full cubic metres directly. You'll more commonly see cedar sold by the linear metre (for decking and siding boards), by the square metre (for shingles and paneling), or by the board (for smaller dimensional lumber). Understanding the cubic metre price still matters — it's the standard unit for comparing bulk offers and spotting whether a supplier's retail markup is reasonable. Try our timber volume calculator to estimate your project's exact volume needs.
Once you've worked out how much material you need, you can calculate timber costs more accurately with our pricing tool, which factors in species, grade, and moisture content for a more realistic estimate.
Is Cedar Timber Worth the Price?
Cedar costs more than pressure-treated pine or standard construction softwoods, but it offers something those alternatives don't: natural, chemical-free durability with genuine beauty. For projects where appearance and longevity matter — a visible deck, an exterior feature wall, a sauna you'll use for decades — cedar often justifies its price premium several times over.
The material is lightweight and easy to work with, which can reduce labour time compared to denser hardwoods. It holds finishes well, weathers to an attractive silvery grey if left untreated, and resists the cupping and warping that plague many cheaper outdoor woods. Many homeowners find that a properly installed cedar deck still looks presentable after 15 years, while a pine deck may need replacement or extensive repair by year 10. That longer service life narrows the real cost gap considerably when you look at cost per year of use.
That said, cedar isn't the right choice for every situation. If you're building a utilitarian fence on a tight budget, treated pine will get the job done for less. If you need the dent resistance of a dense hardwood for a high-traffic floor, oak or maple might suit better. But when you want a combination of outdoor durability, workability, and visual warmth, cedar is genuinely hard to beat. We've compared similar material trade-offs in our hardwood vs softwood cost comparison.
What to Look for When Buying Cedar Timber
Cedar's natural variability means that two boards from the same species and grade can look and behave quite differently. Here are some practical things to check when you're at the timber yard or reviewing supplier photos:
- Inspect the heartwood-to-sapwood ratio: The darker heartwood carries the rot-resistant oils. Boards with mostly pale sapwood are cheaper but won't last as long outdoors. If you're buying clear-grade cedar for exposed exterior use, you should expect mostly heartwood — if the batch shows a lot of pale colouration, ask whether the price reflects that.
- Smell the wood: Fresh cedar has a distinctive, pleasant aroma. If it smells musty or flat, the timber may have been improperly stored or might be older stock that's lost some of its natural oils. The scent isn't just nice to have — it's a rough indicator of the volatile compounds that contribute to decay resistance.
- Check for surface checking and splits: Some fine surface cracks are normal, especially in kiln-dried cedar. But deep splits, especially at board ends, can worsen over time. Running your hand along the surface will tell you more than just looking — deep checks will catch your skin, while fine ones are mostly cosmetic.
- Look at grain orientation in decking boards: Vertical-grain (quartersawn) cedar decking is more stable than flat-grain and less likely to cup or splinter. It costs more but pays off in performance on a deck you walk on barefoot. If the supplier offers both cuts, ask to see samples side by side — the difference in grain pattern is immediately obvious.
- Ask about the source: Sustainably harvested Western Red Cedar from British Columbia is the benchmark. Some suppliers carry FSC or PEFC certification. Even if certification isn't your primary concern, responsibly managed forest stock tends to show more consistent grading and fewer quality surprises. There's a loose but real correlation between supply-chain transparency and processing care.
- Factor in delivery weight: While lighter than hardwoods, cedar is still heavy in volume. A cubic metre of Western Red Cedar weighs around 370–400 kg when kiln-dried. If you're ordering a decent quantity, delivery costs can add 10–15% to your bill — get a delivered quote before comparing suppliers.
Storing and Handling Cedar Timber Before Use
Cedar may be naturally durable, but it still needs sensible storage before you install it. Improper storage can undo some of the careful drying and grading the supplier charged you for — and cedar's light weight makes it particularly prone to warping if stacked unevenly or left in direct sun.
Store cedar boards flat with evenly spaced supports (stickers) between layers to allow air circulation. Keep the stack off the ground on level bearers, and cover it loosely with a tarp that allows airflow — sealing cedar tightly in plastic can trap moisture and lead to surface mould or staining. If possible, let the timber acclimatise for a week or two in the environment where it will be installed, especially for interior projects where humidity differs from the supplier's yard. A little patience during this conditioning period helps ensure cleaner joins and less movement after installation. For a complete walkthrough on proper storage, read our guide on how to store timber correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Botanically, cedar is a softwood (a conifer). However, terms like "softwood" and "hardwood" don't always predict real-world performance. Cedar is softer than oak or maple but outperforms many hardwoods in outdoor durability due to its natural oils and decay-resistant compounds. So while it's technically a softwood, its outdoor lifespan rivals that of premium hardwoods — it just achieves that durability through chemistry rather than density. The distinction between softwood and hardwood matters less than understanding how each specific species performs in your intended application.
Clear-grade cedar comes from sections of the tree with no knots, which are rarer and yield less usable timber per log. A tree that produces mostly knotty boards might only yield a small percentage of clear stock — sometimes as little as 10–15% of the total volume. The supplier has to sort, grade, and price that premium material to recover costs across the whole log. For projects where appearance is the main goal (visible siding, sauna benches, fine trim), the extra cost for clear stock is usually worth it. For structural or hidden elements, knotty grade does the same job for much less.
No — that's one of cedar's main selling points. Its heartwood contains natural preservatives (thujaplicins) that resist rot and insects without chemical pressure treatment. Unlike treated pine, cedar doesn't leach chemicals into surrounding soil. That said, cedar will weather to a silvery grey if left unfinished outdoors, which is purely aesthetic — the wood remains structurally sound. Many people like this natural weathered look and deliberately leave it untreated. If you want to preserve the original colour, you'll need to apply a UV-blocking finish or stain periodically.
Cedar is lighter, more dimensionally stable, and naturally resistant to decay without chemical treatment. Pressure-treated pine is cheaper upfront (often 40–50% less) but tends to warp, splinter, and check more over time. Over a 15–20 year lifespan, a cedar deck often costs less per year of use than a treated pine deck that needs earlier replacement. It also looks better — which matters on a deck that's a living space rather than just a utility structure. For a visible deck attached to your home, cedar is usually worth the extra initial cost. For a hidden utility platform, treated pine is a practical budget choice.
Yes — cedar is popular for saunas, closet linings, chests, and interior paneling. Its aromatic properties repel moths and other insects, which is why it's been used for centuries to line storage chests. It's lightweight and easy to install, and the warm reddish tones bring a natural character that painted drywall simply doesn't have. For interior use, kiln-dried stock is preferred to minimise movement after installation. Keep in mind that the scent will gradually fade over time in a well-ventilated room, though sanding the surface lightly can refresh it. For a broader look at how long different woods last indoors and out, see our article on how long timber lasts in real conditions.
Much of the Western Red Cedar on the market comes from managed forests in British Columbia, Canada, where harvesting is regulated and replanting is standard practice. Many suppliers offer FSC or PEFC certified cedar for projects where sustainability credentials are important. The species itself is not endangered, but old-growth cedar is increasingly rare — most commercial cedar today comes from second-growth or managed stands. If sustainability is a priority for your project, look for certification marks on the supplier's documentation or ask directly about the forest source before ordering. The price premium for certified stock is usually modest.
Conclusion
The cedar timber price per cubic meter varies widely by species, grade, and where you're buying from — but the material's unique combination of natural durability, workability, and visual warmth makes it a compelling choice for a wide range of projects. Understanding what drives the price helps you select the right grade for your needs without overspending. A knotty-grade cedar fence panel does the same structural job as a clear-grade one; a clear-grade sauna interior rewards the extra investment with a noticeably finer finish.
Whether you're pricing out a new deck, planning exterior siding, or building a custom sauna, taking a little time to understand cedar's characteristics and market pricing will help you buy with confidence. Get quotes from a few suppliers, check the heartwood content, and store the timber properly before installation — these small steps make a real difference to the final result.
If you're comparing cedar against other timber options for your project, you might find our hardwood timber price comparison useful for weighing alternatives side by side.
About NiceTimber Editorial Team
This article was researched, written, and reviewed by the NiceTimber Editorial Team. Our team creates educational resources covering timber, lumber, woodworking, construction materials, pricing, and wood maintenance. Every article is written to be clear, practical, and as accurate as possible based on publicly available industry information. We review our articles periodically to keep them up to date as industry standards and best practices evolve.