Choosing between cedar and oak has likely come up if you’re building furniture or using wood for DIY home projects. When it comes to oak vs cedar, the differences aren’t always clear. You want to pick the best wood for durability, workability, and cost, so which is best?
Oak vs Cedar: What’s the Difference?
Oak and cedar are both well-known woods. But what exactly are oak and cedar, and which is better for furniture, flooring, and cabinets?
White oak and cedar are both relatively easy to work. White oak is harder and heavier and is considered more attractive. Western red cedar is the most expensive.
Cedar excels in applications that require rot and pest resistance. Red oak is generally an inferior wood to either white oak or cedar.
To clearly break down the differences, here’s a chart comparing cedar wood and oak wood:
| Oak | Cedar | |
| Color | Various shades of brown | Light reddish-brown to dark brown |
| Durability | Non-durable to durable | Very durable |
| Seasoning | Dries slowly | Dries easily |
| Hardness (Janka Scale) | 1,220 – 1,350 lbf | 350-900 lbf |
| Workability | Fair to tough | Excellent |
| Availability | Readily available | Readily available |
| Strength | Strong | Strong |
| Maintenance | Minimal maintenance | Regular maintenance |
| Weight | 44-47 lbs per cu. ft. | 23-33 lbs per cu. ft. |
| Price | Moderately priced | More expensive |
What is Oak Wood?
Many species in the genus Quercus yield oak wood. The genus has many wood species, but woodworkers classify all commercially harvested New World oaks (and the English oak) as either red oak from red oak trees or white oak from the white oak tree.
Oak is straight-grained, with an uneven, coarse texture. Quartersawn surfaces show prominent and characteristic flecking from the rays, particularly in white oak species.
Oak wood is light brown with a subtle reddish cast in most red oak species or a slight olive cast in white oak species. Color varies and is not a reliable basis for distinguishing between red and white oak.
Checking the end grain of oak to see whether the pores are highly open (red oak) or plugged with tyloses (white oak) is a reliable means of differentiation. In finished wood, you can most reliably distinguish between the two oaks based on the length of the rays.
White oak has long rays, usually more than ¾” long, whereas red oak has short rays, usually between 1/8” and 1/2” long.
What is Cedar?
The classification “cedar” embraces more than a dozen wood species from both hardwood and softwood genera. Nevertheless, they tend to share some common properties:
- Generally aromatic, with a long-lasting scent
- Rot and pest-resistant and is often used for exterior applications
- Relatively lightweight and soft, making it easy to work with
- Usually reddish-brown, with exceptions such as yellow cedar or Northern white cedar
Only two species of cedar are commonly encountered in North America, namely the Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) and the Eastern red cedar or aromatic cedar (Juniperus virginiana).
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Western red cedar has reddish to pinkish-brown heartwood with streaking and banding of darker wood and narrow, pale yellowish-white sapwood. The grain is straight and coarse. It is also a somewhat brittle wood.
Eastern red cedar has reddish or violet-brown heartwood, with pale yellow sapwood that can appear as streaks in the heartwood. The grain is straight and usually knotty. It has a very fine, even texture.
Comparing Cedar and Oak
Now that you have a basic overview, let’s dive into the characteristics of each of these woods to better understand what it’s like to work with them.
Durability
Wood from cedar is highly durable. Eastern red cedar is very resistant to insect attack, whereas Western red cedar has mixed resistance to pests.
White oak is fairly durable, similar to walnut wood. Red oak heartwood is non-durable to perishable and displays poor insect resistance, while the sapwood is permeable.
Mechanical Properties
White oak and cedar have medium crush strength, whereas red oak has high crush strength. Both oak and cedar have low stiffness, making them suitable for steam bending.
Oak is harder than cedar, with a Janka hardness of 1350 (white oak) and 1220 (red oak) to Eastern red cedar’s 900. Western red cedar’s Janka hardness is a mere 350.
Seasoning
Wood from cedar dries easily and well, and air dries with little degradation. It shows little tendency to split, check, or warp. Oak dries slowly and shows a tendency to split and check.
Working Properties
Cedar is easy to work with hand and power tools. You can plane it to a very smooth finish, unlike oak, which remains rough. Cedar nails, screws, and glues excellently. It stains and polishes easily and holds hard enamel.
You can easily nail and screw white oak, but you should pre-drill it to avoid splitting the wood. It varies in its gluing properties.
Red oak varies in density and has a moderate blunting effect on cutters. Its gluing properties vary, and you may have to pre-drill it to nail it.
Both types of oak stain and polish easily to a good finish.
Availability and Sustainability
Both oak and cedar are readily available. Large, clear sections of Eastern red cedar are uncommon, but smaller, narrower boards with knots are readily available.
Neither the CITES Appendices nor the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species list these various species as threatened.
However, you should be aware that some of the other species known as cedars, such as Spanish cedar, are species of concern.
Appearance
Oak wood comes in a wide range of colors and grain patterns. It’s most common to see oak in a lighter color like beech wood.
The beautiful grain pattern is the standout feature of this wood. The appearance of each section of wood from oak differs from the next. As a woodworker, you can put your creative skills to the test by applying a finish to oak.
Western red cedar is typically reddish-brown, but the heartwood can be much lighter, and pinkish-brown. The wood may have darker streaks and bands on occasion. The pale-yellow sapwood is difficult to distinguish from the heartwood.
This wood, like oak, has a coarse grain pattern with a natural luster. The color of cedar does not vary greatly between species.
Maintenance
When it comes to maintenance, oak is relatively simple to care for. It washes well with a little soap and water as long as you rinse it thoroughly. However, it’s best to only wash wood furniture occasionally to avoid prematurely wearing down the finish.
Every few years, you’ll need to refinish oak wood. Stripping down the finish and reapplying it can be time-consuming, so make sure to set aside some time before doing this. It generally requires less maintenance when used in making furniture.
Although western red cedar is considered sufficiently durable, you must perform some basic maintenance regularly. Mildew, mold, and dirt tend to accumulate on the wood over time.
Cost Differences
Eastern red cedar retails for around $6.29 per board foot, with red oak coming in slightly cheaper at $5.49 per board foot.
On the other hand, white oak is considerably more expensive, at $9.99 per board foot. Western red cedar is the most costly of these woods, at $14.00 per board foot.
Which is Best?
Oak and cedar both have their pros and cons. Let’s look at which is best for various uses around your house.
Oak or Cedar for Furniture?
Because of its bug and rot-repellent properties, carpenters have favored cedar for closet lining and dresser or chest building.
White oak (and sometimes red oak) is considered to have an attractive grain and is favored for various types of furniture. However, white oak tends to be more expensive than Eastern red cedar, so keep that in mind based on the furniture you plan to use it for.
Oak or Cedar for Flooring?
Red oak is cheaper than white oak or cedar. White oak is harder to work with and more expensive than red oak, while cedar offers a good compromise between ease of working and price. It also provides rot and pest resistance advantages, so I’d recommend using cedar for flooring.
Oak or Cedar for Cabinetry?
Red oak is usually not considered for countertops, as it is too easily scratched and too porous.
White oak has good wear resistance, and the tyloses in the pores and the high concentration of tannic acid make it water-resistant. However, the wood can impart flavor and odor to food that remains in contact with it.
Cedar is far too aromatic for use with food. Based on this, I recommend using white oak for cabinets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Stronger: Oak or Cedar?
Oak is stronger than wood from cedar. Cedar is a soft wood, whereas oak is a hardwood like cherry wood. Oak is more resistant to dents, scratches, and other types of physical damage.
Oak is preferable for applications requiring strength and longevity because it has a high density and is highly durable, making it suitable for flooring.
Is Oak or Cedar Better for Outdoor Use?
Cedar is better for outdoor use in a woodworking project, such as for patio furniture. Cedar contains natural oils and compounds that act as a natural defense against moisture, decay, and insect infestations.
These oils give cedar its distinctive pleasant aroma and aid in water repellency, making it an excellent choice for outdoor applications such as decks, fences, and siding. In general, cedar is better than beech, birch, and several other wood types for outdoor projects.
Does Oak Wood Last Longer Than Cedar?
Oak wood can last longer than cedar if properly maintained. Oak wood is well-known for its long lifespan. It can withstand wear and tear over time because of its dense grain pattern, structure, and inherent durability.
Oak can last for generations if properly cared for, making it a popular choice for heirloom furniture and flooring, as well as making whiskey barrels.
Conclusion
When choosing between oak and cedar for furniture, oak will give you a better appearance. However, cedar offers excellent rot and pest resistance and has applications for closets and drawers.
