Eastern Redcedar (Aromatic)
Juniperus virginiana · softwood · Eastern North America · low movement
- Janka hardness 900 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 33 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.47 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 4.7%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 3.1%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.5 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes The closet-lining cedar — knotty, fragrant, and among the most stable woods on this list. Brittle across the grain; expect small knots to pop out.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for eastern redcedar (aromatic) 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″ (0.060″) | 1/32″ (0.040″) |
| 12″ | 1/8″ (0.121″) | 3/32″ (0.080″) |
| 24″ | 1/4″ (0.242″) | 5/32″ (0.159″) |
| 36″ | 3/8″ (0.363″) | 1/4″ (0.239″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to eastern redcedar (aromatic):
Typical swings:
Eastern Redcedar (Aromatic) questions
How much does eastern redcedar (aromatic) move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn eastern redcedar (aromatic) board moves about 1/8″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 3/32″. Its tangential shrinkage is 4.7% and radial 3.1% (green to ovendry) — a low-movement wood.
How hard is eastern redcedar (aromatic)?
Eastern Redcedar (Aromatic) rates about 900 lbf on the Janka scale — softer than red oak but sturdy (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 33 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is eastern redcedar (aromatic) good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.5:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is unusually balanced, so panels stay flatter than most. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Longleaf Pine (Heart Pine) · Western Larch · Slash Pine · Port-Orford-Cedar · Loblolly Pine (Southern Yellow) · Shortleaf Pine
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.