{"id":14744,"date":"2020-03-05T10:30:30","date_gmt":"2020-03-05T15:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/?p=14744"},"modified":"2025-09-05T16:01:44","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T20:01:44","slug":"cedar-vs-pine-which-is-best-for-outdoor-furniture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/cedar-vs-pine-which-is-best-for-outdoor-furniture\/","title":{"rendered":"Cedar vs. Pine: Which is Best for Outdoor Furniture?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

So you\u2019ve decided you like the look of outdoor wood furniture and perhaps you\u2019ve heard of the qualities that cedar and pine outdoor furniture possess. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you choose? What does one have that the other\ndoesn\u2019t? We\u2019re taking a look at outdoor cedar furniture versus outdoor pine\nfurniture to see which one has the edge. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Cedar Wood Rectangle End Table<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Things to Love About Outdoor Cedar Furniture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Shades of Red<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Outdoor cedar furniture displays shades of reddish\/pinkish brown in its heartwood, with creamy yellow sapwood that can run right through the heartwood in streaks. These red hues combined with cedar\u2019s relatively straight grain and medium texture can easily contribute to an outdoorsy, rustic look. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Red Cedar 48″ Outdoor Adirondack Bench<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Fresh Cedar Scent<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cedar furniture<\/a> gives off a distinct, fresh scent. While it\u2019s generally pleasant for most humans, it repels bugs. It\u2019s the natural oils in cedar wood that create the scent. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Cedar Wood Straightback Deluxe Glider<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Natural Resistance to Rot and Decay <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cedar wood naturally resists rot and decay. Those natural\noils help preserve the wood and resist the growth of fungus and bacteria. Cedar\nis ideal for humid climates.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Cedar Wood Planter Bench<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Bonus: Cedar outdoor furniture even stays cool in hot temperatures! <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

How?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cedar wood is porous and contains little air pockets in the\nwood grain. These pockets create a type of insulation for cedar furniture that\nprotects it from changes in temperature. So, even if the sun is shining hot\noutside, your outdoor cedar furniture is still cool enough to sit on! This\nresistance to changes in temperature also makes cedar furniture less prone to\nexpanding or warping, another added bonus of outdoor cedar furniture. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Straightback Cedar Outdoor Lounge Chai<\/a>r<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Things to Love About Outdoor Pine Furniture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Strength<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pressure-treated outdoor pine is strong, dense and resistant to wear, making it ideal for things that see lots of use and that need to bear weight, like outdoor furniture. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Leisure Lawns Pine Wood Chippendale Garden Chair<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Option to Stain, Paint or Leave it Natural<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Outdoor pine has a light natural color that ranges from golden yellow to tan. Its wood grain is fairly straight, making it a good candidate for stain or paint. Pine outdoor furniture is beautiful both stained or unfinished, but adding a stain will help it last longer. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Leisure Lawns Pine Wood Fan Back Garden Chair<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Price<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Pine grows in abundance in the US and is widely available. This helps keep the price down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

COMPARING PINE AND CEDAR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hardness<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Aromatic red cedar has a Janka rating (used to test the relative\nhardness of wood) of 900, while southern yellow pine is behind by a bit with a\nJanka rating of 690. So cedar is a little harder. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Cedar Wood Octagon Picnic Table<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Resistance to Rot and Decay<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There are those magical natural oils in cedar that make it resistant to decay and help repel pesky bugs from taking up shop. Plus the oils make cedar smell good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pine does not naturally resist decay, and it is pressure treated to make it more durable outdoors. So cedar gains a bit here with its natural character contributing to its durability. Pine is still a good choice for outdoor furniture, it just doesn\u2019t naturally resist the elements as strongly as cedar does. Pressure-treated pine will last a long time and resist the outdoor elements. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Pine Wood Traditional English Swing Bed<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Maintenance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cedar will require more maintenance than pine. If no sealer is used, eventually cedar will weather to a handsome gray shade. If a stain or sealer is applied, it will have to be re-applied every few years to maintain cedar\u2019s colors. Pressure-treated pine wood will last a long time. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Cedar Wishing Well <\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

To sum up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cedar<\/h4>\n\n\n\n