Cedar vs Radiata Pine
Natural Material · grade comparison
Cedar and Radiata Pine are both natural material grades. Radiata Pine is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) against 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) for Cedar, about 64% more. Cedar is lighter (0.37 g/cm³ vs 0.48 g/cm³ for Radiata Pine) and Radiata Pine is stiffer (10.2 GPa vs 7.7 GPa). On the shop floor, Radiata Pine sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than Cedar (premium, $$$).
CedarChoose it when weight is the constraint.
Radiata PineChoose it when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat.
Cedar vs Radiata Pine: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.37 · Elongation at Break 1% · Fracture Toughness (K_IC) 0.4 MPa·√m0.36 ksi·√in
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 1,600 J/kg·K0.38 BTU/lb·°F · Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C) 4 µm/m·K2.2 µin/in·°F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Dielectric Strength
Same in both: Electrical Resistivity 1×10⁹ Ω·m3.94×10¹⁶ µΩ·in
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Polishability
Same in both: Machinability 90 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Same in both: Embodied Water 500 L/kg59.9 gal/lb · Typical Recycled Content 0%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 0.2 mm²/s · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Cedar | Radiata Pine |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $ Budget |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Cedar vs Radiata Pine — frequently asked
Is Radiata Pine stronger than Cedar?
Yes. Radiata Pine has a typical tensile strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) against 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) for Cedar — about 64% more.
Which is cheaper, Cedar or Radiata Pine?
Radiata Pine is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while Cedar is premium ($$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
When should I choose Cedar over Radiata Pine?
Pick Cedar when weight is the constraint. Pick Radiata Pine when strength drives the design, or when the part sees heat.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Cedar and Radiata Pine side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.