Cedar Wood Flooring: Pros, Cons, and Buying Guide

Cedar wood flooring sits in a unique corner of the hardwood market — softer than oak, lighter than hickory, naturally aromatic, and visually distinct with its warm honey tones and prominent grain. It is rarely used for high-traffic main living spaces because the Janka hardness rating is too low to handle daily abuse, but it shines in cabins, bedrooms, vacation homes, attics, and closets where its scent, lightness, and natural insect resistance pay off. This guide walks through species, pricing, and where cedar floors actually make sense.

Cedar Species Used for Flooring

Three species dominate. Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is the lightest at 23 lbs/cubic foot with a Janka rating of 350 — extremely soft. Eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) is similar at 320 Janka. Aromatic cedar (Juniperus virginiana, technically a juniper) is harder at 900 Janka and gives off the famous moth-repelling scent. Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata) is sometimes specified, runs harder at 600 Janka, and has gained popularity for boutique flooring.

None of these compare to oak (Janka 1290) or hickory (Janka 1820) for traffic durability. Choose cedar with that limitation top of mind.

Pros That Make Cedar Worth Considering

• Naturally insect repellent — moths, silverfish, and clothes-eating pests avoid aromatic cedar
• Beautiful warm honey-to-pinkish color with prominent dark knots and grain
• Pleasant fresh-cedar aroma that lasts 5-15 years before needing a light sanding to refresh
• Lightweight and easy to install — DIY-friendly compared to dense exotics
• Naturally rot-resistant from heartwood oils — works in damp settings most softwoods cannot survive

Cons and Real-World Limitations

Softness is the deal-breaker for most rooms. A high heel, dropped knife, or rolling chair will leave permanent dents in Western red cedar within hours of installation. Even aromatic cedar at 900 Janka is roughly 30% softer than oak. Plan on visible wear within 12-24 months in any traffic area. The natural oils that make cedar aromatic and rot-resistant also bleed through some finishes, causing yellowing or adhesion failure. Use compatible finishes only — dewaxed shellac sealer first, then water-based polyurethane.

Cedar is also dimensionally less stable than oak. Expect more seasonal movement, more visible gaps in winter, and more cupping in humid summers if humidity control is poor.

Where Cedar Floors Actually Work

Cabins and rustic mountain homes are the natural fit — the soft surface develops character marks that read intentional rather than damaged. Bedrooms with low traffic and primarily socked feet handle cedar well. Walk-in closets benefit from the natural moth protection of aromatic cedar. Attic conversions and reading nooks work well because traffic stays low. Spanish cedar makes a stunning low-traffic library floor.

Skip cedar for kitchens, hallways, foyers, dining rooms, and any home with active dogs over 30 lbs or kids with toys. The damage will accumulate faster than the floor can age gracefully.

Pricing and Plank Specifications

• Western red cedar 3/4 inch solid 4-inch plank: $5-9 per sq ft
• Aromatic cedar 3/4 inch closet flooring (random width): $4-7 per sq ft
• Spanish cedar 3/4 inch solid 5-inch plank: $11-16 per sq ft
• Eastern white cedar engineered 3/8 inch over plywood: $5-8 per sq ft
• Cedar reclaimed barnwood-style planks: $8-14 per sq ft

Finish Options for Cedar

Penetrating oil finishes like Rubio Monocoat ($150 per liter, around 350 sq ft coverage) preserve the natural cedar tone and let the grain breathe. Water-based polyurethane (Bona Traffic HD, $90 per gallon) keeps the color truer to the raw wood and provides better wear protection. Oil-based polyurethane deepens the color toward amber but takes 24-72 hours to cure each coat and reacts with cedar’s natural oils. Avoid lacquer — chemical incompatibility leads to peeling within a year.

For the maximum aromatic effect, leave the floor unfinished or use only a dewaxed shellac sealer. Trade-off: surface marks every spill and pet accident with no protection.

Installation Best Practices

1. Acclimate boards 7-14 days in the install room — cedar moves more than oak
2. Maintain 35-55% relative humidity year-round in the home
3. Verify subfloor flatness under 1/8 inch over 6 feet
4. Use 2-inch cleat nails or 1.5-inch staples for nail-down installs over plywood
5. Apply a slow-acting adhesive (Bostik’s Best, $90 per pail) for glue-down over concrete
6. Stagger end joints by 12 inches minimum for visual variety
7. Pre-drill hardwood face nails near the ends of planks to prevent splitting

Care and Maintenance

Sweep daily with a soft broom or microfiber pad — cedar’s soft surface scratches easily under grit. Damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner like Bona Pro ($30 per gallon). Avoid steam, vinegar, ammonia, and oil soaps. Refresh the aromatic scent every 5-10 years by lightly sanding the surface with 220-grit on an orbital sander; takes off less than 1/64 inch of wood and exposes fresh oil-rich layers.

Cedar Closet Flooring as a Specialty Use

Cedar closets — full closet linings or just floors — are a legitimate niche where the wood’s properties are perfectly matched. Aromatic cedar is the species of choice. Tongue-and-groove boards in 3-4 inch widths run $4-7 per sq ft and install with finish nails into the subfloor or directly over plywood. Skip the topcoat entirely; the goal is the scent, not the finish. Expect 10-15 years of strong aromatic effect before needing a refreshing sand.

Sustainability and Sourcing

Western red cedar from FSC-certified forests in the Pacific Northwest is the most sustainable option. Aromatic cedar from US Eastern hardwood mills (Tennessee, Kentucky) is widely available. Avoid Spanish cedar from non-CITES-compliant sources — Cedrela odorata has been listed under CITES Appendix III since 2008. Always ask for chain-of-custody documentation on premium cedar species.

Bottom Line

Cedar wood flooring is a beautiful, distinctive, and aromatic option for low-traffic rooms — cabins, bedrooms, closets, and reading nooks. It is the wrong choice for kitchens, hallways, and active family rooms because of the soft Janka rating. Pick the species that matches your traffic level and aesthetic, finish with a compatible water-based or penetrating oil product, and accept that this is a floor that develops character rather than staying pristine.