Cedar vs Hemlock Sauna: What the Wood Changes, and What It Costs
Cedar has the reputation. Hemlock is in most of the saunas people actually buy. Because we sell identical cabins in both woods, we can put an exact price on the difference — and show you what it doesn't change.
Ask anyone which wood makes the best sauna and the answer is usually cedar. Look at what people actually buy and most of it is hemlock. Both are true for good reasons, and the cedar vs hemlock sauna question comes down to two things: what kind of sauna you're buying, and how much the cedar costs you on that specific cabin.
We sell 129 saunas — 41 in cedar, 88 in hemlock — including cabins that Maxxus builds in both woods and otherwise leaves identical. That lets us answer the question with real prices rather than adjectives.
The short version
- Cedar is aromatic, reddish and naturally decay-resistant. Hemlock is pale, even-grained and nearly scentless.
- On identical cabins, cedar adds $1,000–$1,400 — roughly a fifth to a half more than the hemlock version.
- The warranty doesn't change. On every pair we compared, the text is identical, including a 1-year limited warranty on the wood structure either way.
- Cedar earns its keep with steam and weather. That's where manufacturers use it: 17 of our 21 traditional saunas are cedar, but only 13 of 91 infrared cabins.
- The cheapest sauna we sell is cedar — the 1-person Dynamic Sicily at $1,499.
The two woods, side by side
Cedar
- Warm, reddish-brown, with more color variation
- A noticeable, resinous natural scent
- Naturally decay-resistant: the USDA's Wood Handbook rates western redcedar heartwood "resistant or very resistant" to decay
- Lighter — on the Maxxus pairs below, the cedar cabin weighs about 10 lb less
- Listed as Canadian Red Cedar, Pacific Cedar or Pacific Clear Cedar, depending on the model
Hemlock
- Pale and even, with a straight, uniform grain
- Little to no scent
- The same handbook rates hemlock heartwood "slightly or nonresistant" to decay — which matters most where wood stays wet
- Stable and consistent, and the default in most infrared cabins
- Listed as Natural Reforested Canadian Hemlock across all three brands we sell
Notice what the decay rating is about: wood that gets wet and stays wet. That's a real concern for a traditional sauna, where you pour water on hot rocks, and for a building that stands in the rain. It's a much smaller one for an infrared cabin in a dry room, running at 118–140°F.
What cedar costs: identical cabins, two woods
Maxxus sells three of its cabins — the Montilemar, the corner Avignon and the Chaumont — in both hemlock and Canadian Red Cedar, each in two heater versions. Within each pair the model number, the outside dimensions and the heater are the same. Apart from the wood, the listings differ only in small details: the cedar versions list an interior touchscreen control panel, and they weigh about 10 lb less.
| Cabin | Heater version | Hemlock | Cedar | Cedar adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montilemar, 3-person | Low EMF | $2,999 | $4,399 | +$1,400 |
| Montilemar, 3-person | Near Zero EMF | $3,799 | $4,799 | +$1,000 |
| Avignon, 3-person corner | Low EMF | $3,399 | $4,599 | +$1,200 |
| Avignon, 3-person corner | Near Zero EMF | $3,999 | $4,999 | +$1,000 |
| Chaumont, 4-person | Low EMF | $3,799 | $4,799 | +$1,000 |
| Chaumont, 4-person | Near Zero EMF | $4,599 | $5,599 | +$1,000 |
"Low EMF" and "Near Zero EMF" are Maxxus's own heater ratings; the figures and measurement distances are on each product page. Prices as listed at the time of writing — the product page is authoritative.
So the price of cedar on the same cabin is $1,000 to $1,400. On the cheapest pair that's nearly half as much again; on the dearest, a little over a fifth. That's the number to weigh against everything else in this article.
What cedar doesn't change: the warranty
If cedar lasts longer, you might expect the manufacturer to say so in writing. It doesn't. On all six Maxxus pairs, the warranty text is identical word for word: coverage runs 1 to 5 years by component — 5 years for residential use (1 year commercial) on the heating elements and electronics — and the wood structure has a 1-year limited warranty, whichever wood you choose.
It's the same story outdoors. Golden Designs' hemlock cabins, the Carinthia and Gargellen, carry a 5-year residential term on the wood structure (when properly maintained); its cedar-lined Loviisa and Kaskinen barns carry 5 years on the wood structure too. And the hemlock Arlberg and the cedar Savonlinna share the same warranty text entirely.
Cedar's reputation for lasting is real. It just isn't something the warranty pays extra for.
Where cedar earns its keep
The clearest guide to when cedar matters is where the manufacturers choose to use it:
| Sauna type (our range) | Cedar | Hemlock | Why the split makes sense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional (stove) | 17 | 4 | Air at 170–190°F and water on the rocks: hot, wet wood |
| Hybrid | 11 | 6 | A stove inside, and most stand outdoors |
| Infrared | 13 | 78 | Dry heat at 118–140°F, indoors |
Counts of the 129 saunas we sell, by the wood listed on each product page. Temperatures are the manufacturers' published ranges.
Cedar goes where the wood gets hot and wet — the steam room and the garden. Hemlock goes where the heat is dry and the room is indoors. That's a sensible division, and it's the right starting point for your own choice.
It isn't absolute, though. Golden Designs' lower-priced outdoor cabins — the Arlberg and the Carinthia among them — are Canadian hemlock with a waterproof stain on the exterior, and they're specified for outdoor use. What matters most outdoors is that the model is built for it; we cover that in barrel, cabin or barn.
Scent, sensitivity and feel
For a lot of owners the scent is the point: cedar smells like a sauna. For others it's too much in a small cabin, or someone in the house simply doesn't like it. Hemlock is the neutral option — if anyone who'll use the sauna is sensitive to cedar, choose hemlock and don't think twice. On appearance, cedar reads warmer and more varied; hemlock reads lighter and more uniform, which suits a modern room.
Every cedar infrared sauna we sell
Traditional saunas in our range are cedar by default, so the choice really comes up with infrared. These are the thirteen cedar infrared cabins:
| Model | Seats | Heater | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Sicily | 1 | Carbon, Ultra Low EMF | $1,499 |
| Dynamic Vero | 1 | Carbon, Ultra Low EMF | $1,599 |
| Maxxus S-Line 2-Person | 2 | Full spectrum | $3,799 |
| Maxxus 2-Person Full Spectrum (M206) | 2 | Full spectrum | $4,399 |
| Maxxus S-Line 3-Person | 3 | Full spectrum | $4,399 |
| Maxxus Montilemar | 3 | Carbon, Low EMF | $4,399 |
| Maxxus Avignon (corner) | 3 | Carbon, Low EMF | $4,599 |
| Maxxus Montilemar | 3 | Carbon, Near Zero EMF | $4,799 |
| Maxxus Chaumont | 4 | Carbon, Low EMF | $4,799 |
| Maxxus Avignon (corner) | 3 | Carbon, Near Zero EMF | $4,999 |
| Maxxus 3-Person Full Spectrum (M306) | 3 | Full spectrum | $4,999 |
| Maxxus 3-Person Full Spectrum (M356, corner) | 3 | Full spectrum | $5,399 |
| Maxxus Chaumont | 4 | Carbon, Near Zero EMF | $5,599 |
EMF ratings are the manufacturers' own; figures and measurement distances are on each product page. Prices as listed at the time of writing.
So which should you buy?
Indoor infrared, best value
Hemlock. It's what most infrared cabins are built in, and the money goes further — see the infrared range or our Maxxus review.
Infrared, and you want cedar
The two compact Dynamic cabins, Sicily and Vero, or one of the eleven Maxxus cedar cabins above.
Traditional, with steam
Cedar is the norm and the sensible choice — indoor traditional cabins start at $6,099. Our indoor traditional guide covers the rest.
Outdoors
Either wood, as long as the model is outdoor-rated: hemlock cabins from $6,099, cedar barrels from $5,099.
Not sure which way to go? Tell us where the sauna will stand, which heat you want and whether anyone in the house minds the smell of cedar, and we'll narrow it to two or three cabins.
The Iridescent Home Team
We are an authorized dealer for Golden Designs, Dynamic and Maxxus saunas, and we list the wood, the full specifications and the complete warranty text on every product page. Weighing cedar against hemlock? Call (307) 201-4597, 9am–5pm MT.
Every sauna, wood listed
The wood, the full specifications and the complete warranty text are on every product page, so you can compare cedar and hemlock cabins like for like.
Questions? (307) 201-4597 · 9am–5pm MT
Cedar vs hemlock sauna FAQ
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This article is general information. Wood properties are summarized from the USDA Forest Products Laboratory's Wood Handbook; prices, weights, heater ratings and warranty terms are the manufacturers' published figures for the models we sell and vary by model — the product page is authoritative. High-heat bathing is not suitable for everyone; talk to your doctor before using a sauna if you are pregnant, have a heart condition or low blood pressure, or take medication that affects heat tolerance. Call (307) 201-4597 with any question before you order.