Cedar vs Hemlock Saunas: Choosing the Right Wood for Your Home Sauna
Discover how the wood you choose shapes your sauna's warmth, aroma, durability, and overall experience.
Cedar and hemlock are both excellent sauna woods, but cedar suits exposed outdoor installs better while hemlock is the smarter choice if you prefer a scent-neutral interior or a lower entry price. Cedar's natural oils resist moisture without a finish; hemlock depends on factory treatment but performs comparably in sheltered or indoor settings.
- The wood species affects heat-up behavior, surface temperature on bare skin, moisture resistance, scent, and how the sauna holds up over years of thermal cycling.
- Cedar suits outdoor exposure: Cedar's natural oils resist moisture and decay without relying on a surface finish, which is why it has historically been the default choice for outdoor sauna builds.
- Cedar's aroma mellows with repeated heating but never fully disappears, so if you found it overpowering in the past, hemlock is genuinely the better fit.
- Cedar's outdoor durability advantage is irrelevant inside a climate-controlled space, and hemlock typically delivers more capacity or features at a comparable budget.
- Thermo-treated woods are more dimensionally stable and lower in off-gassing than either standard option, with no chemical treatment involved, and appear across several current sauna lines.
Where to start
Golden Designs Classic Series Outdoor Sauna (Traditional Stove) (Canadian Hemlock) (GDI-8005-01)
Maxxus FAR Infrared Sauna Near Zero EMF with Canadian Red Cedar Wood (MX-K206-01-ZF CED)
Why the Wood You Choose Actually Matters
Most people shopping for a home sauna spend their time comparing heater types, capacities, and price points. Wood species tends to get treated as an afterthought, a cosmetic decision. That framing is off. The wood your sauna is built from affects how it heats, how it smells, how long it survives outdoor humidity and temperature swings, and what the interior feels like on bare skin after a long session.
Cedar and hemlock are the two species you will encounter most often across traditional and infrared sauna lines. They are genuinely different materials with different trade-offs, and the better choice depends on where you are installing the sauna, how often you plan to use it, and what experience you are after. This article walks through both woods in enough detail to make that call confidently.
What Makes a Wood Suitable for Sauna Use
Sauna environments are harsh. Temperatures cycle between ambient outdoor conditions and 150 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, often with significant humidity swings if you are using a traditional stove with steam. Wood that cannot handle this repeated expansion and contraction will warp, crack, or develop mold. The species has to be dimensionally stable, resistant to moisture absorption, and ideally low in resins that could become sticky or irritating when heated.
Thermal conductivity matters too. A wood that conducts heat efficiently heats up quickly but can also get uncomfortably hot to the touch on benches and walls. Lower thermal conductivity means the surface stays cool enough to sit on without a towel. Density, grain tightness, and natural oil content all feed into this. Neither cedar nor hemlock is perfect on every axis, which is why each has carved out a distinct niche in the industry.
Western Red Cedar: Properties, Feel, and Practical Strengths
Western red cedar has been used in saunas for generations, and its reputation is built on real material qualities. It is naturally rich in aromatic oils, which give it that distinctive warm, slightly spicy scent that many people associate with a proper sauna session. Those same oils contribute to cedar's notable resistance to moisture, decay, and insects. Cedar can handle outdoor exposure better than most softwoods without additional treatment, which is part of why it shows up repeatedly in outdoor sauna builds.
The grain is relatively tight and straight, which helps with dimensional stability over years of thermal cycling. Cedar is also lighter than many comparable species, making it easier to work with during assembly. On the comfort side, its low thermal conductivity means the bench surface stays approachable even at high temperatures. You are unlikely to burn yourself sitting on a cedar bench in a properly ventilated sauna the way you might on a denser, more conductive wood.
The trade-off is cost. Canadian red cedar commands a premium, and that cost gets passed through to the finished sauna. Cedar units tend to sit at higher price points within a given manufacturer's lineup. The Maxxus FAR Infrared Sauna (MX-K206-01-ZF CED), for instance, is built from natural reforested Canadian red cedar and is priced at $4,299 for a two-person unit. The reforested designation reflects a push by most reputable manufacturers to source cedar from managed forests rather than old-growth stock, which matters both environmentally and for long-term supply consistency.
Canadian Hemlock: Properties, Feel, and Practical Strengths
Canadian hemlock is a pale, fine-grained softwood with a clean, almost neutral appearance. It does not have cedar's aromatic oils, which means it does not deliver that characteristic scent. For some buyers that is a drawback. For others, particularly those who are sensitive to strong wood oils or who want the sauna experience to be defined by the heat rather than a dominant smell, hemlock is the better option.
Hemlock is dense enough to be structurally solid while remaining low in resins. It has good dimensional stability and holds up well through repeated heating cycles. It is also less expensive to source than western red cedar, and that difference tends to show up in the finished product's price. Several manufacturers use hemlock as their default material for both entry-level and premium indoor and outdoor units. The Medical Breakthrough 9 Traditional Sauna, which accommodates three to six people with double-decker seating, is built from 100 percent natural Canadian hemlock. At $15,649, hemlock clearly is not an indicator of cutting corners; it is simply a different material choice suited to a different aesthetic and set of priorities.
The Golden Designs Classic Series outdoor saunas (GDI-8003-01 and GDI-8005-01), priced at $6,999 and $7,999 respectively, are also built from Canadian hemlock with a protective finish for outdoor durability. The fact that these are outdoor units says something useful about hemlock's weather resistance: it performs well in outdoor conditions when properly finished, though it does rely on that finish more than cedar does on its natural oils.
Scent, Aromatics, and Indoor Air Quality
The scent question comes up in nearly every cedar versus hemlock conversation, and it deserves a direct answer rather than a vague "it depends." Cedar's aromatic oils are real and persistent. In a fresh sauna, the smell is pronounced. Over time, with repeated heating cycles, cedar's scent gradually mellows but never fully disappears. If you have tried a cedar sauna and loved that sensory quality, it is a legitimate reason to choose cedar. If you found it overpowering, hemlock is genuinely a better fit.
There is also a practical air quality angle. Some individuals with sensitivities to volatile organic compounds report that strongly aromatic woods can be irritating in an enclosed heated space. Hemlock, being low in resins and oils, tends to off-gas very little even at peak temperatures. This makes it a common recommendation for anyone who wants the heat and humidity benefits without a heavy aromatic component. Neither wood has been documented to produce harmful emissions under normal sauna conditions, but hemlock's neutral profile gives it an edge for sensitive users.
Outdoor vs Indoor: Which Wood Performs Better Where
For outdoor installations, cedar has a natural advantage. Its oils resist moisture ingress without relying entirely on a surface finish, and it weathers more gracefully when exposed to rain, snow, and UV. This is why outdoor sauna builders have historically defaulted to cedar. That said, several manufacturers have developed hemlock units specifically for outdoor use by applying protective finishes and using thicker wall construction. The Golden Designs outdoor hemlock saunas mentioned above are a practical example: with a protective finish and robust construction, hemlock can serve outdoor settings reliably.
For indoor saunas, the outdoor durability advantage is irrelevant. Inside a climate-controlled space, hemlock and cedar perform almost identically in terms of longevity. The decision becomes about aesthetics, scent preference, and budget. Hemlock's lighter, more uniform appearance suits contemporary interiors well. Cedar's warmer reddish-brown tones fit a more traditional, cabin-style look. Both woods take well to the sauna environment and neither requires special maintenance beyond standard cleaning.
Infrared saunas, which run at lower temperatures than traditional stoves, put less thermal stress on the wood. This is worth noting because many infrared units on the market use hemlock as the default material. The lower operating temperatures of infrared models (the Maxxus cedar unit operates with an ideal temperature range of 118 to 132 degrees Fahrenheit) mean the wood is not being pushed as hard as it would be in a traditional stove setup reaching 180 degrees or more. In that context, the wood species choice matters slightly less for durability, though it still affects scent and aesthetics.
Comparing Current Models by Wood Type and Price
The table below covers the main sauna models across both wood types currently available, to give you a concrete sense of how the choice plays out at different price points and capacities.
| Model | Wood | Type | Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxxus MX-K206-01-ZF CED |
Canadian Red Cedar | FAR Infrared | 2 person | $4,299 |
 Finnmark FD-2 Infrared Sauna |
Cedar interior | Full-Spectrum Infrared | 2 person | $5,995 |
 Finnmark FD-3 Infrared Sauna |
Cedar interior | Full-Spectrum Infrared | 3-4 person | $6,495 |
 Golden Designs GDI-8003-01 |
Canadian Hemlock | Traditional (Outdoor) | Not published | $6,999 |
| Golden Designs GDI-8005-01 |
Canadian Hemlock | Traditional (Outdoor) | Not published | $7,999 |
 Medical Breakthrough 6 Ultra |
Natural Hemlock | Full-Spectrum Infrared | 2 person | $9,649 |
A few patterns stand out. Cedar tends to appear more often in infrared units at the lower-to-mid price range, while hemlock spans the full spectrum from entry-level to high-end traditional saunas. Price is not a reliable proxy for wood quality here: the Medical Breakthrough 9 at $15,649 uses hemlock by design, not as a cost-saving measure. The Finnmark FD-2 and FD-3, both cedar interior units, use full-spectrum infrared technology and are priced competitively relative to their feature sets.
Thermally Modified Wood: A Third Option Worth Knowing
While cedar and hemlock dominate most sauna conversations, thermally modified woods have become increasingly common across the industry and are worth understanding. Thermo-aspen, thermo-pine, and thermo-spruce are created by subjecting regular wood to extremely high heat in a low-oxygen environment. This process drives out moisture, sugars, and resins, fundamentally changing the wood's cell structure. The result is a material that is more dimensionally stable, more resistant to moisture and decay, and lower in off-gassing than its unmodified counterpart, without any chemical treatment.
Several sauna lines use thermally modified wood for both interior and exterior surfaces. Auroom saunas, for instance, use thermo-aspen interiors across multiple models specifically because the modification process produces a smooth, stable surface that handles repeated sauna conditions without warping or resin bleed. Leil Saunas builds its outdoor kits with 40mm ThermoWood walls, citing the added insulation and structural durability. These woods do not carry cedar's natural scent or hemlock's price advantage, but for outdoor durability and low-maintenance performance, they compete seriously with both.
If you are comparing outdoor sauna kit options and finding that thermo-treated models keep appearing alongside cedar and hemlock builds, that is not coincidence. The modification process solves the same problem that cedar's natural oils solve, just through engineering rather than biology.
Longevity and Maintenance: What to Expect From Each Wood
Both cedar and hemlock will last for many years in a well-maintained sauna. The differences in longevity are most pronounced in outdoor settings and in saunas that see heavy use. Cedar's natural oils gradually deplete over time, especially with frequent cleaning using harsh products. A cedar sauna that is wiped down regularly with mild soap and water and occasionally treated with a cedar-safe oil will maintain its resistance and appearance for decades. One that is neglected or cleaned with strong chemicals will start to show its age faster.
Hemlock without a protective finish is more vulnerable to moisture over long periods. Indoors, this is rarely an issue. Outdoors, the finish applied at manufacture is doing meaningful work, and periodically reapplying a compatible exterior treatment extends the sauna's life significantly. Neither wood requires exotic maintenance. The main habits are consistent cleaning after sessions, keeping the interior dry between uses, and making sure ventilation is adequate so moisture does not sit in the wood grain.
For anyone comparing traditional sauna kits and weighing the long-term cost of ownership, wood choice feeds into total cost of ownership in a real way. Cedar may cost more upfront but require less maintenance intervention outdoors. Hemlock may cost less upfront but benefit from periodic refinishing in exposed locations. Over a ten to fifteen year lifespan, these differences tend to even out if both saunas are maintained reasonably well.
Aesthetics: How Each Wood Looks and Ages
Cedar has a warm, reddish-brown tone with visible grain variation. It looks rich and traditional, suits cabin or lodge aesthetics well, and develops a silver-grey patina on unfinished exterior surfaces over time. Inside a sauna, it stays warm-toned and darkens slightly with age and heat exposure. If your home has warm wood tones throughout and you want the sauna to feel cohesive with that palette, cedar fits naturally.
Hemlock is much paler, almost cream to light tan with minimal grain variation. It has a clean, contemporary look that suits modern interiors and spaces with neutral color palettes. Many buyers who install hemlock saunas in home gyms or spa-style bathrooms appreciate the way it reads as intentional rather than rustic. It is a quieter aesthetic, which is not a weakness. It just suits different spaces.
If the visual distinction matters to you, it is worth seeing both woods in person before committing. Product photos capture the color reasonably well, but the texture and grain variation are easier to evaluate with the wood in hand. Some manufacturers offer sample kits, and most sauna showrooms carry at least one of each. The difference is genuinely noticeable side by side. The choice between a warm traditional aesthetic and a clean contemporary one is ultimately personal, and neither direction is wrong.
Making the Right Call for Your Setup
Here is a practical way to think through the decision. Cedar makes the most sense if you are installing outdoors in a location with significant weather exposure, if you want the aromatic sauna experience that most people associate with traditional Finnish bathing culture, or if your design preference runs toward warmer, more natural tones. It costs more, but that premium is attached to real material qualities rather than branding.
Hemlock makes the most sense for indoor installations, for buyers who are sensitive to strong scents, for anyone who prefers a cleaner modern aesthetic, and for those who want more capacity or features for the budget. The fact that hemlock appears in high-end units like the Medical Breakthrough 9 confirms that it is not a compromise material. Browse the full range of traditional saunas to see how both wood types play out across different heater configurations and capacities.
For infrared buyers specifically, the wood choice is somewhat less critical to long-term durability because operating temperatures are lower. Focus your energy on heater quality, EMF ratings, and cabin size, and let the wood be a secondary decision driven by aesthetics and budget. The Maxxus cedar unit and the various hemlock-based infrared models from Medical Breakthrough sit at different price and feature points, but both wood types perform reliably in that lower-temperature environment. If you are also considering contrast therapy and want to explore cold plunges alongside your sauna purchase, wood type becomes even less of a differentiator since that decision sits entirely on the sauna side of your setup.
One last consideration that often goes unmentioned: if you are planning to use the sauna with others regularly, capacity and bench configuration will affect your experience far more than wood species. The Medical Breakthrough 9's double-decker seating in Canadian hemlock accommodates six people comfortably, which is something no amount of cedar aroma can replicate if you consistently need that space. Match the sauna to how you actually intend to use it, and the right wood for your home sauna will follow naturally from that decision. Similarly, if you are still weighing formats, understanding how a barrel sauna compares to a traditional room sauna in terms of heat distribution and construction can sharpen the choice before wood type even enters the picture.
More saunas worth a look
Golden Designs Classic Series Outdoor Sauna (Traditional Stove) (Canadian Hemlock) (GDI-8003-01)
Medical Breakthrough 9 Traditional Sauna for 3-6 People, Hemlock Wood, Bluetooth, LED Control
Frequently asked questions
Is cedar or hemlock better for an outdoor home sauna?▾
Cedar has a natural advantage outdoors because its aromatic oils provide built-in resistance to moisture, decay, and insects without relying entirely on a factory-applied finish. Hemlock performs well outside too, but it depends more on that protective finish staying intact over time. If your sauna will be exposed to rain, snow, or high humidity with minimal shelter, cedar is the lower-maintenance choice long term.
Are there any safety concerns with either wood type at high sauna temperatures?▾
Both cedar and hemlock are low in resins relative to other softwoods, which matters because high-resin woods can off-gas irritating compounds when heated. Cedar's aromatic oils are natural and generally well-tolerated, though a small number of people with sensitivities to strong wood oils find them uncomfortable in an enclosed space. Hemlock's near-neutral scent profile makes it the safer pick for anyone who is sensitive to airborne oils or who simply wants cleaner air during a session.
What is the price difference between cedar and hemlock saunas?▾
Cedar commands a premium at the material level, and that flows through to the finished unit. The Maxxus FAR Infrared Sauna built from natural reforested Canadian red cedar is priced at $4,299 for a two-person model. By comparison, the Golden Designs Classic Series hemlock outdoor saunas are priced at $6,999 and $7,999, and the Medical Breakthrough 9 hemlock sauna for three to six people is $15,649. Those numbers show that hemlock is not inherently cheaper in the finished product; it is the base material that costs less, while capacity, features, and brand tier drive the final price.
How difficult are these saunas to set up at home?▾
Most home saunas in this category are designed for owner assembly using pre-cut, pre-drilled panels that fit together with basic tools. The Maxxus infrared model, for example, runs on a standard 120V/15 amp outlet, so you do not need an electrician for a dedicated circuit upgrade in most homes, though a dedicated outlet is recommended. Traditional stove models like the Golden Designs outdoor units involve more steps since you are working with a wood-burning or electric stove, a larger structure, and an outdoor foundation, so budget a half-day or full day depending on your experience level.
What are the ongoing costs of owning a home sauna?▾
For infrared models, electricity is the main running cost; the Maxxus cedar unit draws from a standard 120V/15 amp circuit, so sessions are relatively inexpensive compared to traditional stoves. Traditional saunas with electric stoves cost more per session to run because they heat a larger volume of air to higher temperatures, typically 150 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Wood and consumables like replacement rocks for a traditional stove are minor but recurring expenses, and outdoor units may need periodic re-finishing of the wood surface, especially hemlock, to maintain weather resistance.
How do you maintain a cedar or hemlock sauna to extend its life?▾
Neither wood should be stained or painted on interior surfaces because you want the wood to breathe and off-gas naturally rather than trap heat under a coating. The main maintenance task is keeping the interior dry between sessions by leaving the door slightly open afterward and wiping down any moisture. Outdoor hemlock units specifically benefit from periodic inspection and reapplication of any factory-applied exterior finish, since hemlock relies on that finish more than cedar does on its natural oils. Sand any rough spots on bench surfaces before they become splinters, and replace sauna rocks in traditional stove models when they start to crack or crumble.
How do I choose the right sauna size for my household?▾
A rough starting point is one person per linear foot of bench space, but the more useful question is how many people will realistically use it at the same time on a regular basis. The Maxxus cedar infrared model is rated for two people, which suits most couples or solo users who occasionally share. The Medical Breakthrough 9 hemlock sauna accommodates three to six people with double-decker seating, which makes more sense for larger households or anyone who plans to use the sauna socially. Outdoor footprint matters too: the Golden Designs hemlock units are built for backyard installation, so measure your available space and factor in clearance around the structure before deciding on a size.
What is the most common mistake people make when choosing between cedar and hemlock?▾
Treating the wood choice as purely cosmetic is the most common misstep. People focus on how the sauna looks in a photo and miss the practical implications: cedar's natural oils versus hemlock's dependence on a finish for outdoor use, the scent difference that will be present in every session, and the way each wood ages over years of thermal cycling. The second mistake is assuming hemlock signals a budget build; the Medical Breakthrough 9 at $15,649 is built from hemlock and is a premium unit. Choose based on your installation environment, your scent preferences, and your maintenance tolerance rather than on which wood sounds more prestigious.
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