Why Cedarwood Is Best for Infrared Saunas: The Complete Guide to Performance, Red Light Therapy & Longevity

When researching why cedarwood is best for infrared saunas, most people focus on heaters, EMF levels, or red light therapy features. But here’s what the sauna industry doesn’t want you to know: none of those features matter if your sauna is built from the wrong wood.

After building over 3,000 custom infrared saunas at SaunaCloud, I can tell you that wood choice is the most critical decision you’ll make—more important than heater type, more important than size, and essential if you want advanced features like integrated red light therapy.

This guide will show you exactly why cedarwood is best for infrared saunas from every angle: material science, health outcomes, therapeutic capabilities, and long-term value. By the end, you’ll understand why Western Red Cedar isn’t just “one good option”—it’s really the only option for serious infrared therapy.

What Makes Sauna Wood Different From Regular Wood?

Wood inside an infrared sauna experiences extreme conditions that regular furniture never faces. Every session heats the wood to 120-160°F, introduces moisture from sweating, and creates thermal expansion and contraction cycles that repeat hundreds of times per year.

A proper sauna wood must be:

• Heat-resistant without off-gassing toxins
• Moisture-resistant to prevent rot and mold
• Structurally stable through thousands of thermal cycles
• Comfortable to touch at high temperatures
• Free of resins, saps, and volatile compounds
• Naturally antimicrobial without chemical treatment

Western Red Cedar checks every box. Other woods—hemlock, pine, poplar, spruce—can technically “work,” but all have critical shortcomings that emerge within 3-10 years of regular use.

This fundamental difference is the first reason why cedarwood is best for infrared saunas. But let’s go deeper into the science.

The Material Science Behind Cedar’s Superiority

Heat Transfer and Thermal Mass: Why Cedar Feels Different

Unlike traditional steam saunas that rely on convective heat from hot rocks, infrared saunas use electromagnetic waves to directly heat your body at wavelengths between 5-15 microns.

This creates specific material requirements that cedar uniquely satisfies.

Cedar’s cellular structure contains microscopic air pockets that provide natural insulation while allowing controlled heat distribution. With a density of approximately 23 pounds per cubic foot, cedar sits in the ideal range—dense enough for structural integrity, yet porous enough to prevent uncomfortable surface temperatures.

What this means for you: Cedar benches and walls warm comfortably without becoming hot to the touch, even when the ambient air reaches 150°F. You can lean back, lie down, and enjoy longer sessions without discomfort.

Compare this to hemlock (28 lbs/ft³) or dense poplar varieties (31 lbs/ft³), which become uncomfortably hot or create temperature inconsistencies that make sessions less enjoyable.

The Antimicrobial Chemistry That Changes Everything

Here’s where cedarwood is best for infrared saunas from a health perspective: Western Red Cedar contains natural compounds called thujaplicins—powerful antifungal and antibacterial agents that make it inherently resistant to microbial growth.

In the warm, moisture-rich environment of a sauna, most woods become breeding grounds for mold, mildew, and bacteria. Cedar prevents this naturally without requiring any chemical treatments.

Other woods lack these natural defenses:

• Hemlock has zero antimicrobial properties
• Pine releases toxic resins when heated
• Spruce absorbs sweat and grows mold
• Poplar requires chemical treatment for stability

People buy saunas for detoxification. The irony of introducing new toxins through chemically treated wood defeats the entire purpose.

Why Cedarwood Is Best for Infrared Saunas: Six Critical Advantages

1. Cedar Lasts 40-50 Years (While Cheap Woods Fail in 5-10)

Cedar’s straight grain pattern and uniform density mean it expands and contracts predictably and minimally. The wood moves as a cohesive unit rather than developing internal stresses that cause cracking or warping.

Real-world lifespan:

• Cedar saunas: 40-50 years indoors, 30+ years outdoors
• Hemlock saunas: 15-20 years with visible cracking after 5 years
• Pine saunas: 10-15 years with resin problems throughout

We routinely retrofit traditional saunas and are consistently amazed by how well cedar holds up—even after 30+ years. Try to find a 30-year-old hemlock sauna that doesn’t look tired and degraded.

2. Cedar Protects Against Sweat Staining (Essential for Red Light Benches)

Cedar’s natural oils make it remarkably resistant to moisture absorption and staining—sweat beads on the surface rather than soaking in.

This unique property is absolutely critical for advanced therapeutic features—specifically, the integration of red light therapy directly into sauna benches (more on this revolutionary design below).

Other woods absorb sweat deeply, creating:

• Permanent staining and discoloration
• Bacterial growth in the wood grain
• Degradation around hardware and LED channels
• Need for towel barriers that block therapeutic light

This is why you only see wall-mounted red light panels in other saunas—their wood materials can’t support direct-contact designs.

3. Cedar Smells Incredible (And It’s Therapeutic, Not Toxic)

Cedar’s natural aroma comes from the same thujaplicin compounds that provide antimicrobial protection. Research suggests these aromatic compounds may have mild anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects, enhancing stress-reduction benefits.

The smell intensifies slightly as the wood warms, creating an immersive sensory experience without the need for essential oils or artificial fragrances. After thousands of sessions, cedar’s aroma remains pleasant and natural.

In contrast:

• Pine smells like turpentine from resin volatilization
• Hemlock has no scent and develops musty odors over time
• Poplar is odorless but picks up body odor in the grain

4. Cedar Is Perfectly Dense for Structural Performance

At 23 lbs/ft³, cedar hits the sweet spot for sauna construction:

Too light (under 20 lbs/ft³): Weak, prone to damage, poor insulation. Ideal range (20-25 lbs/ft³): Cedar’s zone—strong yet workable

Too dense (over 28 lbs/ft³): Cracks under thermal stress, uncomfortable hot spots

For DIY infrared sauna builders, cedar offers additional advantages:

• Cuts cleanly without splintering
• Sands smoothly to a professional finish
• Accepts fasteners without splitting
• Hides minor installation imperfections
• Looks beautiful even with amateur craftsmanship

Hemlock and poplar show every flaw. Cedar is forgiving, which allows DIY projects to look professional.

5. Cedar Enables Superior Thermal Efficiency (Lower Energy Costs)

Cedar’s insulating properties reduce the power needed to maintain sauna temperature. In our testing, cedar saunas typically reach the target temperature 15-20% faster than saunas built with denser woods.

Over 40 years of use, this translates to:

• Hundreds of dollars in energy savings
• Faster warmup times (less waiting)
• More stable temperature during sessions
• Better heat retention after the heater’s cycle off

6. Cedar Is UV and Weather Resistant (Critical for Outdoor Saunas)

For outdoor installations, cedar provides natural protection that other woods cannot match:

• UV resistance: Natural oils prevent degradation and graying
• Weather protection: Resists rain penetration and moisture damage
• Freeze-thaw tolerance: Survives cold climates without cracking
• Rot resistance: Lasts decades in high-humidity environments

This makes cedar the only viable choice for outdoor infrared saunas in any climate.

The Red Light Revolution: Why Cedar Enables True Phototherapy

This is where understanding why cedarwood is best for infrared saunas becomes critical for modern wellness applications.

The Clinical Reality of Red Light Therapy Distance

Clinical photobiomodulation research is clear: the effectiveness of red and near-infrared light drops dramatically with distance due to the inverse-square law.

Intensity loss by distance:

• 0-4 inches: 100% therapeutic intensity (clinical range)
• 6 inches: 50% intensity loss
• 12 inches: 75% intensity loss
• 18-24 inches: 90-95% intensity loss (most wall panels)

For therapeutic benefits—skin regeneration, collagen production, inflammation reduction, wound healing—you need energy densities of 20-50 mW/cm². Wall-mounted panels placed 18-24 inches away cannot deliver this.

Translation: Most “red light saunas” are marketing, not medicine.

How Cedar Makes True Red Light Therapy Possible

At SaunaCloud, we’ve solved this problem by embedding medical-grade LEDs directly into the sauna bench and backrest, positioning red (660nm) and near-infrared (850nm) light sources exactly 2-4 inches from your skin.

But here’s the catch: This is only possible with cedar.

When you lie directly on a sauna bench during a session, you sweat. Most woods would:

• Absorb sweat deeply into the grain
• Develop permanent stains and discoloration
• Grow bacteria in the moist wood
• Degrade around LED channels and wiring
• Force users to place towels between skin and lights (blocking the photons entirely)

Cedar solves every single problem:

• Natural oils cause sweat to bead on the surface
• No staining or discoloration, even after years of use
• Antimicrobial properties prevent bacterial growth
• Structural stability around LED hardware
• Users can lie directly on the bench without towels, allowing photons to reach the skin at clinical intensities

This is why no other manufacturer offers actual clinical-distance red light infrared sauna therapy—they literally can’t, because their wood materials make it impossible.

Why Other Manufacturers Can’t Replicate This Design

The reason you don’t see red light benches from competitors isn’t a lack of innovation—it’s material limitations.

Without cedar:

• Sweat absorption ruins benches within months
• Staining makes the sauna unhygienic and unsightly
• Users must place towels between skin and LEDs (blocking therapeutic wavelengths)
• Wood degradation around LED channels creates maintenance nightmares
• Bacterial growth in moist wood creates liability issues

This is why wall-mounted red light panels persist despite being therapeutically ineffective—it’s all that other manufacturers can do with inferior wood materials.

Cold Red Light Therapy: Cedar Benches Without Heat

One revolutionary advantage of cedar-based red light benches is the ability to use phototherapy without activating the infrared heaters.

Perfect for:

• Summer sessions, when you want phototherapy without raising core temperature
• Post-workout recovery when you’re already hot
• Longer 20-30 minute photobiomodulation protocols
• Skin-focused treatments requiring extended exposure
• Users with heat sensitivity or cardiovascular contraindications

Cedar’s natural insulation keeps the bench comfortably cool during red-light-only sessions. You get all the benefits of clinical-grade phototherapy—collagen production, inflammation reduction, wound healing, skin rejuvenation—without thermal stress.

This dual-mode capability (heat + red light, or red light alone) is unique to properly designed cedar saunas with integrated LED benches.

Comparing Sauna Woods: The Truth About Alternatives

Here’s the honest comparison of all major sauna woods. For a deeper dive, see our complete guide: Red Cedar, Spruce, or Poplar—What Is the Best Type of Wood?

Wood TypeDurabilityDensity (lbs/ft³)AntimicrobialSweat ResistanceToxicity RiskWarping Risk

Western Red Cedar ★★★★★ 23 (Ideal) Yes Excellent None Low

Hemlock ★★ 28 (Too dense) No Poor Medium High

Poplar ★★ 22-31 (Inconsistent) No Medium Low Medium

Basswood ★★★ 25 Hypoallergenic Good Low Medium

Pine ★ 22 No Poor High (Resin) Very High

Cedar is the only wood that scores “excellent” or “ideal” across every category relevant to infrared sauna performance.

Why Budget Brands Don’t Use Cedar (And Why We Do)

Let’s be direct: there’s only one reason budget sauna brands don’t use cedar—cost.

Cedar costs 40-50% more than hemlock or pine. So, cheaper manufacturers use inferior woods and call them “premium” or “eco-friendly” because most customers don’t know the difference.

At SaunaCloud, we use 100% Western Red Cedar—even though it costs significantly more—because we build every sauna as if it were for our own home.

The economics of quality:

A $6,000 cedar sauna lasting 40 years = $150/year. A $4,000 hemlock sauna lasting 15 years = $267/year (plus replacement hassle)

Cedar’s higher upfront cost is actually more economical over the sauna’s lifespan—while providing superior performance, health benefits, and the ability to integrate advanced features like red light benches.

The Long-Term Value Calculation

When you examine why cedarwood is best for infrared saunas from an investment perspective, cedar wins decisively:

Initial Cost Premium: +20-40% vs. alternatives

Lifespan Differential: 40-50 years vs. 15-20 years

Maintenance Costs: Minimal (simple wipe-down) vs. Significant (cleaning, mold prevention, eventual replacement)

Energy Efficiency: 15-20% lower operating costs compound over decades

Health Benefits: Chemical-free construction + red light bench capability

Resale Value: Cedar saunas maintain 70-80% of their original value; cheap saunas become worthless

Final Thoughts: The Only Choice for Serious Infrared Therapy

When you combine structural stability, antimicrobial properties, comfort, longevity, sweat resistance, thermal efficiency, natural aroma, aesthetic beauty, and the unique ability to integrate clinical-grade red light therapy, it becomes undeniable why cedarwood is best for infrared saunas.

The right wood creates the foundation for:

• A sauna that lasts 40-50 years instead of 10-15 years
• A safer, chemical-free environment for detoxification
• Revolutionary red light therapy at clinical distances (impossible with other woods)
• Lower lifetime costs despite higher upfront investment
• Professional aesthetics that improve with age

If you’re ready to invest in an infrared sauna that will serve you for decades with cutting-edge therapeutic capabilities, there’s only one choice: Western Red Cedar.

Explore our cornerstone guides:

• Custom Infrared Sauna Design
• DIY Infrared Sauna Guide
• Red Light Infrared Sauna Technology
• Complete Wood Comparison

Cedar isn’t just the best choice—it’s the only choice if you want an infrared sauna that performs the way it should for the next 30-50 years.