Cedar shake vs asphalt shingles comes down to a trade between look and cost of ownership: cedar shake delivers a natural wood roof that often lasts 30 to 40 years but carries a much higher price, more maintenance, and a growing insurance problem, while asphalt shingles cost roughly half as much upfront, need almost no upkeep, and carry a Class A fire rating out of the box. For most homes, asphalt wins on value and insurability. Cedar wins when the architecture, budget, and climate all support it.
The two are not close on price. A full asphalt shingle replacement commonly runs about $13,000 to $19,000 on an average home, while a natural cedar shake roof of the same size often lands between $28,000 and $45,000 or more, per contractor pricing ranges reported across the trade. That gap, plus how insurers now treat wood roofs, drives most of the decision below.
Cedar shake vs asphalt shingles at a glance
Cedar shake is a premium wood roof with high curb appeal and a 30 to 40 year potential lifespan, but it costs two to three times more than asphalt, needs treatment every few years, and can be hard to insure. Asphalt architectural shingles are the budget default: cheaper, Class A fire rated, low maintenance, and widely covered by insurers, with a shorter 20 to 30 year service life. The table sums up how they differ on the factors that decide the job.
| Factor | Cedar shake | Asphalt shingles (architectural) |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Split or sawn western red cedar | Fiberglass mat, asphalt, mineral granules |
| Installed cost (typical) | ~$28,000 to $45,000+ per home | ~$13,000 to $19,000 per home |
| Lifespan | 30 to 40 years, sometimes longer if maintained | 20 to 30 years |
| Fire rating | Class C untreated; Class A or B only with treatment or assembly | Class A standard |
| Maintenance | Cleaning and treatment roughly every 2 to 4 years | Annual inspection, minimal upkeep |
| Wind and impact | Strong when sound; degrades if neglected | Rated to 110 to 130 mph; Class 4 impact options exist |
| Install difficulty | Skilled, slow, specialist labor | Fast, widely available crews |
| Insurability | Increasingly restricted or surcharged | Broadly accepted |
| Best for | Craftsman, Cape Cod, historic homes in low-fire, low-humidity climates | Most homes, tight budgets, high-fire and high-humidity regions |
What is a cedar shake roof?
A cedar shake roof is made from thick wedges of western red cedar, either hand split for a rough, textured face or sawn on both sides for a cleaner look. Shakes differ from thinner cedar shingles in thickness and irregularity, which gives the roof its rugged, dimensional shadow lines. Cedar contains natural oils that resist moisture and insects, and the wood ages to a silver-gray patina many owners choose it for.
Cedar performs best in stable, temperate climates with good airflow under the shakes. In humid or heavily shaded settings it is prone to moss, rot, and cupping unless it is cleaned and treated on schedule. See our guide to cedar shake roof maintenance for what that upkeep actually involves.
What are asphalt shingles?
Asphalt shingles are a layered product: a fiberglass mat saturated with asphalt and surfaced with ceramic-coated mineral granules that block UV and add fire resistance. Architectural (dimensional) shingles are the mainstream choice, thicker and more textured than old three-tab shingles, with better wind ratings and warranties. They are the most installed roof in North America because they are affordable, fast to lay, and carry a Class A fire rating as standard.
The tradeoff is a flatter, more uniform appearance and a shorter life. Prolonged heat and UV dry the asphalt over time, causing granule loss and brittleness. Quality varies by line and manufacturer, so an architectural or premium designer shingle behaves very differently from a builder-grade three-tab.
Cost: cedar shake vs asphalt shingles
Asphalt shingles cost roughly half of cedar shake, both upfront and over the life of the roof. On a typical home, asphalt architectural shingles commonly run about $13,000 to $19,000 installed, while a natural cedar shake roof often runs $28,000 to $45,000 or more. Per square foot, the cheapest cedar shake material starts around $3.50 against roughly $2.75 for asphalt, before the higher cedar labor is added.
Lifecycle cost widens the gap further. Cedar needs recurring cleaning and treatment, and cedar repairs can cost two to three times more than asphalt repairs because the material and skill are less common. The table below frames the ownership math over a long horizon. Treat the figures as planning ranges, not quotes; local labor, roof pitch, and size move them.
| Cost element | Cedar shake | Asphalt shingles |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront install (avg home) | ~$28,000 to $45,000+ | ~$13,000 to $19,000 |
| Recurring maintenance | Cleaning and treatment every 2 to 4 years | Annual inspection only |
| Typical repair cost | 2 to 3x asphalt per repair | Baseline, low |
| Replacement interval | Every 30 to 40 years | Every 20 to 30 years |
| Insurance premium effect | May raise premiums or trigger non-renewal in fire zones | Generally neutral |
For how roof material and age move premiums, see our report on homeowners insurance premiums by roof type and age.
Lifespan and durability
A well-installed, maintained cedar shake roof commonly lasts 30 to 40 years and sometimes longer, while asphalt architectural shingles usually last 20 to 30 years. Cedar’s edge only holds when it is kept up and used in the right climate; neglected cedar in a wet, shaded location can fail well before asphalt would. Asphalt is more forgiving of neglect but ages faster under intense sun.
On weather, the two split. Asphalt tends to handle steady rain and moisture better and resists rot outright, but strong gusts can lift or tear shingles once the seal fails. Sound cedar shakes shed water well and hold up to wind when fastened correctly, yet they are the material most sensitive to moisture damage over time. For a wider material comparison, see our types of roofing materials guide.
Fire rating and the insurance problem
This is where many head-to-head guides stop short. Untreated natural cedar shake is typically rated Class C for fire, the lowest of the three classes, while asphalt shingles carry Class A, the highest. Cedar can reach Class B or Class A only with a factory pressure-impregnated fire retardant or as part of a rated roof assembly, and that treatment adds cost and can require periodic reapplication to stay effective.
The practical fallout is insurance. A growing number of carriers now surcharge, restrict, or decline to renew wood roofs, especially in wildfire-exposed areas, pushing some owners toward state FAIR plans. Before choosing cedar, confirm coverage and any fire-hardening requirements in your jurisdiction. Our wildfire roof risk report covers where Class A roofs are effectively mandatory.
Maintenance and upkeep
Cedar shake demands active maintenance; asphalt is close to install-and-forget. Cedar roofs generally need cleaning and treatment roughly every two to four years to clear moss and debris, preserve the oils, and, where applicable, refresh fire and moisture treatments. Skip it and the roof cups, splits, and rots faster. Asphalt asks only for an annual visual inspection and occasional debris clearing.
If the cedar look is the goal without the upkeep, a synthetic option can split the difference. Composite shakes mimic the texture while resisting rot and often carrying a Class A rating. See synthetic cedar shake roofing for how those compare on cost and performance.
Pros and cons
Each material wins on a different axis. Cedar leads on looks and potential longevity; asphalt leads on cost, fire safety, and low maintenance.
Cedar shake pros:
- High, natural curb appeal that suits historic and craftsman homes
- 30 to 40 year potential lifespan when maintained
- Natural insulation and resistance to insects from cedar oils
- Strong wind and impact performance when sound
Cedar shake cons:
- Two to three times the upfront cost of asphalt
- Class C fire rating untreated; treatment adds cost
- Cleaning and treatment every 2 to 4 years
- Increasingly hard or expensive to insure in fire zones
Asphalt shingle pros:
- Lowest upfront and lifecycle cost of common roofs
- Class A fire rating as standard
- Minimal maintenance and broad insurer acceptance
- Fast install with widely available crews
Asphalt shingle cons:
- Shorter 20 to 30 year lifespan
- Flatter, less distinctive appearance
- Ages faster under intense heat and UV
- Can lift or tear in high wind once the seal fails
Which should you choose?
Choose asphalt shingles if budget, insurability, or fire risk lead your decision, which covers most homes. Choose cedar shake if the architecture calls for a wood roof, the budget absorbs the premium and upkeep, and your climate and insurer both support it. Use the framework below to decide quickly.
- Set the budget ceiling. If a roof over roughly $25,000 is out of reach, asphalt is the answer; cedar rarely fits a tight budget.
- Check the fire and insurance picture. In a wildfire-exposed or WUI area, or if your carrier surcharges wood roofs, asphalt or a Class A synthetic is the safer path.
- Weigh the climate. Humid, shaded, or storm-heavy sites punish cedar; stable, temperate, well-ventilated homes let it perform.
- Be honest about maintenance. If you will not clean and treat on a 2 to 4 year cycle, cedar’s lifespan advantage disappears.
- Match the architecture. Craftsman, Cape Cod, Tudor, and historic homes justify cedar’s look; most other styles do fine on quality asphalt or a synthetic shake.
If you want the cedar aesthetic without the fire and maintenance risk, a synthetic shake is often the practical middle ground.
Frequently asked questions
Is cedar shake better than asphalt shingles? Neither is universally better; it depends on priorities. Cedar shake offers more curb appeal and a longer potential lifespan of 30 to 40 years, while asphalt shingles cost about half as much, carry a Class A fire rating, need far less maintenance, and are easier to insure. For most homes on a budget or in fire-prone areas, asphalt is the more practical choice.
How much more does a cedar shake roof cost than asphalt? A cedar shake roof typically costs two to three times as much as asphalt. On an average home, asphalt architectural shingles often run about $13,000 to $19,000 installed, while natural cedar shake commonly runs $28,000 to $45,000 or more. Cedar also carries higher recurring maintenance and repair costs over the life of the roof.
How long does each roof last? A maintained cedar shake roof commonly lasts 30 to 40 years and occasionally longer, while asphalt architectural shingles usually last 20 to 30 years. Cedar’s longer potential life depends on regular cleaning and treatment and a suitable climate; without upkeep, cedar can fail sooner than asphalt would.
Are cedar shake roofs a fire risk? Untreated cedar shake is typically rated Class C, the lowest fire class, while asphalt shingles are Class A. Cedar can reach Class B or A with factory fire-retardant treatment or as part of a rated assembly. In many wildfire-prone areas, untreated wood roofs may not meet code, and insurers increasingly restrict or decline to cover them.
Do insurers cover cedar shake roofs? Coverage is getting harder. A growing number of carriers surcharge, restrict, or decline to renew wood roofs, especially in wildfire-exposed regions, and some owners end up on state FAIR plans. Confirm insurability and any fire-hardening requirements with your carrier before choosing cedar, because it can materially change the total cost.
Is there a lower-maintenance way to get the cedar look? Yes. Synthetic or composite cedar shakes mimic the texture and shadow lines of real cedar while resisting rot and moss and often carrying a Class A fire rating. They typically cost more than asphalt but less than natural cedar over time once maintenance is factored in, which makes them a common middle-ground choice.
Reviewed by The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed July 2026.