Spend $4,000 to $9,000 on a cedar shed and you want the brand that ships complete, assembles without a fight, and still looks good in fifteen years. Outdoor Living Today and Cedarshed are the two names that come up, and they are genuinely close: both build with Western Red Cedar and both panelize the walls so two people can raise them in a day. The real split is sizing, price for the same square footage, and which one you can actually get shipped to your yard. Outdoor Living Today wins on availability and value, and it is the line we carry. If you are still nailing down size and budget, our storage shed buying guide covers the framework first.
TL;DR: Both brands build premium Western Red Cedar sheds with pre-built wall panels and similar quality. Outdoor Living Today edges ahead on broader sizing, better price per square foot, and stock you can buy today, which is why it is our pick for most backyards.
Here is the quick read before we get into the details. Both are legitimately premium cedar brands, so most of this comes down to selection, price, and what you can buy now. To see the full cedar range we stock, browse the wood storage sheds collection.
| Factor | Outdoor Living Today | Cedarshed |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar grade | Western Red Cedar, PEFC and WRCA-certified | Western Red Cedar |
| Build | Pre-built modular wall panels, two-person assembly | Pre-cut and panelized kits, two-person assembly |
| Size range | Wide: 8x4 SpaceSaver up to 12x16 SpaceMaster and Sunshed | Wide: small lean-tos up to large garden sheds |
| Price (cedar sheds) | $3,299 to $9,499 across the stocked line | Premium, generally higher per square foot |
| Warranty | Manufacturer warranty on cedar workmanship | Manufacturer warranty on cedar workmanship |
| Availability here | In stock, ships direct | Not carried |
No single brand sweeps every column, which is exactly why the right pick depends on your size, budget, and how soon you need it. Read on for where each brand actually pulls ahead.
Western Red Cedar heartwood holds natural extractives that resist fungal decay, which is why cedar lasts outdoors where pine would rot. Start with the material, because it is the reason you are paying a premium for either brand. Both Outdoor Living Today and Cedarshed build with Western Red Cedar, and that wood carries its own decay protection. That natural durability is the whole point: a cedar shed shrugs off rain and insects in a way a bargain resin or untreated-pine box never will, and broader testing on naturally durable wood backs that up (USDA Forest Products Laboratory).
Where Outdoor Living Today pulls slightly ahead is sourcing transparency. Its cedar is PEFC and WRCA-certified, meaning the lumber comes from responsibly managed forests and meets Western Red Cedar Lumber Association grading. Cedarshed builds with the same species and earns strong reviews for wood quality, but does not market the same certification stack. For most buyers the practical durability is a wash. Sealed and kept off wet ground, either brand’s cedar holds up for decades.
The cedar is a tie, so here is where the brands genuinely diverge.
Selection and sizing. Outdoor Living Today fields a deep, in-stock catalog of cedar storage sheds, from the compact 8x4 SpaceSaver to the 12x16 SpaceMaster, plus the glass-roofed Sunshed line for gardeners. Cedarshed’s catalog is also broad, but its strength is smaller specialty structures and architectural styles rather than large enclosed storage.
Price for the same footprint. Across comparable sizes, Outdoor Living Today generally costs less per square foot. Cedarshed positions itself as the luxury, detail-forward option, and the pricing reflects that. If you are matching square footage to budget, OLT tends to give you more shed for the money. Cedar still costs more than other materials across the board, a trade-off we break down in our plastic vs wood vs metal sheds comparison.
Windows and roofing. This is the one place Cedarshed often leads. Its Sunhouse uses high-performance thermoplastic windows and thermoclear roof panels tuned for insulation and UV protection. OLT’s Sunshed answers with functional aluminum windows and 6mm twin-wall polygal roof panels, which still deliver plenty of light and heat retention at a friendlier price.
Availability. The deciding factor for a lot of buyers: we stock Outdoor Living Today and ship it direct, with verified pricing on every model. Cedarshed is a fine brand, but it is not part of our lineup, so there is no product page, no live price, and no quick path to your driveway here.
The OLT Sunshed spans 8x8 to 12x16 ($5,449 to roughly $8,000-plus) and tops out at 192 square feet, while the Cedarshed Sunhouse caps at 144 square feet. The closest matchup between these brands is Outdoor Living Today’s Sunshed against Cedarshed’s Sunhouse. Both are premium glass-roofed garden sheds in Western Red Cedar, both use pre-built modular wall panels, and both earn glowing reviews. Here is how the two lines stack up.
| Category | OLT Sunshed | Cedarshed Sunhouse |
|---|---|---|
| Size options | 8x8, 8x12, 12x12, 12x16 | 8x8, 8x12, 8x16, 12x12 |
| Materials | Western Red Cedar, PEFC and WRCA-certified | Western Red Cedar |
| Windows and roof | Aluminum windows, 6mm polygal roof panels | Thermoplastic windows, thermoclear roof panels |
| Largest footprint | 12x16 (192 sq ft) | 8x16 / 12x12 (128 / 144 sq ft) |
| Availability | In stock here | Not carried |
Size range goes to the Sunshed. Both lines share the 8x8, 8x12, and 12x12, but the Sunshed adds a true 12x16 that gives you 192 square feet of floor, more than any Sunhouse configuration. If you want the biggest glass-roofed cedar shed you can get, the Sunshed is the only one of the two that goes there.
Windows and roofing go to the Sunhouse. Cedarshed’s thermoplastic windows and thermoclear panels test slightly better on thermal efficiency, so if maximum insulation and brightness top your list, that is a real edge. The Sunshed’s aluminum windows and polygal roof are not far behind, though, and they keep the price down.
Materials lean Sunshed, thanks to the PEFC and WRCA certifications backing OLT’s cedar sourcing. Reviews for both are a genuine tie: Sunshed owners praise easy assembly and practicality, Sunhouse owners praise the look it brings to a yard.
The bottom line on the model duel: if you need the largest size or want certified-sourced cedar at a better price, the Sunshed wins. The Sunshed 8x8 starts at $5,449 and the Sunshed 12x12 runs $7,999, both in stock and ready to ship. If thermal performance is everything and you do not mind sourcing Cedarshed elsewhere, the Sunhouse is a worthy rival.
Outdoor Living Today is the pick for most buyers, with a stocked cedar line running $3,299 to $9,499 and ready to ship today. Both brands are the real deal, so this is not a case of good versus bad. It is value, selection, and availability versus premium detailing you have to hunt for. For most homeowners set on wood, Outdoor Living Today is the smarter buy: the same naturally durable Western Red Cedar, certified sourcing, the same easy panelized assembly, a wider size range, and generally a lower price for the same footprint, all in stock and ready to ship.
Here is how to choose within the OLT line. Tight on space or budget? The SpaceSaver 8x4 at $3,299 tucks against a fence and still gives you real cedar. Want a classic walk-in storage shed? The Gardener 8x8 starts at $4,199. Need maximum room for a workshop or mower fleet? The SpaceMaster 12x16 Double Door at $8,399 is the big-footprint pick. And if you want light pouring in for plants, the Sunshed line is built for it.
Cedarshed earns its reputation, especially on architectural style and the Sunhouse’s thermal windows. But since we do not carry it, going OLT means a verified price, a real stock status, and a shed in your yard sooner. Match the size to your space, seal the cedar once a year, and you have a structure that will still look sharp well into the next decade.
For most buyers, Outdoor Living Today is the better pick. Both use naturally decay-resistant Western Red Cedar and panelized walls, so quality and assembly are close. OLT wins on a wider size range, generally lower price per square foot, certified cedar sourcing, and the fact that it is in stock and ships direct. Cedarshed leans more premium and architectural, with strong thermal windows on its Sunhouse line, but you have to source it elsewhere.
Yes. Both companies build their walls from Western Red Cedar, which is naturally resistant to rot and insect damage thanks to decay-resisting extractives in the heartwood, a trait documented by the USDA Silvics of North America. Cedarshed’s walls are sometimes slightly thicker, reflecting its premium positioning, while Outdoor Living Today’s panels are sturdy, certified-sourced, and provide good insulation. Either brand gives you a solid, long-lasting cedar shell when kept sealed and off wet ground.
If you want the largest glass-roofed cedar shed, choose the Sunshed: it offers a 12x16 (192 square feet) that the Sunhouse does not, plus PEFC and WRCA-certified cedar at a better price. Choose the Sunhouse if thermal efficiency is your top priority, since its thermoplastic windows and thermoclear roof panels insulate slightly better. We carry the Sunshed in 8x8, 8x12, 12x12, and 12x16, so it is the one you can buy and ship today.
Yes. Both Outdoor Living Today and Cedarshed ship pre-built or pre-cut panelized kits designed for two-person DIY assembly, typically in a day with basic tools. Everything you need comes in the kit, including the cedar panels, hardware, and a detailed manual. OLT is widely praised for responsive customer service if you hit a snag during the build.
You can buy Outdoor Living Today sheds directly from us, with verified pricing and stock on every model from the $3,299 SpaceSaver up to the $8,399 SpaceMaster 12x16. Browse the full lineup on the Outdoor Living Today collection page. Cedarshed is not part of our catalog, so for that brand you would need to source it from another retailer.
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