Outdoor Saunas & Barrel Saunas

Browse 28 outdoor saunas, from barrel saunas and backyard cabins to glass-front designs, priced from $1,387 for a single-person cabin to $75,028. Most use traditional electric stoves of 6 to 10.5 kW, built from thermally modified wood, red cedar, spruce or aspen.

Choosing an outdoor sauna

An outdoor sauna is a small building. Plan four things before you pick a model: the base, the power run, the heater and the shape.

Barrel or cabin

Barrel saunas have a round profile that keeps the volume to heat small. This collection has four: the Golden Designs Klosters (6 person, 8 kW, $6,999), two Blisspod Prague red cedar barrels (up to 4 or 6 people, 6,000 W heater, $6,999 to $7,999) and the Mr. Steam Barrel Haus kit ($16,360, 4.5, 6 or 9 kW). Cabins give more headroom and often more glass. Examples are the Mande MW12, MW16 and MW20 in thermally modified wood ($6,599 to $8,999) and Golden Designs cabins for 3 to 6 people ($13,999 to $15,999).

Heater and power

Most outdoor saunas here are traditional, with an electric stove and stones. Stated heater sizes run from 3 kW to 10.5 kW, and many models use Harvia stoves. Golden Designs listings give an ideal range of about 185°F with a 190°F maximum. A traditional stove means a 240V circuit. Several listings call for 240V on a dedicated 40-amp circuit, some with a second 120V, 15-amp circuit for lights and controls. Plan on a licensed electrician and a trench or conduit from your panel.

Price bandWhat you get
$1,387 to $4,200Single-person to 3-4 person cabins with heater plates, plus a 6,000 W steam sauna
$6,133 to $8,999Barrels, thermally modified wood cabins and hybrids with 6 to 9 kW stoves
$13,999 to $18,999Golden Designs cabins and hybrids for 2 to 6 people, plus Mr. Steam cabin and barrel kits
$31,883 to $75,028Thermasol designs with 3 to 10.5 kW heaters, including the solar-powered Solaris

Sizing the stove

Harvia's rule of thumb is about 1 kW per cubic meter (35.3 cu ft) of room. Each square meter of glass or stone adds about 1.2 cubic meters, and uninsulated log walls use a factor of 1.5. Harvia also notes that outdoor saunas in cold climates need more capacity. Glass-front outdoor models therefore need a larger heater than the bare volume suggests. Use our sauna heater size calculator, and browse electric sauna heaters or wood burning sauna stoves.

Wood

Thermally modified, heat-treated or carbonized wood appears in 10 listings, red cedar in about 10, aspen in 7 and spruce in 5. One Thermasol model uses Lapacho. Cedar fans can see cedar saunas.

Base and delivery

Every outdoor sauna needs a level, drained base, such as a concrete slab, pavers or a solid deck rated for the weight. A Prague barrel, for example, lists 970 lb. Large saunas ship freight, so plan truck access and a path to the site. If you prefer infrared heat outdoors, see outdoor infrared saunas. For no wiring at all, look at tent saunas.

Sources: Harvia: selecting heater power; Harvia: choosing a wood-burning heater.

Outdoor Saunas & Barrel Saunas FAQ

What size heater does an outdoor sauna need?
Harvia's guidance is about 1 kW per cubic meter (35.3 cu ft), plus about 1.2 cubic meters for each square meter of glass or stone. Outdoor saunas here list heaters from 3 kW to 10.5 kW.
Does an outdoor sauna need 240V?
The traditional electric outdoor saunas here do; several list a dedicated 240V, 40-amp circuit, sometimes with a separate 120V circuit for lights.
How much does a barrel sauna cost?
The barrel saunas in this collection range from $6,999 to $16,360.
What foundation does an outdoor sauna need?
A level, well-drained base such as a concrete slab, pavers or a deck rated for the weight. Check the listing for the sauna's weight and footprint.