What is an outdoor sauna?

An outdoor sauna is a standalone sauna built to live outside all year, not a unit tucked into a spare room or basement. It has weather-rated wood, sealed joints, and a heater sized for an uninsulated outdoor setting. Ours are built from Western Red Cedar, a wood that resists rot, handles temperature swings, and gives off the scent most people associate with a real sauna. An outdoor sauna heats up in about 30 to 40 minutes, seats two to six people depending on the model, and can run on wood or electricity.

The main reason people put a sauna outside is space and experience. You get the room without giving up a closet or a garage bay, and you get the view, the cold air on the walk back, and the option of a cold plunge right next to it.

Types of outdoor saunas

There are three common styles, and they suit different budgets and yards.

• Barrel saunas. The round shape heats fast and evenly because there is less air to warm, and rain runs straight off the curved roof. This is the classic backyard sauna and our best seller. See our barrel sauna kits.
• Cabin saunas. A square or rectangular building, often with a large window wall and a small covered porch. Cabin saunas give you more headroom, more bench layout options, and a more finished look. Good for a permanent spot near a deck or pool.
• DIY barrel kits. The same cedar and hardware as our built saunas, shipped flat for you to assemble over a weekend. This is the lowest-cost way into a real cedar outdoor sauna. See our DIY sauna kits.

If you are deciding between them, barrel saunas win on heat-up speed and price, cabins win on comfort and looks, and DIY kits win on budget.

How much space do you need, and what should it sit on?

Most outdoor saunas need a level pad a little larger than the sauna footprint, with room to open the door and walk around. A two- to four-person barrel needs roughly a 7-by-8-foot clear area. A cabin needs more.

The base matters more than the size. Put the sauna on something firm and level: a concrete pad, pavers, a gravel bed, or a deck rated for the weight. Do not set it straight on grass or soil, because the ground shifts and holds moisture against the wood. For a full walk-through, see our guide on site preparation for a barrel sauna.

Can you use an outdoor sauna in winter?

Yes, and winter is when most owners use it most. Cedar handles cold well, and a correctly sized heater will bring the room to temperature even when it is below freezing outside. In hard winters, three things help: a heater sized slightly above the room volume, a door that seals well, and a clear, safe path to the sauna. The contrast of hot sauna and cold air is the whole point for a lot of people, and it is why saunas sell well in Minnesota, the Prairies, and across Canada. See our note on barrel saunas in cold climates.

How outdoor saunas stand up to rain, snow, and weather

A few build details decide how long an outdoor sauna lasts:

• Western Red Cedar naturally resists rot and insects and does not warp as much as cheaper woods.
• Stainless steel bands on a barrel sauna hold the staves tight and do not rust, unlike galvanized bands. See stainless steel sauna bands.
• A shingled or curved roof sheds water instead of letting it pool.
• Optional exterior stain adds years of life and keeps the cedar looking new. See how to stain a barrel sauna.

You do not have to cover or move an outdoor sauna for winter. It is built to stay put.

Choosing a heater for an outdoor sauna

You have two main choices, and both work outside.

• Wood-fired heaters give the most traditional heat and do not need an electrician or a power run to the sauna. They are ideal for remote or off-grid spots. See wood-fired sauna heaters.
• Electric heaters are the easiest to live with: set a temperature, press a button, and walk out to a hot sauna. They need a 240V line run to the sauna by an electrician. See electric sauna heaters.

Size the heater to the room. An undersized heater struggles outdoors in winter, so when in doubt, go one size up. Browse all options on our sauna heaters page.

Delivery, assembly, and setup

Our built barrel and cabin saunas ship mostly assembled and are craned or rolled into place. Plan the delivery path and the final spot before the truck arrives. DIY kits ship flat and take one weekend and two people to build. Either way, have the base ready first, because that is the one thing that is hard to fix later. For the step-by-step instructions, see outdoor sauna assembly.

Caring for an outdoor sauna

Outdoor cedar saunas are low maintenance. Sweep out debris, wipe the benches, keep the vents clear, and let the room dry after use. Every year or two, check the door seal and the bands, and re-stain the exterior if you chose to stain it. Inside, sand a bench lightly if it gets rough. That is most of it.