Premium Barrel Saunas

WHY CHOOSE NORTHERN LIGHTS?

100% Clear Western Red Cedar

Cedar has long been the premier sauna wood.  Clear Cedar has no knots ensuring the longevity of our product products

Electric - Wood Fired - Infrared

The most heating choices to build your sauna.  Choose from wood fired, infrared or our surgical stainless steel electric sauna heaters

Best Warranty

Our commitment to quality has been the conrner stone of our success.    Our barrel saunas come complete with a full 5 year warranty.

Customer Support

We have been manufactuing barrel saunas for 25 years.  We are Sauna Enthusiast first and foremost.  Give us a call and let us help discuss all your sauna needs.

Surgical Stainless Steel Heater

100% Surgical Stainless Steel (304 grade) construction, including shell, inner baffles, frame and rock tray.

Dual Height Hand Sanded Cedar Seats

Heat rises making the sauna hotter the higher you are. The two seats are at varying heights to allow for a hotter and cooler seating option.

Stainless Steel Straps

We use 3 x brushed stainless steel straps to prove a solid structure support. Stainless steel is much more expensive but will never rust or oxidize the cedar wood.

Oval Sauna Light

Designed specifically for saunas and steam rooms. Protected with rubber gaskets, these vapor-proof sauna lights feature a powder coated base and shatter proof glass lens.

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NORTHERN LIGHTS BARREL SAUNAS

Northern Lights barrel saunas set the standard to which all other barrel saunas strive for. For over 25 years we have been manufacture the world's best barrel saunas.

• 100% Clear Western Red Cedar

• Stainless Steel Straps

• 7' Diameter

• Dual Seat Height

• 4 Sizes

• 100% Stainless Steel Heaters

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ELECTRIC SAUNA HEATERS

Sauna Heaters

WOOD FIRED SAUNA HEATER

Sauna Heaters

ELECTRIC
OR WOOD FIRED

Our barrel saunas are designed for outdoor use and as such the barrel saunas can be equiped with either and electric or a wood fired saunas heater.   Wood fired saunas generate more heat but the electric sauna heater adds convenience for sauna users.   

SHOP SAUNA HEATERS

CHOOSE FROM
4 SIZES

Our barrel saunas come in 4 size to suit you needs from 6 foot to 12 foot.  We have you covered.  Our barrel saunas are also 7' in diameter which give you much more head room that other 6 foot barrel saunas made by our competitors.

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8' x 8' Barrel Sauna

barrel sauna kits

8' x 8' Barrel Sauna

barrel sauna kits

Premium Barrel Saunas

DIY Pre-Cut Saunas

Sauna Cabins

Value Line Barrel Saunas

Accessories for Saunas

Sauna Heaters

Sauna Hardware

Sauna Showers

Handcrafted Cedar Products

Sauna Apparel - Lifestyles

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FINANCING WITH AFFIRM

Affirm makes it easy buy. Select your payment method term. As low as 0% interest OAC.

LEARN MORE

A premium barrel sauna ships as pre-assembled cedar staves that bolt together on a flat pad — no framing, no roofing, no insulation work. We stock 9 barrels from 6×6 ft (two-person, electric heater, $12,062) up to 12×7 ft with a separate change room ($31,745). The cylindrical shape isn't just aesthetic: it heats faster than a square room of the same volume and sheds rain and snow without a separate roof structure. Built in North America since 2000, every barrel ships with the heater, rocks, and hardware included.

How to choose the right barrel size

Two-to-three person backyard sauna: 6×6 (the most popular size we sell). Family of four with occasional guests: 7×7. Larger groups, or if you want stretched-out bench space: 8×7. The 10×7 with porch adds a covered entry — useful if winters are wet or snowy. The 12×7 with change room is the only barrel that gives you a heated space and a separate cooling-off room — closer to a Finnish bathhouse setup.

One thing to check before ordering: your delivery access. The 12×7 ships disassembled but the largest staves are 7 feet long; you need a path wide enough to walk those through to the install pad.

Electric vs wood-fired heater

Electric (6, 7, and 8 ft barrels): 6kW to 9kW heaters, 240V dedicated circuit. Push-button start, set-and-forget. Best if you're in town with grid power and want a 25-minute warm-up.

Wood-fired (also available on 7 and 8 ft barrels at $500-800 less): a sealed cedar-stove that burns split wood. Takes 45-60 minutes to heat. No electricity needed. The ritual of stoking a fire is part of why people choose this — and it's the only option if your install location doesn't have power. We use cast-iron Harvia heaters; rocks sit on top, water-on-rocks works the same as the electric.

For deep technical reading: infrared vs traditional heater comparison.

Site requirements and pad

Barrel saunas need a level, well-drained pad. Options that work: poured concrete slab (most durable), pea gravel over compacted base (cheapest, drains well), or pressure-treated 4×4 sleepers on gravel. Avoid lawn — moisture from the underside will rot the staves over time. Size the pad about 6 inches wider than the barrel diameter on each side so the cradles sit cleanly.

Setback from property line varies by municipality. Most allow it as an accessory structure under 200 sq ft with no building permit, but the electrical line for an electric heater always needs a permit and a licensed electrician.

What's included in every barrel kit

Pre-milled and pre-numbered western red cedar staves (the curved boards that form the barrel), the end walls with a glass-insert door, two cradles to hold the barrel upright, the heater with rocks, a thermometer, ladle and bucket, vent grilles, all the steel banding hardware, and the assembly guide. You supply the pad and the electrical run (or chimney for wood-fired).

Assembly time and what to expect

Two people, one weekend. Day one: lay the cradles, dry-fit the staves, install the floor and benches. Day two: mount the end walls, install the heater, run the banding straps, hang the door. We've had owners do it solo in three days; we've had pros do it in six hours. The staves are pre-cut to fit, so most of the work is lifting and aligning, not measuring.

Materials and longevity

All our premium barrels use clear-grade western red cedar — the same wood used in the higher-end Finnish saunas. Clear cedar (no knots) costs more than knotty but holds up better long-term: knots can release sap when the wood heats repeatedly. Expect 25-30 years of outdoor service in most climates, longer if the pad drains well and the barrel gets a light bench-oiling every other year.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a barrel sauna take to heat up?
Electric, 25-35 minutes to 170°F. Wood-fired, 45-60 minutes depending on outside temperature and wood dryness.

Can a barrel sauna sit on grass or do I need a foundation?
You need a foundation — gravel, concrete, or pressure-treated sleepers. Sitting directly on grass traps moisture against the staves and rots the underside within a few years.

Does the barrel sauna come with a heater?
Yes, every premium barrel ships with the heater sized for that room — 6kW for 6 ft barrels, up to 9kW for the larger sizes. Wood-fired versions ship with a Harvia cast-iron stove.

What's the difference between premium and Value Line barrels?
Premium uses clear-grade cedar (no knots) and includes a Homecraft heater. Value Line uses knotty cedar and a slightly more basic heater. Same construction quality, just different finish grade and trim.

How much does it cost to run a barrel sauna per session?
Electric 6kW running for a 45-minute session at $0.15/kWh costs about $0.70. Wood-fired costs about $1-2 of firewood per session. Both are cheaper than a long shower.

Do you ship across the US and Canada?
Yes, we ship freight to both. Delivery is to the curb; you arrange to move it to the pad. Typical lead time is 4-8 weeks from order.