Traditional Saunas

How to choose a traditional sauna

A traditional sauna heats stones, and you pour water on them. That is the whole difference from infrared — real steam, higher air temperature, and the sound of water hitting hot rock. What follows is how to pick between the models on this page without discovering something expensive after delivery.

Electric or wood-fired

Where the heater is your choice, this is the fork that changes everything else — siting, foundation, budget and how the sauna actually gets used.

Not sure what your panel can support? Send us a photo of it and we will tell you what is involved before you spend anything.

Barrel or cabin

Mostly a question of how you want it to look, with two practical differences worth knowing.

A barrel has no square corners, so there is less air volume to heat for the same bench space, and it takes up less ground than a cabin of similar capacity. The curved walls also shed rain and snow without help. The trade-off is headroom at the edges and a shape that is either exactly what you want in a garden or exactly what you don’t.

A cabin gives you full standing height throughout, straight walls for longer benches, and — on some models — a covered porch or a glass front that changes the whole feel of the room. It asks for a larger, flatter base.

The materials

Two approaches in this collection, and neither is simply better.

Canadian red cedar is naturally rot-resistant, light, and carries the scent most people associate with saunas. Left alone outdoors it weathers to silver-grey, which does no harm.

Thermally modified timber — SaunaLife’s Thermo-Spruce exterior and Thermo-Aspen benches — has been treated with heat rather than chemicals. That changes the wood itself rather than coating it: more dimensionally stable, so it moves less as a room swings from cold and damp to hot and dry several times a week, and more resistant to decay and fungi. SaunaLife states their Thermo-Spruce lasts twice as long as cedar.

For benches the relevant property is different again. Thermo-Aspen is knot-free and stays cool enough to sit on. A knot in a sauna bench is a hot spot, which you find out about the hard way.

Five things to settle before you order

1. The heater. Included or separate — see the top of this page. If separate, confirm it with us at the same time as the cabin rather than afterwards.

2. What it will stand on. A concrete pad, pavers, a deck rated for the weight, or compacted gravel with a proper frame. Bare soil and grass are not foundations. A cabin that settles unevenly racks its door frame, and a sauna door that no longer closes properly is a sauna that never gets hot.

3. How the delivery reaches you. These arrive by freight, on a pallet, to the curb, and they are heavy. Walk the route before you order: gate widths, steps, slopes, overhanging branches, soft ground. Then work out how the crate gets from the curb to the pad — that is the part people underestimate. Ask and we will quote inside delivery.

4. How many people will really use it. Not how many it seats at a party — how many will be in it on a normal Tuesday. Buying two sizes up is the most common and most expensive mistake in this category.

5. When you need it. Lead times vary by model and each product page states its own. If you have a season, an install date or a contractor booked, tell us at the start and we will be straight with you about whether it is achievable.

Common questions

Does a traditional sauna come with a heater?

It depends on the model. The Blisspod Prague barrels include a 6 kW Toule heater. SaunaLife models ship as the cabin, with the heater purchased separately so you can choose electric or wood-fired and size the output to the room. Every product page states which applies.

What is the difference between a traditional and an infrared sauna?

A traditional sauna heats stones and the air around them, runs hotter, and lets you pour water on the rocks for steam. An infrared sauna uses emitters and runs at a much lower air temperature with no steam. They are different experiences rather than different grades of the same thing.

Do I need an electrician?

For any electric heater, yes. These run on a dedicated circuit rather than a wall outlet, and several manufacturers void the warranty if the connection was not made by a licensed electrician. The requirement is published on each product page before the buy button.

Do I need a permit?

That depends on where you live, the size of the structure and whether it is permanent. Electrical work almost always requires a permit and a licensed electrician. Check with your local building department before ordering — it is a short phone call and it occasionally changes which model is viable.

Can two people assemble one?

Assembly requirements vary by model and are stated on each product page, along with the tools you will need to supply. Tell us which one you are considering and we will confirm the crew size before you order rather than after.

Want one configured to your space instead? Design your own sauna →

These products are intended for general wellness, relaxation and personal recovery routines. They are not medical devices and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and consult a qualified healthcare professional when appropriate.