Heaters that fit this sauna
3 options, from $1,395.00This cabin is about 118 cubic feet. Every heater below is one whose manufacturer-stated room range covers that volume — not our estimate. The heater is a separate purchase on this model.
Electric
Harvia KIP45B Sauna Heater Package | 4.5kW Stainless Steel
Rated 100–210 cu ft
$1,395.00
Electric
Harvia KIP45W Sauna Heater Package | 4.5kW White with CX170
Rated 100–210 cu ft
$2,295.00
Electric
HUUM DROP 4.5kW Sauna Heater Package | Electric with UKU Controller
Rated 106–248 cu ft
$2,795.00
The heater is sold separately. You will want roughly 4.5–6 kW.
This sauna ships as the barrel. The heater is a separate purchase, and that is deliberate — it lets you choose between an electric heater and a wood-fired stove.
Electric means setting a temperature and walking away, and needs a dedicated circuit run to the sauna. Wood-fired needs no electrical supply at all, but does need a flue, proper clearances and somewhere dry to store wood.
The sizing arithmetic is in Sizing your heater below, so you can check it yourself. Call 866-427-8202 if you would rather we confirm it against the manual first.
The SaunaLife ERGO-Series Model E6W is the shortest barrel in the range and the one with a view out the back. The interior is the same 77.2 inches across as the E7 but 51.2 inches deep rather than 63, which makes it the model to look at when the pad you have is smaller than the sauna you wanted.
The panoramic half-moon rear window in tempered glass is the defining feature. Rather than a glass front that the whole neighbourhood can see through, the glazing is behind you — so you get daylight and a view from the bench while the entrance side stays solid timber.
Sizing your heater
| Interior dimensions | 77.2" diameter × 51.2" deep |
|---|---|
| Interior volume | About 118 cubic feet (a barrel, so this is approximate — the flat floor cuts off part of the cylinder) |
| Allowance for glass | A rear window rather than a full glass wall, so a modest allowance |
| Working range | 4.5–6 kW |
The volume is arithmetic on SaunaLife's published interior dimensions. The kW range is ours — it is not SaunaLife's own recommendation, and the installation manual governs. This is the smallest interior in our barrel range, so 4.5 kW is likely to be enough; 6 kW buys you faster heat-up rather than a higher ceiling temperature.
Browse sauna heaters and stoves, or read the heater sizing guide for how the arithmetic works. Call 866-427-8202 and we will confirm the size in writing before you order.
Why the shortest barrel is often the right one
A barrel heats faster than a square cabin of the same volume and holds heat more evenly, because there are no corners for cold air to sit in. Make that barrel shorter and the effect compounds: less air to heat, a smaller heater, a smaller electrical job, a smaller pad, and a crate that fits down a side passage that a full-length barrel will not.
Buying two sizes larger than you need is the most common and most expensive mistake in this category. If the honest answer is that it will be one or two people on a normal evening, this is the model to look at first.
The staves are 1.65-inch Thermo-Spruce, which SaunaLife states lasts up to twice as long as cedar. Thermal treatment is a heat process rather than a chemical one: the wood takes on far less moisture, so it resists decay and moves less through the seasons — and there is nothing chemical in a space you sit in at high heat.
What's in the box
- Full-length Thermo-Spruce staves, 1.65" thick
- Panoramic half-moon rear window in tempered glass
- Contoured Thermo-Aspen benches, 1.1" thick and knot-free — close to 50% thicker than most
- Heavy-duty stainless steel barrel bands, 1-7/8" × 1/8"
- Watertight shingle kit with side-mounted drip edges
- Dual floor drains, one of them under the heater
- Dotless white LED light bar, IP67 rated, with Wi-Fi app and handheld remote
- Bottle of paraffin oil to preserve the interior
- Fastener kit and installation instructions
Specifications
| Model | E6W (ERGO-Series) |
|---|---|
| Barrel material | Thermo-Spruce, 1.65" staves |
| Bench and backrest material | Thermo-Aspen, 1.1", knot-free |
| Glazing | Panoramic half-moon rear window, tempered glass |
| Exterior dimensions | 80.7"W × 59.1"D × 84.6"H |
| Interior dimensions | 77.2" diameter × 51.2" deep (6 ft 5 in interior height) |
| Interior volume | About 118 cubic feet (our arithmetic) |
| Barrel bands | Stainless steel, 1-7/8" wide × 1/8" thick |
| Roof | Watertight shingle kit with side-mounted drip edges |
| Drainage | Dual floor drains |
| Lighting | Dotless white LED, IP67, Wi-Fi app and handheld remote |
| Heater | Sold separately — see sizing above |
| Origin | Designed by SaunaLife, crafted in Northern Europe |
Shipping weight and crate dimensions for this model are not published by SaunaLife at the time of writing. We have asked for them. Call 866-427-8202 before you order if the delivery route is tight and we will get the figures in writing first.
Warranty
SaunaLife provides a limited lifetime warranty on the sauna structure for residential use, to the original retail purchaser. It covers factory-assembled components found defective in workmanship.
Not covered: sauna heaters and added components, normal material wear, natural weathering of the lumber, and the labour or expenses of removing, installing or replacing the sauna. The warranty is void if the sauna is altered, misused, used commercially, or repaired by anyone other than an authorised representative.
How to make a claim: contact us at support@homemedspa.com. We open the claim and manage it with the manufacturer on your behalf.
Delivery
Ships as a kit by freight carrier, delivered curbside, to the 48 contiguous states. The carrier will not bring it into your yard, unpack it, or assemble it.
Freight is quoted for your delivery address before your order is processed. Contact us at support@homemedspa.com or call 866-427-8202 for a quote before you buy, and we will confirm the cost in writing.
Returns
See our Return & Refund Policy. Terms stated on this page govern where they differ from the general policy.
Assembly and site preparation
This sauna ships as a kit and is assembled on site. Prepare a level, load-bearing foundation before delivery — concrete, pavers or a rated deck. Bare soil is not sufficient, and an uneven base will distort the structure over time.
A barrel sits on spruce cradles, which concentrate the load onto a small area rather than spreading it, so a level base matters more on a barrel than on a flat-bottomed cabin, not less.
Currently assembly is not available through us — we recommend hiring a local installer.
Questions people ask before they buy
What size heater does the E6W need?
The interior is 77.2 inches in diameter by 51.2 inches deep, which works out to about 118 cubic feet — the smallest in our barrel range. That puts it at 4.5–6 kW, with a modest allowance for the rear window.
That range is ours, worked from SaunaLife's published dimensions — not their own recommendation — and the installation manual governs. A barrel heats more evenly than a square cabin, so if you are between two sizes this is the shape where the smaller one is most likely to do the job.
How many people does it hold?
SaunaLife does not publish a bather count for this model, so we are not going to invent one. What we can tell you is that the interior is 51.2 inches deep against the E7 at 63 inches, and the E7 is rated for four. Call 866-427-8202 and we will get the manufacturer's figure in writing before you order.
How is this different from the E7 and E7G?
Same diameter, same materials, same 6 ft 5 in interior height. The E6W is shorter — 51.2 inches deep against 63 — so less interior volume, a smaller heater and a smaller footprint. The glazing is a rear window rather than a glass front, which keeps the entrance side solid.
Electric or wood-fired — which should I choose?
Electric if you want to set a temperature and walk away, and you are willing to have an electrician run a dedicated circuit to the barrel. Wood-fired if there is no practical way to get power to that part of the yard, or you want the ritual — but it needs a flue, correct clearances and dry wood storage, and it takes longer to come up to heat.
The kW range above applies to electric. Wood stoves are rated by the room volume they heat rather than by kW, so match the stove to 118 cubic feet.
Can I stand up inside a barrel?
At the centre, yes — interior height is 6 ft 5 in. Headroom drops as you move toward the walls, which is simply how a barrel works. In practice you stand to get in and out and sit for everything else.
Don't barrel saunas leak?
Water management is where cheap barrels fail, which is why this one has several answers to it: a shingle roof kit rather than bare staves, side-mounted drip edges to throw rainwater clear, heavy stainless bands at 1-7/8" by 1/8" to keep the staves tight, and dual floor drains inside so water from the floor actually leaves. Barrel staves also swell slightly in use, which tightens the joints rather than loosening them.
Does it need maintenance?
Thermally treated wood needs much less than untreated softwood, but it is still wood outdoors. A bottle of paraffin oil is included for the interior. Expect the exterior to silver gently over the years if left alone — that is natural weathering, and it is specifically excluded from the warranty.
Do I need a permit?
That depends on your city or county, and often on whether the structure counts as permanent, how close it sits to a property line, and whether you are running a new electrical circuit to it. The electrical work almost always needs a permit even where the structure does not. Check with your local building department before you order — we cannot answer this for your jurisdiction and would be guessing if we tried.
Can I see the installation manual before I buy?
Yes. Email support@homemedspa.com or call 866-427-8202 and we will send it. Read it first and decide the job is within reach — that is a much better place to find out than a Saturday morning with the crate already open.
Sauna heat is not for everyone. If you are pregnant, have a heart condition or low or high blood pressure, or take medication affecting blood pressure or temperature regulation, speak to your doctor before using a sauna. Do not use a sauna after drinking alcohol, and do not sauna alone if you are new to it.
This product is intended for general wellness and relaxation. It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and consult a qualified healthcare professional when appropriate.
