Outdoor Saunas — Every Shape, Heater & Wood Type

An outdoor sauna turns your backyard into a year-round wellness retreat. We carry outdoor saunas in every major style — barrel, cabin, cube, and pod — from brands like Dundalk Leisurecraft, SaunaLife, Auroom, Golden Designs, and True North Saunas. Choose between electric, wood-fired, and gas-powered heating. Every outdoor sauna ships free with 0% APR financing available.

Not sure where to start? Our Sauna Selector Tool gives a personalized recommendation in under 60 seconds, or browse our best outdoor saunas by budget guide for curated picks at every price point.

Shop by Shape

Barrel Saunas — The most popular outdoor sauna shape. The cylindrical design heats up faster than a square room, circulates air more evenly, and sheds rain and snow without a separate roof. Barrel saunas are also the easiest to assemble — most kits go together in a day with basic tools. Available in cedar and thermowood from Dundalk, SaunaLife, Golden Designs, and True North. Read our barrel vs. square vs. pod comparison.

Cabin Saunas — Traditional rectangular structures with flat walls, a peaked or flat roof, and full standing headroom throughout. Cabin saunas offer the most interior space per footprint, the easiest layout for multi-bench configurations, and flat walls for mounting heaters, accessories, and shelving. They look like a small outbuilding and work well as a permanent backyard structure. Dundalk and SaunaLife both offer cabin-style kits.

Cube Saunas — A modern take on the cabin style with clean lines, large glass panels, and a minimalist aesthetic. Cube saunas are designed to look like contemporary architecture rather than a rustic outbuilding. Popular with homeowners who want a design statement in their backyard. Auroom specializes in this style.

Pod Saunas — A rounded shape similar to a barrel but with a flat floor, giving you the even heat distribution of a barrel with the flat bench seating of a cabin. Pods are a good middle ground if you like the look of a barrel but want more usable interior space.

Modern / Luxury Saunas — Premium outdoor saunas with architectural glass, designer wood finishes, and high-end build quality. Brands like Auroom create saunas that look like they belong in a luxury resort. These are the top end of the market for homeowners who want the best.

Shop by Heater Type

Electric sauna heaters — The most common choice for residential outdoor saunas. Wall-mounted electric heaters offer precise temperature control, WiFi app preheating (on models from Harvia, HUUM, and Saunum), and low maintenance. Requires a 240V dedicated circuit run from your breaker panel. Use our heater sizing calculator to find the right kW rating for your sauna's cubic footage.

Wood-burning stoves — The traditional off-grid option. No electricity needed — just wood, a match, and a chimney kit. Wood-fired saunas produce a dry, aromatic heat with the ritual of building and tending a fire. Popular for lakeside properties, cabins, and anyone who wants an authentic Finnish sauna experience without electrical hookup. See our wood-burning heater guide and wood stove sizing calculator.

Gas-powered heaters — A less common but efficient option for outdoor saunas. Gas heaters heat up fast and cost less to operate than electric in areas with low natural gas prices. Requires a gas line and proper venting.

Hybrid (traditional + infrared) — Outdoor hybrid saunas combine a traditional rock heater with infrared panels, giving you the option to use either heating method or both simultaneously.

Wood Types for Outdoor Saunas

Western Red Cedar — The most popular wood for outdoor saunas. Naturally resistant to rot, insects, and moisture. Cedar develops a silvery-gray patina if left untreated, or you can maintain its original color with an exterior sauna stain. Aromatic, lightweight, and a natural insulator.

Thermowood — Heat-treated timber (typically spruce or aspen) that's been processed at extreme temperatures to make it dimensionally stable, rot-resistant, and less prone to warping. Thermowood has a rich, dark brown tone and a modern aesthetic. It doesn't need staining to maintain its color but will also silver over time if untreated. Popular species include thermo-spruce and thermo-aspen. Learn more on our sauna wood types page.

Nordic Spruce & Pine — Traditional Scandinavian sauna woods. Less naturally rot-resistant than cedar, so outdoor installations benefit from a protective finish and good drainage. More affordable than cedar or thermowood.

Planning Your Outdoor Sauna

Foundation — Every outdoor sauna needs a level, well-drained base. The most common options are a gravel pad, concrete pavers, a level deck, or a poured concrete slab. Barrel saunas sit on support cradles; cabin and cube saunas sit on a flat surface or pier blocks. Read our complete outdoor sauna foundation guide for material comparisons, drainage tips, and step-by-step instructions.

Electrical — Electric heaters require a dedicated 240V circuit run from your breaker panel to the sauna location. This must be done by a licensed electrician and meet local electrical codes. Wood-fired and gas saunas don't need electrical hookup for the heater itself, though you may want a circuit for interior lighting. See our electrical requirements guide and electrician directory.

Permits & HOA — Whether you need a building permit depends on your local jurisdiction and the sauna's size and placement. Some areas treat freestanding outdoor saunas as accessory structures subject to setback requirements. If you're in an HOA, check your covenants before purchasing — our HOA rules for outdoor saunas guide has tips for getting approval. Also see our general permit guide.

Staining & weather protection — Cedar and untreated wood will naturally gray over time with UV exposure. An exterior sauna stain preserves the original wood color and adds an extra layer of moisture protection. Our should you stain your outdoor sauna guide covers product recommendations, application steps, and maintenance schedules. You may also want a waterproof sauna cover for extended protection during off-season.

Cold climate considerations — Outdoor saunas work year-round, even in harsh winters. The key is proper heater sizing (size up slightly for cold climates), good insulation, and wind protection. Our best outdoor saunas for snowy climates guide and winterizing guide cover everything you need to know for Minnesota, Michigan, Maine, and anywhere else it gets below zero.

DIY Outdoor Sauna Kits

If you want to build your own outdoor sauna from scratch, our DIY outdoor sauna kits include pre-cut wood, hardware, heaters, and everything you need. We also sell components individually — sauna wood, electric heaters, wood stoves, doors, insulation, and accessories — for fully custom builds. Use our free layout designs and wood calculator to plan your project.

Outdoor Sauna Brands We Carry

Dundalk Leisurecraft — Canadian-made outdoor saunas in barrel, cabin, and pod styles. Western red cedar and thermowood construction. Dundalk is one of the most established outdoor sauna brands in North America with options from 2-person barrels to large 8-person cabins with changing rooms.

SaunaLife — Modern Scandinavian-designed outdoor saunas with thermowood construction and large glass elements. SaunaLife offers barrel, cabin, and cube-style models with a clean, contemporary aesthetic.

Auroom — Premium Estonian-made saunas with a focus on architectural design. Auroom's outdoor models feature panoramic glass walls, high-end thermowood, and a minimalist Nordic aesthetic. The luxury end of the market.

Golden Designs — Outdoor barrel and cabin saunas in Canadian red cedar at competitive price points. A solid option for budget-conscious buyers who want quality cedar construction.

True North Saunas — Built for harsh Canadian winters with thicker staves and heavy-duty hardware. A good pick for cold-climate installations where durability matters most.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an outdoor sauna cost?

Outdoor saunas range from roughly $3,000–$5,000 for a compact 2-person barrel or entry-level cabin kit, $5,000–$10,000 for mid-range 4-person models with quality heaters, and $10,000–$25,000+ for premium brands, large capacity units, and luxury designs. Add $500–$2,000 for foundation, electrical, and any site prep. Our outdoor saunas by budget guide has specific picks at each price tier.

What foundation does an outdoor sauna need?

A level, well-drained surface. The most popular option is a 4–6 inch gravel pad, which is affordable and provides excellent drainage. Concrete pavers, a level deck, or a poured slab also work. Barrel saunas sit on cradles (included); cabin-style saunas sit flat on the surface or on pier blocks. The key is ensuring water drains away from the sauna. Full details in our foundation guide.

Can I use an outdoor sauna in winter?

Absolutely — winter is when many sauna owners use theirs most. A properly sized heater will maintain 150–195°F even in sub-zero weather. You may need to run the heater 10–15 minutes longer to reach temperature in extreme cold. Thicker-walled models and barrel saunas handle cold climates particularly well due to their insulating mass and efficient air volume. See our cold climate guide and winterizing tips.

Do I need a permit for an outdoor sauna?

It depends on your local building codes. Many jurisdictions treat freestanding outdoor saunas as accessory structures, which may require a permit if they exceed a certain square footage or are within setback distances from property lines. Wood-fired saunas with chimneys may have additional requirements. Always check with your local building department before installation. See our permit guide and HOA guide.

Should I stain my outdoor sauna?

It's optional but recommended. Cedar and thermowood are naturally weather-resistant, so your sauna will last years without staining. However, all untreated wood grays over time with UV exposure. An exterior sauna stain preserves the original wood color and adds extra moisture protection. Our staining guide covers product recommendations, timing, and step-by-step application.

Electric vs. wood-fired — which is better for an outdoor sauna?

Electric is better if you want convenience — precise temperature control, WiFi preheating, and no fire to manage. Wood-fired is better if you want the traditional experience, don't have 240V electrical access at your sauna location, or want to go fully off-grid. Both heat the sauna to the same temperatures. Many outdoor sauna kits can accommodate either heater type, so you're not locked in by the structure. Browse electric heaters and wood-burning stoves.

Learn More

Our Sauna Learning Center has extensive outdoor sauna content including our foundation guide, staining guide, cold climate guide, winterizing tips, and barrel assembly walkthrough. Questions? Call or text us at (360) 233-2867.

Shop more: Indoor Saunas · Barrel Saunas · Cabin Saunas · Cube Saunas · Pod Saunas · DIY Kits · Sauna Heaters · Cold Plunges