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Wood sauna doors are the traditional choice for sauna builds and the best option when heat retention is a priority. Cedar is naturally moisture-resistant, rot-resistant, and dimensionally stable in the extreme heat and humidity of a sauna environment — it won't warp, swell, or degrade the way standard construction lumber would. Our insulated cedar doors are available with or without glass window inserts and ship as complete kits with frames, hinges, handles, and latch hardware. Free shipping on every order.
Looking for a full glass door instead? See our tempered glass sauna doors, or browse all sauna doors to compare. For a full breakdown of materials, sizing, and installation, read our comprehensive sauna door guide.
Cedar is the gold standard for sauna doors (and sauna construction in general) for several reasons. It has natural resistance to moisture, decay, and insect damage — critical in the wet, high-heat sauna environment. Cedar is a low-density softwood with natural air pockets that make it an excellent thermal insulator, meaning it holds heat inside the sauna better than denser woods or glass. It stays relatively cool to the touch even at high temperatures, so door handles and frames won't burn your hand. And it has a warm, aromatic scent that adds to the sauna experience.
All of our wood sauna doors use Western Red Cedar, the most widely used cedar species in sauna construction. If you're building your entire sauna room from scratch, we carry cedar wall cladding, bench stock, and trim to match your door.
Solid cedar doors (no glass) — Maximum insulation and privacy. The entire door panel is insulated cedar, providing the best thermal performance of any sauna door option. Ideal for outdoor saunas in cold climates, off-grid builds, and installations where you want to minimize heat loss. Also the right choice if privacy matters — no line of sight into or out of the sauna.
Cedar doors with glass insert — The most versatile option. You get the insulation benefits of a wood door with a tempered glass window that lets natural light in and provides visibility. The glass insert is smaller than a full glass door, so heat loss is much less significant than with an all-glass door. This is the best middle-ground choice for most residential builds — good insulation, good aesthetics, good safety visibility.
Outdoor and cold-climate builds — If your sauna is outdoors and you're heating it in winter conditions (well below freezing), an insulated cedar door holds significantly more heat than a full glass door. This means faster heat-up times and less work for your heater to maintain temperature.
Off-grid and wood-fired saunas — In a wood-fired sauna where you can't precisely control heater output, every bit of insulation matters. A wood door helps your stove's heat go further. See our off-grid sauna guide.
Traditional Finnish aesthetic — If you're building a traditional-style sauna with wood-paneled walls and a classic look, a cedar door matches the interior seamlessly. Barrel saunas and cabin saunas pair naturally with wood doors.
Small heater situations — If your heater is sized at the low end of the range for your room, the better insulation of a wood door helps it reach and maintain target temperatures. Use our heater sizing calculator to check that your heater is adequate for your room and door type.
Sauna doors are typically shorter and narrower than standard household doors. The most common size is approximately 24" × 72", though dimensions vary by model. The shorter height is intentional — it traps hot air at ceiling level where it's needed, reducing heat loss every time the door opens.
Every wood sauna door ships as a complete kit: insulated cedar door panel, matching cedar frame, heavy-duty hinges rated for sauna conditions, interior and exterior handles, and a magnetic or mechanical latch. No additional hardware needed. Check individual product listings for exact rough opening dimensions before framing your doorway.
Wood sauna doors should swing outward — this is a safety requirement so the door can't be blocked if someone becomes dizzy or faints inside. Most building codes mandate outward-swinging sauna doors. Our doors are designed for outward-swing installation.
Leave appropriate clearance at the bottom of the door for fresh air intake. Saunas need air circulation for proper convection — hot air rises, cooler air enters at floor level. Your heater manufacturer's manual will specify the recommended ventilation setup.
Cedar does expand and contract slightly with moisture changes, though far less than most other wood species. Allow the door and frame to acclimate to the installation environment for 24–48 hours before final fitting. Our sauna door guide covers full installation details, and our A–Z Custom Sauna Room Guide walks through the complete build process.
No. Standard interior doors are made from materials (MDF, pine, composite) that will warp, swell, delaminate, or rot in sauna conditions. Sauna doors are built from heat-stable, moisture-resistant wood (cedar) with hardware rated for high temperatures. Always use a purpose-built sauna door.
An insulated cedar door has significantly higher R-value (thermal resistance) than a tempered glass panel. In real-world terms, this means less heat escaping through the door, faster heat-up times, and easier temperature maintenance. The difference is most noticeable in outdoor and cold-climate builds. For indoor saunas in climate-controlled spaces, the practical difference is smaller.
A glass insert is the most popular choice because it balances insulation with natural light and safety visibility. Go solid wood only if maximum heat retention is your top priority (cold-climate outdoor builds) or if you want complete privacy. The insert is a relatively small area of glass, so the insulation penalty is minimal compared to a full glass door.
Western Red Cedar — the industry standard for sauna construction. It's naturally resistant to moisture, rot, and insects, has excellent thermal insulation properties, stays cool to the touch, and smells wonderful. If you're building your walls and benches from cedar too, the door will match. Browse our cedar sauna wood for wall cladding, bench stock, and trim.
Inside the sauna, cedar should generally be left unfinished — sealants and finishes can off-gas at sauna temperatures and alter the wood's natural ability to breathe and regulate moisture. The exterior side of the door (outside the sauna) can be finished if desired for aesthetic reasons. If you want a natural wood treatment, see our interior sauna wood finish options designed specifically for sauna temperatures.
Our comprehensive sauna door guide covers everything about choosing, sizing, and installing sauna doors. For full build planning, see our A–Z Custom Sauna Room Guide. Questions? Call or text us at (360) 233-2867.
Shop more: Glass Sauna Doors · All Sauna Doors · Sauna Windows & Glass Walls · Cedar Sauna Wood · All Sauna Wood · Sauna Benches · All Sauna Parts
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