Homecraft Sauna Heaters Review: Revive vs Apex vs Apex Mini (2026)

Homecraft isn't the first name most people search for when they shop for a sauna heater. HUUM and Harvia get most of the attention. But if you've priced out a tower-style heater with a big rock load and found yourself wincing, Homecraft deserves a serious look. Its three floor-standing towers, the Revive, the Apex Mini and the Apex, cover everything from a 200 cu ft home sauna up to a large residential or light-commercial room.

This review covers the specs that actually matter: what each model costs, how big a room it heats, what your electrician needs to know, what you'll have to buy separately, and where each one fits. All specs come from Homecraft's own product pages and installation manuals, and prices are what we list them for at time of writing (October 2026).

Who Is Homecraft?

Homecraft Saunas is a Canadian manufacturer based in Surrey, British Columbia. It was established in 1988 and describes itself as a multi-generational family company. Homecraft designs and builds electric sauna heaters and controls for North American homes and commercial spaces, and its heaters are made in British Columbia.

A few things worth knowing up front:

• Certified for North America. The Revive and Apex are ETL listed and certified to UL 875 and CSA C22.2 #164. The Apex Mini is listed as CSA/UL approved. This matters to inspectors and, often, to your home insurer.
• Stainless steel construction. All three towers use stainless steel bodies with what Homecraft calls a protected heating element chamber, which keeps the elements shielded inside the rock mass.
• Separate controls. None of these heaters has built-in knobs. Every Homecraft heater runs from an external contactor box plus a wall-mounted touchpad (more on that below).
• Warranty. Homecraft backs its heaters with a 2-year manufacturer warranty.

Homecraft also makes the wall-mounted H-Series and the narrow Revive Slim (4-6 kW for smaller rooms). We carry both, but this review focuses on the three towers. You can see the full lineup in our Homecraft collection.

Revive vs Apex Mini vs Apex: Side-by-Side

Spec	Revive	Apex Mini	Apex
kW options	6 / 7.5 / 9	6 / 7.5 / 9	10 / 12 / 15 (plus 18 kW, 208V 3-phase only)
Room size	200-450 cu ft	200-450 cu ft	400-900 cu ft (up to 1,200 with 18 kW)
Voltage	240V 1-phase or 208V 3-phase	240V 1-phase or 208V 3-phase	10 kW: 240V only; 12/15 kW: 240V or 208V 3-phase; 18 kW: 208V 3-phase
Breaker (240V)	40A / 40A / 50A	40A / 40A / 50A	60A / 70A / 80A
Stone capacity	About 200 lbs (7 boxes)	About 100 lbs (5 boxes)	About 310 lbs (10 boxes)
Dimensions	14" W x 14" D x 36" H	14" x 32" H	18" diameter x 36" H
Heater weight (no stones)	46 lbs	35 lbs	55 lbs
Clearance to combustibles	3.5"	3.5"	5.5"
Controls	External contactor box + Regular or WiFi touchpad (sold separately or in a package)
Heater only	About $1,880-$1,960	About $2,020-$2,100	About $2,450-$3,500
Complete package	About $2,880-$3,330	About $2,920-$3,370	About $3,600-$5,120
Warranty	2-year manufacturer warranty

Prices are our listed prices at time of writing (October 2026) and can change. "Complete package" includes the heater, a matched contactor box, a Regular or WiFi touchpad, and the right number of boxes of olivine stones.

Homecraft Revive: The Steam-Lover's Tower

The Homecraft Revive is a square stainless steel tower that holds about 200 lbs of rock. That's a lot of stone for a 6-9 kW heater, and it's the main reason to choose the Revive. More rock mass means you can pour more water without the heater "running out" of steam, so you get softer, longer-lasting löyly between heat cycles.

Revive specs by size

• 6 kW: 200-325 cu ft, 40A breaker at 240V (30A at 208V 3-phase)
• 7.5 kW: 250-370 cu ft, 40A breaker at 240V (30A at 208V 3-phase)
• 9 kW: 325-450 cu ft, 50A breaker at 240V (40A at 208V 3-phase)
• 14" W x 14" D x 36" H, 46 lbs without stones
• 3.5" clearance to combustibles

Who the Revive is best for

Home saunas in the 200-450 cu ft range, including most 4-6 person indoor rooms and many barrel and cabin saunas, where the owner wants a humid, wet-sauna style session and plenty of water on the rocks. It's also the lowest-priced of the three towers.

Homecraft Apex Mini: Compact Tower, Same Power Range

The Homecraft Apex Mini takes the Apex's look and packs it into a 14" x 32" floor-standing tower. It covers the same 6/7.5/9 kW range and the same room sizes as the Revive, but it holds about half the rock (around 100 lbs) and weighs just 35 lbs empty.

Apex Mini specs by size

• 6 kW: 200-325 cu ft, 40A breaker at 240V
• 7.5 kW: 250-370 cu ft, 40A breaker at 240V
• 9 kW: 325-450 cu ft, 50A breaker at 240V
• 14" x 32" H, 35 lbs without stones
• 3.5" clearance to combustibles

Revive or Apex Mini?

Same power, same room sizes, so the choice comes down to two things:

• Rock mass and steam. The Revive holds roughly twice the stone. If you pour a lot of water, the Revive is the better tool.
• Height and style. The Apex Mini is 4" shorter and has the Apex family look. In a room with a low upper bench, or where you want the heater to sit lower on the wall, that shorter profile can help. Less stone also means a bit less mass to heat up.

The Apex Mini costs about $135-$150 more than the Revive at the same kW, so if you have no strong preference on looks, the Revive gives you more rock for less money.

Homecraft Apex: The Big-Room Heater

The Homecraft Apex is the flagship: an 18" diameter, 36" tall stainless cylinder that holds about 310 lbs of stone. It starts where the Revive and Apex Mini stop and is built for large residential rooms and light-commercial use.

Apex specs by size

• 10 kW (240V only): 400-625 cu ft, 60A breaker, #6 copper wire
• 12 kW: 425-700 cu ft, 70A breaker at 240V or 50A at 208V 3-phase, #4 copper wire
• 15 kW: 550-900 cu ft, 80A breaker at 240V or 60A at 208V 3-phase, #4 copper wire
• 18 kW (208V 3-phase only): 690-1,200 cu ft, 70A breaker, #4 copper wire
• 18" diameter x 36" H, 55 lbs without stones
• 5.5" clearance to combustibles

Who the Apex is best for

Big outdoor cabin saunas, rooms with high ceilings or lots of glass, and anyone building a sauna for a gym, rental or multi-family property. The 10 kW is the sweet spot for most large home builds because it stays on a 60A, 240V circuit. The 12 and 15 kW models need much bigger circuits at 240V (70A and 80A), and the 18 kW only comes in 208V 3-phase, which most homes don't have.

Sizing: Which kW Do You Need?

Homecraft's room ranges above are a good starting point, but cubic feet isn't the whole story. Glass doors and windows, uninsulated log or barrel walls, outdoor installations in cold climates, and tall ceilings all add heat load. In those rooms, choose the upper end of the range or step up a size.

A quick rule of thumb:

1. Multiply length x width x height in feet to get cubic feet.
2. Add extra for glass and for log, barrel or uninsulated walls.
3. Pick the size whose range comfortably covers your adjusted number, not one where you sit at the very top.

Our sauna heater kW calculator does the math for you, including adjustments for glass and wall type. For a deeper explanation, see our sauna heater sizing chart and calculator guide.

Installation and Electrical Notes

All Homecraft tower heaters are hardwired. None of them plugs into a wall outlet, and all of them need a licensed electrician. Here's what to plan for:

• A dedicated 240V circuit (or 208V 3-phase for commercial buildings) sized to the heater. Nominal draw at 240V is about 25A for 6 kW, 31A for 7.5 kW, 37.5A for 9 kW, 42A for 10 kW, 50A for 12 kW and 62.5A for 15 kW.
• Wire gauge. Plan for #8 copper for the 6-9 kW models, #6 copper for the 10 kW Apex and #4 copper for the 12-18 kW Apex. Your electrician will confirm based on run length and local code.
• A contactor box wired between your panel and the heater. This is where the heavy current is switched.
• A low-voltage touchpad mounted on the wall, wired to the contactor.
• Clearances. Keep 3.5" to combustibles for the Revive and Apex Mini and 5.5" for the Apex. Homecraft's manual also calls for a minimum of 48" from the Apex to the ceiling.
• 208V vs 240V. If you're in a condo, apartment or commercial building, check which you have. A heater rated for 240V puts out noticeably less heat on 208V, which is why Homecraft offers dedicated 208V 3-phase versions. Our guide to 240V vs 208V sauna wiring explains the difference.

For breaker sizing, wire gauge and permits in more depth, read our complete sauna electrical requirements guide. If your panel is already full, our article on sauna subpanel installation is worth sharing with your electrician. Need help finding one? Our installation help page connects you with our assembly partner network and electrician database.

What You Need to Buy Separately

This is the most common surprise with Homecraft. The heater-only listings include the heater and manual. That's it. To make it work, you also need:

• A contactor box (Homecraft contactor box, about $300-$530 for standard indoor and outdoor models). The TKE2-2 covers 240V heaters up to 10 kW; the TKE2-3 covers 208V 3-phase up to 15 kW; the TKE3 covers 12-18 kW at 240V and 18 kW at 208V. Weatherproof outdoor versions are available for barrel and outdoor saunas. There are also TKE24D models with a built-in 24-hour timer for scheduled start times.
• A touchpad control (Homecraft touchpad): the Regular touchpad (about $350) handles on/off, temperature and timer. The WiFi touchpad (about $590) adds remote control from a phone app, so you can preheat on your way home.
• Sauna stones (Homecraft olivine stones, about $50 per box). Plan on 7 boxes for the Revive, 5 for the Apex Mini and 10 for the Apex.

Buying those three items separately for a Revive or Apex Mini adds roughly $900-$1,000 with the Regular touchpad, or more with WiFi. That's why we usually point people to the packages, which match the correct contactor to your wattage and voltage automatically:

• Revive package
• Apex Mini package
• Apex package

How Homecraft Compares to HUUM and Harvia

We sell all three brands, and each has a place. In general terms, here's where Homecraft fits:

• Price. Harvia covers the widest range, from budget wall-mount heaters like the KIP (starting around $950) up to premium towers. HUUM sits toward the design-forward premium end, with heaters like the DROP starting around $1,330 and larger rock-heavy models like the HIVE running about $2,850-$3,360. Homecraft's towers land in the middle: the Revive starts around $1,880 for a 200 lb stone capacity, and the Apex starts around $2,450 for a 10 kW big-room heater.
• Controls. Like most HUUM heaters and many Harvia models, Homecraft uses an external controller. Harvia also offers several heaters with built-in knob controls, which Homecraft doesn't. If you want to skip a wall control entirely, Homecraft isn't the right fit.
• Style. HUUM's heaters are known for distinctive Nordic design, while Harvia offers everything from simple boxes to statement towers. Homecraft's towers are clean, modern stainless steel without a lot of decoration.
• Origin. HUUM is Estonian and Harvia is Finnish. Homecraft is made in British Columbia, which some North American buyers like.

For a closer look at the two bigger brands, read our HUUM vs Harvia comparison and our roundup of the best electric sauna heaters.

Pros and Honest Limitations

Pros

• Lots of rock for the money, especially the Revive (about 200 lbs) and Apex (about 310 lbs)
• Stainless steel construction with protected heating elements
• 240V single-phase and 208V 3-phase versions for most sizes
• ETL/CSA/UL certifications for North American inspection
• Made in Canada by a manufacturer that has been around since 1988
• Complete packages take the guesswork out of matching contactors
• Optional WiFi touchpad for app control

Honest limitations

• No built-in controls. Every model needs a contactor box and touchpad, which adds cost and an extra install step.
• 2-year warranty. Read the warranty terms in the manual so you know exactly what's covered.
• Floor-standing only. These towers need floor space. If you want a wall-hung heater, look at the Homecraft H-Series or other brands.
• Big Apex sizes need big circuits. The 12 and 15 kW models need 70A and 80A breakers at 240V, and the 18 kW is 208V 3-phase only.

Who Each Model Is Best For

• Revive: 200-450 cu ft home saunas where you want maximum steam and the best value per pound of rock.
• Apex Mini: The same room sizes, for buyers who want the Apex look in a shorter, lighter tower and don't need as much rock.
• Apex: 400 cu ft and up, including large outdoor cabins, glass-heavy rooms and light-commercial saunas. The 10 kW is the easiest residential install.

FAQ

Do Homecraft heaters come with controls?

No. Heater-only listings include just the heater and manual. You need a Homecraft contactor box and a touchpad control, or you can buy a package that includes both plus stones.

Can I plug a Homecraft heater into a regular outlet?

No. The Revive, Apex Mini and Apex are hardwired 240V (or 208V 3-phase) heaters that need a dedicated circuit installed by a licensed electrician.

Do Homecraft heaters have WiFi?

The heaters themselves don't, but Homecraft's WiFi touchpad adds remote control from your phone. It's available on its own or as an option in every heater package.

Which Apex size should I choose for a home sauna?

For most large home saunas, the 10 kW (400-625 cu ft) is the practical choice because it runs on a 60A, 240V circuit. Go to 12 or 15 kW only if your room needs it and your electrical service can support a 70A or 80A circuit.

Can I use Homecraft heaters in an outdoor or barrel sauna?

Yes, as long as the room size fits the heater and clearances are met. Homecraft makes weatherproof outdoor contactor boxes for exposed or damp locations, and the packages let you choose indoor or outdoor.

Verdict

Homecraft's towers are a strong middle-ground choice: certified, stainless, made in Canada, with more stone capacity than you usually get at this price. The Revive is the value pick and the one we'd steer most steam lovers toward for a typical home sauna. The Apex Mini makes sense if you prefer its shorter profile and styling. The Apex is a capable big-room heater, and the 10 kW model is the easiest one to wire in a house.

The main trade-off is that you'll need a separate contactor and touchpad, so budget for the complete package rather than the bare heater.

Not sure which size fits your room or your panel? Call or text our sauna experts at 360-233-2867, use the live chat, or email info@havenofheat.com. We're available Mon-Fri 6am-9pm PT and Sat-Sun 7am-3pm PT. You can also browse the full Homecraft collection. Financing is available through Shop Pay Installments, and most contiguous U.S. orders ship free.