The best outdoor sauna is the one that fits your yard, your power supply and the kind of heat you like. Our outdoor saunas fall into three styles: barrel saunas, traditional cabins and outdoor infrared saunas. This guide compares them and shows what to check before you order.
Quick Answer: Which Type Should You Choose?
Hot, steamy, classic sauna: a barrel sauna or an outdoor traditional cabin.
Gentler heat, faster warm-up: an outdoor infrared sauna.
Smallest footprint: a 2 person barrel or infrared model.
Biggest group: cabins and barrels listed for 5 to 8 people.
Not sure about the heat style? Read infrared vs traditional saunas first.
Barrel Saunas
Barrels are round, with curved wooden staves held by steel bands. They are popular outdoors for their compact shape and traditional heat. In our range they are listed for 2 to 8 people from Golden Designs, Dundalk CTC and Aleko, in cedar or pine, with electric heaters of 4.5 to 9 kW where stated in the title. Full details are in our barrel sauna buying guide.
Outdoor Traditional Cabins
Cabins are rectangular, with more headroom and room to stretch out. The range includes Golden Designs models for 2 to 6 people (such as the Narvik, Drammen and Kaarina), Enlighten SunRise and Moonlight dry traditional saunas for 2 to 5 people, and Aleko cabins for 4, 5 and 8 people in cedar or hemlock. Browse them all under outdoor traditional saunas or by brand: Golden Designs, Enlighten and Aleko.
Outdoor Infrared Saunas
Infrared saunas warm you with infrared heaters rather than heating the air to sauna temperatures, so they run cooler and warm up faster. Our outdoor infrared models include Sunray hemlock saunas for 2 to 4 people and Enlighten Rustic and Sierra models for 2 to 5 people, many marked low EMF (see low EMF infrared saunas). Check each product page for the exact heater count and specifications.
How to Choose
Size: capacity is in the product name. People seated close together is the usual basis, so go one size up if you like space. See what size sauna you need.
Wood: cedar is the traditional outdoor choice for its resistance to decay; hemlock and pine are also used. Compare them in best wood for a sauna.
Heater: traditional models list the heater in kW; infrared models list the number of heaters. For target temperatures see how hot a sauna should be.
Climate: outdoor saunas can be used in cold weather, but expect a longer heat-up time and keep the roof, door seal and exterior wood maintained.
What Outdoor Saunas Cost
From our catalog, using the current sale price where one applies (read 2026-10-25): outdoor infrared from about $3,790 to $9,761, barrel saunas from about $3,869 to $6,999 and outdoor traditional saunas from about $5,219. Prices change, so confirm on the product page, and add foundation and electrical work. Our home sauna cost guide covers the full budget.
Preparing Your Yard
Base: a level, well-drained concrete pad, pavers or a solid deck. Check the weight and footprint on the product page.
Power: most outdoor saunas need a dedicated 240V circuit connected by a licensed electrician; check the product page for the amperage.
Permits: rules vary by city and county, so ask your building department about permits and setbacks.
Placement: think about the walk from the house, privacy and drainage. More in where to place a sauna.
Add a Cold Plunge?
Many owners pair an outdoor sauna with a cold plunge. See cold plunge before or after sauna and our cold plunge tubs.
