Wood-Burning Sauna Stoves

Choosing a Wood-Burning Sauna Stove

A wood-burning sauna stove heats the sauna with a real fire and a load of sauna stones. It needs no electrical connection, which makes it popular for cabins, lakeside and off-grid saunas, and many people love the soft heat and crackle of a wood-fired sauna.

Sizing

Wood stoves are rated by heat output in kW and by the sauna volume they can heat. Our Harvia stoves range from about 15.7 kW to 40 kW; larger outputs suit bigger saunas and cold climates. Check the recommended room volume on each product page.

Features to compare

• Exterior feed: models such as the Harvia M3 SL and Pro 20 SL are loaded from outside the hot room, keeping wood, ash and smoke out of the sauna.
• Built-in water tank or cauldron: heats washing water while the sauna warms up (e.g. the WK200 water-tank models and the WP500/WP800 cauldron stoves).
• Stone capacity: more stones store more heat and give softer steam.
• Heat output: compact stoves for small cabins through high-output models for large or frequently used saunas.

Installation and safety

Wood stoves need a chimney or flue kit, the manufacturer's safety clearances to walls and ceilings, and a non-combustible floor or hearth. Local building codes apply, and a professional installation is strongly recommended.

No chimney? Compare our electric sauna heaters, or browse outdoor traditional saunas and barrel saunas to build around.