Traditional Saunas

What is a traditional sauna?

A traditional sauna, often called a Finnish or dry sauna, heats the air inside a wooden room with a sauna heater topped with stones. The air gets much hotter than in an infrared sauna, typically around 150-195°F, and you can ladle water over the stones for a burst of steam (löyly) whenever you want more humidity. Models sold as "wet/dry" are built for exactly that; "dry" models are designed to be used mostly without water.

Indoor, outdoor or barrel?

• Indoor traditional saunas are cabin kits for a basement, garage, home gym or large bathroom, from 2-person models from Sunray and Miracle to 4-6 person rooms from Golden Designs and Enlighten.
• Outdoor traditional saunas have a roof and weather-resistant construction for a deck or garden. Enlighten's Moonlight and SunRise ranges come with peak or slope roofs, and Golden Designs offers cabins up to 4-6 people.
• Barrel saunas are round outdoor saunas from Aleko, Dundalk and Golden Designs. The round shape leaves little empty space to heat, and the design is easy to recognize.

How to choose the right traditional sauna

Size

This collection covers 2 to 8 people. Allow about 2 feet of bench per person sitting, and more if you want to lie down. Corner "4C" models from Enlighten fit into a room corner to save floor space.

Heater and power

The heaters in these saunas range from about 3 kW in a small 2-person cabin to 9 kW in 8-person models. Most traditional sauna heaters need a dedicated 240V circuit installed by a licensed electrician, so check the electrical requirements on each product page before you order. For wood-fired heat, see our wood-burning sauna stoves; to replace or upgrade a heater, see electric sauna heaters.

Wood

You'll find cedar (red and white), Canadian hemlock and pine. Cedar is naturally aromatic and resists moisture well, which is why it's common on outdoor and barrel models; hemlock is smooth, low-odor and a popular indoor choice.

Budget

Prices run from about $3,600 for a compact 2-person indoor cabin to around $17,900 for a large outdoor cabin. Barrel saunas mostly sit between about $4,600 and $7,900.

Traditional or infrared?

Choose traditional if you want high heat, steam and the classic sauna feel. Choose infrared if you prefer lower air temperatures and a lower power draw. If you want both, look at hybrid saunas. Our guide to infrared vs traditional saunas compares them in detail.

Brands in this collection

Enlighten, Golden Designs, Aleko, Dundalk, Sunray and Miracle. Use the filters above to narrow by brand, type, capacity or price.