Barrel Saunas
Barrel Saunas
At Select Saunas, we're proud to offer an extensive collection of barrel saunas from the best brands in the sauna world, such as Almost Heaven Saunas, Dundalk Leisurecraft, SaunaLife, and more. The barrel saunas we offer are of the highest quality and come in a variety of different locally sourced wood types such as hemlock, red cedar, spruce, and various thermally modified lumbers. Within our wide range of sizes and modifications, you're bound to find the barrel sauna to perfectly fit your space. Browse our selection and choose the perfect barrel sauna for your home. Show more
Frequently asked questions about Barrel Saunas
Having your very own backyard barrel sauna will make it easy to step out and enjoy a sauna session anytime you'd like. Here are the main reasons you need one.
- Massive health benefits.
- Charming and valuable addition to your backyard/home.
- Great heat distribution due to the round shape - provides comfortable, even heat.
- Quick and easy to assemble, disassemble and transport. Assembly generally takes 2-6 hours depending on handyman skills.
- You also don't need any building permits in most cases. Always double-check your city/state laws to make sure.
Our barrel saunas are very easy to assemble and can generally be built by two people in only a few hours. All our barrel saunas come with sections partially assembled (such as walls and windows), so you just need to fit the staves and individual parts in place.
Typically, barrel saunas will heat to 165°F in 15–30 minutes and to 190°F in less than 45 minutes. Our heaters offer a standard heat up time of 45-60 minutes and will reach 170°-185°F+.
However, the time it takes the barrel sauna to heat up depends on the heater size and type, as well as the temperature surrounding the sauna. For example, if you have an outdoor barrel sauna and you live in a northern climate and it’s the middle of winter, give your sauna a little more time to heat up. If you live in the mountains the thinner air will cause the heater to take slightly longer to heat up. Furthermore, some people like their sauna hot and some like it blazing - that’s a factor that will influence heat-up time too.
Yes. Barrel saunas can weigh around 500-1000 lbs and need to be placed on a hard surface, and not directly on grass or dirt because they will sink in over time.
Make sure the surface is somewhat level. It does not have to be perfectly level but try to get it as close as you can.
Below are some good options for foundations:
- Concrete slab, may be “excessive”, but it is a great option.
- Wooden deck that can support the weight of the barrel sauna.
- Treated wood placed directly on the ground. Gravel is still
recommended under the treated wood. - Gravel of any type. If you are using only gravel and not anything on top, it should be
at least 4 inches. - Put pea shingle or gravel down 2-4 inches, then use pavers or bricks on top of the gravel. You can just use pavers and not gravel underneath, but we do recommend at least 2-4 inches of gravel under the pavers. You can buy bricks or pavers at any Home Depot or Lowes.
You only need to provide support under the cradles to hold the weight, but some of our customers do it under the entire sauna. Our top tip is to consider aesthetics when building your foundation.
Electric Heaters
When it comes to convenience, electric heaters are the ideal choice. By simply flipping a
switch or tapping a button on a mobile app, an electric heater can efficiently and swiftly warm up your sauna. Many electric heaters have the choice of WiFi compatibility, meaning you can use your phone remotely to schedule your sauna to be up to temperature at a specific time.
What you need for an electric heater
To operate electric heaters, a power supply of 220 volts and 30-40 amps is necessary,
depending on the heater's size. It is recommended to consult with a licensed electrician who
will handle the connection and hard-wiring of the heater.
Wood-Burning Stoves
For those who appreciate the lovely crackle of a real fire and a truly authentic sauna
experience, wood-burning heaters are the perfect choice. They excel at heating larger areas and are particularly suitable for spacious saunas, such as 6-person saunas (84") or larger.
What you need for a wood-burning stove
To operate wood-burning stoves, a chimney kit is necessary. It's important to note that these
stoves are designed exclusively for outdoor use.