What You Need to Know About Building an Outdoor Sauna (2026)

Last winter, my country My husband and I received a Sunhome Luminar sauna accommodates 5 people For testing. I live in gray and rainy Portland, Oregon, which has a very strong sauna culture to combat the noise of February.

Not only was I feeling ecstatic, but almost everyone I knew was ecstatic as well. Over the several weeks that I kept the Sun Home box in my driveway, I received a steady stream of text messages from friends. “Do you have sauna?They all asked, hoping that they would be invited soon.

Since then, I’ve had several friends build their own backyard saunas, and I realized that my experience was probably atypical. However, I have put together some useful tutorials that you can take advantage of if you are looking to install one of your own. If you’re thinking about dropping several tons in an outdoor sauna, here are some things you might consider.

Lesson #1: Choose your type of sauna

There are several types of saunas. Traditional Finnish saunas use a Wood and stone stove To warm the interior.

If you’re looking for modern, electric-powered saunas, there are two types here. You can either choose Electric saunawhich contains a single electric heat source, or Infrared (IR) sauna.Which uses photovoltaic panels to warm the body. If you choose a sauna with an electric heater, you can also choose a dry or wet model. Pouring water over hot rocks creates what the Finns call “löyly,” steam that can help make a hot room more comfortable.

Photo: Adrian So

Lovers of one or the other can argue back and forth forever. Traditional wood-burning saunas are more likely to catch fire. Dry saunas are more hygienic and therefore easier to maintain. The health benefits of traditional saunas have been more widely studied, etc.

Most people I know who choose to install saunas choose the wet electric model. This is most similar to a public sauna you would find at a gym. Infrared saunas are usually cheaper. However, you may find multiple heat-emitting light panels more uncomfortable than a single heat source, as you can more easily avoid direct contact.

Lesson #2: Choose your location wisely

When it comes to deciding where to install a sauna, there are a few non-negotiables that make sense. Details of this Sun Home are in Its installation guide (Which has been revised since I tested the sauna). You need a tile, concrete, carpet, laminate or wood surface; Depending on which Sun Home sauna you choose, it should be able to support 870 or 1,270 pounds.

You must hire an electrician to retrofit the 240V, 30A power supply and use a NEMA L6-30P outlet; Converting it yourself will void the warranty. The company now indicates that they should also be installed in an area that is dry and protected from the weather, although I have several friends who have installed outdoor saunas in uncovered gravel areas.

In short: Although they are marketed as an outdoor sauna, you should treat them as if you were installing an indoor sauna.