Barrel Saunas

Every Leisurecraft sauna is built to order, giving you plenty of choices, particularly within the Dundalk or Pure Cube Collections. We list many of these options on the Backyard America website. Call us to go over the possibilities, including choices that may not appear online.

After you’ve chosen your sauna, heater, and desired options, we collect a deposit of 30% to secure the order. Delivery generally takes 4-16 weeks, with your sauna going either to our store or straight to your home anywhere in the US.

The distinction matters quite a bit. Canadian Red Cedar is a preferred sauna-building material, so logs are exported to Asia and frequently turned into saunas there. We’ve tested these products at Backyard America and often found components below standard. Examples include weak doors that fail to hold heat and barrel straps that buckle during tightening, along with other shortcomings that make long-term ownership less appealing.

For these saunas, North American made means Canadian materials are used to build the finished product in North America. They’re designed with lasting performance in mind and carry a warranty of 5 years.

Yes! A wood sauna heater is an option for most barrel models. The exceptions are saunas too small to accommodate these large heaters. Before choosing one, check the requirements for a sauna with a wood heater with your local municipality.

Our usual recommendation is electric because we think you’ll use your sauna more frequently. Some heaters we offer let you start them through a phone app, whether you’re at the office or riding a ski lift. We recommend a wood heater when 240 volt electrical service is a long distance away. Wood can also suit a cabin, where making a fire fits naturally into the day’s activities.

Usually, yes. We’re not aware of a 120-volt electric sauna heater that can bring a sauna to 170°F (76°C) or higher, the heat needed for proper sauna use. Wood heaters offer another choice, and a few options using natural gas or propane are now available as well.

Yes. As we write this, we’re looking into several brands. Call us if you can’t find them listed, and we can explain which options we currently have access to. Electric cars and other equipment are pushing many homes toward their electrical capacity. For that reason, we think this new approach to sauna heating will become a primary choice in the future.

A 100 amp service is what most homes have. Since many hot tubs need 50 amps or 60 amps, fitting in an electric sauna heater can be challenging. In most cases, however, installing a “Load Miser Energy Controller” makes it possible. When demand reaches the maximum load, these devices determine which equipment receives power, giving priority to certain items over nonessential ones. Expect this equipment to add $2,000+ to the electrical installation. An electrician can help determine whether you need it. In our experience, many clients only buy this addition when their municipality requires it.

Native to Eastern Canada, white cedar shares many of red cedar’s properties that resist rot and mold. It lacks, however, the lovely red cedar scent that many sauna users expect. We’ve observed that untreated white cedar weathers to a paler color than red cedar does. White cedar is also the wood used for the Canadian Timber Collection.

Transporting a fully assembled barrel sauna costs a great deal and generally isn’t good for the sauna itself. An assembled unit also needs a crane to position it in your yard. Hiring that crane typically costs 3 times as much as paying a carpenter to assemble the kit and adjust it for your location.

Expect assembly to take 8-14 hours for most models, depending on your chosen options and sauna. Allow a little more time for Panoramic View and Half Moon Window Barrels. Traditional Barrel Saunas generally go together more easily and quickly. To help you through assembly, we offer detailed video instructions, written directions, and support by phone.

Saunas weigh considerably less than hot tubs, allowing barrel models to sit on many level surfaces. Decks and even rooftop terraces are common choices. For a yard installation, an inexpensive, effective base is a rectangular frame of 4x4s filled with level, firmly tamped road crush. A poured concrete pad is another popular choice that works very well. We particularly recommend barrel saunas for sites with challenging grades, since support is needed only beneath the cradle feet.

Cold winter conditions suit cedar well because the wood is highly resistant to moisture and changes in temperature. Compared with other woods, cedar in a sauna expands and contracts less as temperatures shift, making it an ideal choice in climates with four seasons.

Preferences vary from person to person. A Nordic cycle appeals to some: spend 15-20 minutes in the sauna, cool down, and then rest. Others favor one longer session, lasting up to 30 minutes or, for some people, more. Feeling a rush upon first entering a sauna isn’t unusual. Staying hydrated both while using the sauna and afterward is recommended.

The barrel saunas we list cost about $6,000–$13,500 before options, from $5,977 for the Harmony Barrel to $13,536 for Outdoor Cedar Barrel Saunas. Check each listing for the current price and whether the heater is included: Canadian Timber prices exclude the heater, while the Cedar Barrel Sauna Package includes an 8 kW electric heater and Outdoor Cedar Barrel Saunas includes a 6 kW electric heater. Budget separately for site preparation, electrical work, permits, and assembly and unloading help as needed. Custom premium builds can cost more.

An outdoor sauna lets you spend time in nature while supporting your health. Studies suggest sauna use may increase calorie burning, ease anxiety and stress, support better sleep quality, and help strengthen the immune system. Many people also enjoy alternating sauna heat with something cold. That might mean stepping outdoors, going into a lake, or using a hose for a shower.

Absolutely! Barrel saunas function well indoors and look appealing there, too. For indoor installations, our recommendation is an electric heater.

First, we suggest deciding how many people you want to fit in your sauna. Outdoor models begin with room for 2 people and may measure 6′ x 4′ or 7′ x 6′. Larger options increase in length, and models with porches or change rooms can reach lengths of 12′ or 16′. The footprints you’ll encounter most often, though, are 7′ x 7′ or 6′ x 6′. Tell us the space you have available, and we’ll help find an option that fits.