A barrel sauna is a round room with no upper corners, so it has less air to heat and a lower price. A cabin sauna is a square room with a real roof and full standing height, so it feels like a small building and costs more. A cube sauna is a compact square room. We do not sell cube saunas, but the MiniPOD covers the same need for a small footprint. In our range, barrels start at $5,976.50 and cabins at $6,136.50, before a heater.
This guide compares the shapes on the things that matter day to day: heat-up, space, roof and price.
The shapes at a glance
| Barrel | Cabin | Pod (instead of a cube) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our models | Harmony, Serenity, Tranquility, Elation | Granby, Palmer, Georgian, Avalon; Luna as a rounded cabin | MiniPOD |
| Price | $5,976.50 to $8,219.50 | $6,136.50 to $11,344.50 | $5,956.50 |
| Seats | 4 to 6 | 3 to 4 (Avalon, Luna); see product page for Granby, Palmer, Georgian | 4 |
| Inside volume | 222 ft³ (Harmony) to 297 ft³ (Tranquility) | 315 ft³ (Luna), 325 ft³ (Avalon) | 208 ft³ |
| Roof | The staves are the roof | Metal shingles or standing seam metal roof | Cedar, ice-and-water shield and asphalt shingles |
| Headroom | Highest in the middle | Full standing height | See product page |
Every model is Eastern White Cedar from Dundalk LeisureCraft in Ontario, ships as a pre-cut kit with free curbside freight in the lower 48, and carries a 5-year residential limited manufacturer warranty.
Heat-up: less air heats faster
A heater has to warm the air, the wood and the stones. The less air in the room, the less work it has to do. A barrel has no upper corners, so its round profile holds less air than a square room of similar length. The manufacturer's heater recommendations follow the room size:
- Harmony, 222 ft³: 6 kW electric
- Serenity and Tranquility: 7.5 kW electric
- MiniPOD, 208 ft³: 7.5 kW electric
- Luna, 315 ft³: 6 kW electric, electric only
- Avalon, 325 ft³: 9 kW electric
Real heat-up time depends on the heater, the weather and the wind, so we do not promise minutes. We confirm the right heater for your model before you order. Read how to size a sauna heater.
Space: headroom, floor and footprint
Barrel
The Harmony family is 86.25 inches wide and tall, from 79 to 118 inches deep. Headroom is highest in the middle. The floor is curved, except in the Elation, which has a solid flat floor and 23-inch benches.
Cabin
The Granby, Palmer and Georgian give you full standing height and a real door. A porch and a change room are available for every model and quoted individually. The Avalon has three bench tiers and 91.5 inches of headroom at the back. Its roof overhang makes a 10 by 10 foot footprint.
Pod
The MiniPOD fits 4 seats into 85 by 85.5 inches, the smallest footprint in our range.
Roof and weather
On a barrel, the cedar staves are the roof. In wet or snowy climates, many owners add shingles or a membrane on top. The cabins come with a roof: the Granby, Palmer and Georgian use Ontario-sourced 28-gauge metal shingles, and the Avalon has a standing seam black metal roof with an overhang. The MiniPOD has a triple-layer roof of cedar, ice-and-water shield and asphalt shingles. Read cedar sauna care.
Price: every shape side by side
| Model | Shape | Price |
|---|---|---|
| MiniPOD | Pod | $5,956.50 |
| Harmony | Barrel, 4 seats | $5,976.50 |
| Granby | Cabin | $6,136.50 |
| Serenity | Barrel, 5 seats | $6,157.50 |
| Tranquility | Barrel, 6 seats | $6,513.50 |
| Elation | Barrel, flat floor | $6,975.50 |
| Palmer | Cabin | $7,176.50 |
| Luna | Rounded cabin | $7,391.50 |
| Georgian | Cabin | $7,646.50 |
| Avalon | Cabin, three tiers | $11,344.50 |
Prices are for the sauna only. Heaters run from $1,211 to $3,956, and the Luna takes an electric heater only. For the full budget, see barrel sauna cost and outdoor sauna cost.
Which shape should you buy?
- Choose a barrel for the classic look, the lowest price for 4 to 6 seats, and a room that holds less air. Start with the barrel sauna buying guide.
- Choose a cabin for standing height, a real roof, or a porch and change room.
- Choose the MiniPOD if space is tight and you want a shingled roof.
Compare every model in Canadian Timber saunas compared or the outdoor sauna buying guide.
FAQ
Does a barrel sauna heat faster than a cabin?
A barrel's round profile holds less air than a square room of similar length, so the heater has less to warm. Actual heat-up time depends on the heater, the weather and the wind.
Is a barrel sauna cheaper than a cabin sauna?
In our range, yes. The 4-seat Harmony is $5,976.50, and the lowest-priced cabin, the Granby, is $6,136.50.
Do you sell cube saunas?
No. For a compact footprint, look at the MiniPOD at 85 by 85.5 inches.
Is there a barrel with a flat floor?
Yes. The Elation has a solid wood flat floor and 23-inch benches, for $6,975.50.
Need help choosing?
Browse barrel saunas, cabin saunas or all outdoor saunas. Call +1 (307) 309-8328 with your yard size, and we will suggest a shape and heater.