The right outdoor sauna for most homes is the one that fits your yard, your group size and your power supply. Price comes after that. At Domaform, a cedar outdoor sauna kit starts at $5,956.50 and a finished, insulated sauna building starts at $29,700. The heater is extra on the kits. This guide walks through the three main shapes, the sizes, the heat source and the full budget, so you can narrow the list to one or two models.
We sell every sauna named here, so this is a buying guide, not an independent review. All prices, seats and sizes come from our product pages and the manufacturers' published specs.
Outdoor sauna shapes: barrel, pod or cabin
Shape decides how the sauna looks from the house, how it heats and how much room you get inside. Most backyard saunas fall into three groups.
Barrel saunas
The barrel is the classic outdoor shape. The round profile keeps the air volume low, so the room warms up fast. It also sheds rain and snow well. The Canadian Timber Harmony, Serenity and Tranquility seat 4, 5 and 6. The Elation seats 4 and adds a flat floor with wider 23-inch benches. For the honest trade-offs, read are barrel saunas worth it?
Pod saunas
Pods give you a more modern look on a small, square footprint. The MiniPOD fits 4 seats into a raindrop shape with a shingled roof. The Luna is a rounded cabin with a full glass front and about 50% more interior volume than the MiniPOD on the same footprint. Our MiniPOD vs Luna comparison covers the two in detail.
Cabin saunas
A cabin gives you full standing height, a real door and a pitched metal roof. In short, it reads as a small garden building. The Granby, Palmer and Georgian cabins take a wood or electric heater. A porch or change room can be added on request. The Avalon adds three bench tiers, 2¾-inch log walls, a large glass front and a black metal roof. If you want a finished building instead of a kit, the Sweaty Yeti Sauna arrives insulated on an 8' x 9' footprint with a HUUM electric heater inside.
Every outdoor sauna compared
This table lists each model with its seats and our current price. Prices for the Canadian Timber kits do not include a heater.
| Model | Shape | Seats | Heat | Our price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MiniPOD | Pod | 4 | Wood or electric | $5,956.50 |
| Harmony | Barrel | 4 | Wood or electric | $5,976.50 |
| Serenity | Barrel | 5 | Wood or electric | from $6,157.50 |
| Tranquility | Barrel | 6 | Wood or electric | from $6,513.50 |
| Elation | Barrel, flat floor | 4 | Wood or electric | $6,975.50 |
| Granby / Palmer / Georgian | Cabin | See product page | Wood or electric | $6,136.50 / $7,176.50 / $7,646.50 |
| Luna | Rounded cabin | 4 | Electric only | $7,391.50 |
| Avalon | Cabin, three bench tiers | 3-4 | Wood or electric | $11,344.50 |
| Sweaty Yeti Sauna | Finished building | 4-6 | Electric, heater included | from $29,700 |
The Serenity and Tranquility are also available with halfmoon windows, for $8,005.50 and $8,219.50. For seats, exterior sizes and interior volume of each kit, see every Canadian Timber model compared.
How big an outdoor sauna do you need?
Start with how many people will use it on a normal evening, not on a party night. Most households choose a 4-seat outdoor sauna for home use. That covers the MiniPOD, Harmony, Elation and Luna. Then the choice comes down to shape and budget.
If you often host friends, the Serenity and Tranquility add length to the same barrel. Both still sit on the same 86.25-inch width as the Harmony. For larger groups, the Sweaty Yeti range goes up to the 8-12 person Sweaty Yeti Sauna Max at $46,900.
Also check the ground. Every Canadian Timber sauna needs a level base, such as a gravel pad, pavers or a concrete slab. Each product page shows a base diagram with the minimum size.
Wood-burning or electric heat?
Every Canadian Timber model except the Luna takes either heater type. So the choice depends on your site and how you like to use the sauna.
- Electric: quick to start and easy to control. It needs a dedicated circuit, installed by a licensed electrician. Our electric heaters start with the Harvia KIP at $1,211, and the HUUM DROP with WiFi control costs from $3,097.
- Wood-burning: no electrical hookup, so it suits remote spots and cabins. However, it needs a chimney, firewood and time to heat up. The TimberGlow 14 costs from $2,339.
Match the heater's kW rating to the sauna's interior volume. Our guide on sizing a sauna heater explains how, and you can see every option in sauna heaters.
What a backyard sauna really costs
The sauna price is only the first line of the budget. For example, a Harmony at $5,976.50 plus a Harvia KIP at $1,211 comes to $7,187.50 before any site work. On top of that, plan for these items:
- A level base: gravel, pavers or a slab.
- An electrician for the heater circuit, if you choose electric.
- Assembly time. The kits ship pre-cut with videos and instructions, and many owners build them with a helper.
- Running costs. Our study of outdoor sauna electricity cost by state shows what a session adds to your bill.
Shipping is free as curbside freight in the lower 48 for the Canadian Timber saunas. A kit arrives on a crate, so read how sauna delivery works before you order. For full price examples, see how much an outdoor sauna costs in 2026.
What every Canadian Timber kit has in common
All Canadian Timber saunas are made by Dundalk LeisureCraft in Ontario, Canada. Each one uses grade-A solid Eastern White Cedar, a wood that resists rot and insects naturally. Hardware is stainless steel. The manufacturer gives a 5-year residential limited warranty, and heaters carry their own warranty. To learn why this wood is used, read why Eastern White Cedar is used for outdoor saunas.
Which outdoor sauna should you buy?
- Choose the Harmony if you want the classic barrel for 4 at the lowest barrel price.
- Choose the Serenity or Tranquility if you regularly need 5 or 6 seats.
- Choose the Elation if you want a barrel with a flat floor and wider benches.
- Choose the MiniPOD if you have a small square spot and may want wood heat.
- Choose the Luna if you want more room inside on a compact footprint and a glass front, with electric heat.
- Choose a Granby, Palmer or Georgian cabin if you want standing height and a building look.
- Choose the Avalon if you want three bench tiers, the largest Canadian Timber interior (325 ft³) and a big glass front.
- Choose a Sweaty Yeti if you want a finished, insulated sauna and no assembly at all.
Planning a hot and cold routine as well? Our guide to a sauna and cold plunge setup shows how to plan both.
Frequently asked questions
Is the heater included with an outdoor sauna?
Not with the Canadian Timber kits. You choose an electric or wood-burning heater separately. The Sweaty Yeti saunas include a HUUM electric heater or equivalent.
Can I put an outdoor sauna on grass?
No. Every model needs a level, firm base, such as a gravel pad, pavers or a concrete slab. Check the base diagram on the product page.
Do I need a permit for a backyard sauna?
It depends on your town. Ask your local building department before you order, especially for a cabin, a finished building or a new electrical circuit.
Can I assemble the sauna myself?
Yes, the kits are pre-cut and come with assembly videos and instructions. The electrical hookup for an electric heater must be done by a licensed electrician.
Ready to compare models for your yard? Browse all outdoor saunas, or use the quote form on any sauna page. We will confirm the delivered price, lead time and site needs for your address.