A garden sauna is a big purchase that arrives on a pallet and needs a base, a power supply or a flue, and somewhere sensible to stand. This guide takes you through the choices in the order that matters, so nothing surprises you on delivery day.
1. Traditional or infrared
| Traditional | Infrared | |
|---|---|---|
| How it heats | Heats the air with a stove and stones; pour water on the stones for steam | Panels warm your body directly |
| Air temperature | Usually 70–100°C | Usually 40–60°C |
| Time to heat | Typically 30–60 minutes | Typically 10–20 minutes |
| Power | Electric heater on its own circuit, or wood-fired | Smaller cabins can use a 13A socket; larger ones need their own circuit |
| Best for | The classic Nordic sauna, steam, social sessions | Quick, frequent, lower-heat sessions, often indoors |
If you want steam and the "proper" Finnish experience, choose traditional. If you want to use it most days with little waiting, infrared is quicker and cheaper to run (see our running-cost guide).
2. Barrel, cabin or pod
- Barrel saunas have a round profile. There's less air to heat and no corners, so they warm up efficiently, and they look the part in a garden. Headroom is lower at the sides.
- Cabin (cube) saunas give straight walls, more headroom and more bench space for the same footprint. Often the better choice for three or more people or for lying down.
- Pod and oval designs sit between the two: more headroom than a barrel, softer lines than a cabin.
- Panoramic glass fronts give a view of the garden but lose more heat, so manufacturers usually fit a larger heater. Check the heater size on the product page rather than assuming.
3. Electric or wood-fired
Electric is the easy choice for most UK gardens: set the thermostat and go, often with a timer or app. The trade-off is installation. Most sauna heaters need a dedicated circuit from your consumer unit, which is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales. That means a registered electrician, or sign-off from building control. Rooms and cabins with sauna heaters also have their own section in the UK wiring regulations (BS 7671, section 703), so use an electrician who knows it. Our electrics guide explains what to ask for.
Wood-fired needs no electrical work and gives a softer heat and the crackle of a real fire. It does need:
- a flue with the clearances in the manufacturer's instructions;
- enough distance from buildings, fences and overhanging trees;
- the right fuel. Many UK towns are smoke control areas, where you may only burn authorised fuels or use an exempt appliance. Check with your council before you choose wood.
4. What size
- Count the people who will use it together most often, then add one. Bench length matters more than the headline "4 person" figure. A person sitting needs about 60 cm of bench, and lying down needs about 190 cm.
- Measure the footprint plus clearance. Leave room around the sauna for ventilation, maintenance, the door swing and, for wood-fired models, the flue clearances.
- Check height against planning limits if it will sit within 2 metres of a boundary (see our planning guide).
5. The base
Outdoor saunas need a firm, level, well-drained base: a concrete slab, paving slabs on a compacted sub-base, or a level timber frame, as the manufacturer specifies. Most problems with doors, seals and barrel staves start with a base that isn't level. Every product page lists the base the manufacturer requires, so have it ready before delivery. Our base guide compares the options.
6. Delivery and assembly
Saunas usually arrive kerbside on a pallet, booked with you by the carrier. Before you order, check:
- Access: can the parts be carried from the kerb to the garden? Measure gates, side passages and steps. Barrel staves and wall panels are long.
- Kit or part-assembled: the product page states which, the typical assembly time and how many people you need.
- Help: if we don't list an assembly service, a competent carpenter or garden-building installer can assemble most kits.
Our pallet delivery guide explains what happens on the day.
Before you order: a checklist
- Space measured, including clearance and the door swing.
- Planning position checked (height near boundaries, not in front of the house, designated land).
- Base chosen and ready, or booked.
- Power: an electrician booked for a dedicated circuit, or a 13A socket confirmed suitable for smaller infrared models. For wood-fired models, flue clearances and your council's smoke-control rules checked.
- Delivery access measured from kerb to site.
- Assembly plan: DIY with helpers, or an installer booked.
FAQs
Can I plug a sauna into a normal socket?
Some smaller infrared saunas can use a standard 13A socket. Traditional electric heaters almost always need their own circuit, installed by an electrician. Each product page states which applies.
Do I need planning permission for a garden sauna?
Many garden saunas in England are built under permitted development, without a planning application, if they meet the height, position and coverage limits. Our planning guide explains the rules. If you're unsure, check with your council before ordering.
How long does a sauna take to heat up?
Traditional saunas typically take 30–60 minutes, depending on the heater, the cabin size, the glass area and the weather. Infrared cabins are typically ready in 10–20 minutes.
Is a barrel sauna better than a cabin?
Neither is better in general. Barrels heat efficiently and look distinctive. Cabins give more headroom and bench space. Choose on how many people will use it and whether you want to lie down.
This is general guidance. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and get professional advice for electrical, structural and planning questions about your property.
Sources
- Planning Portal, outbuildings: https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/outbuildings/planning-permission
- UK Government, electrical safety (Part P): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-approved-document-p
- UK Government, smoke control areas: https://www.gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules