Collection: Barrel Saunas

It depends on the model. Compact barrels suit a solo or couples session, and longer ones seat a group. The round shape lets you lie along the bench, so most models quote one figure for sitting and one for lying down.

Seating capacity and internal dimensions are on each product page. A product specialist will talk sizes through with you free of charge.

It depends on where you live. Approval is set by your state and your local council. It turns on floor area, height, siting and setbacks, and on overlays such as bushfire, heritage, flooding and easements. Many small structures are exempt, but the thresholds differ from one council to the next. Nothing here is legal advice.

We offer a free council permit check by postcode. Confirm the position with your council before you order.

Either an electric heater or a wood fired one. Electric needs a suitable power supply and switches on at a dial. Wood fired needs no power, gives a more traditional feel, and takes a flue through the roof.

Some barrels come as a package with a matched heater. On others the heater is an optional item, so check the listing for the model you are looking at. Our guide to sizing a sauna heater explains how heaters are matched to a room.

That depends on the heater. A barrel warms up faster than a square room of the same floor area, because there is less air to heat. Models sold as a package come with a heater matched to the room.

Cold or windy weather adds time, and a wood fired heater depends on how the fire is going. The stones and the timber need to warm through, so most owners switch the heater on ahead of a session. The listing tells you which heater a model comes with.

A barrel sauna is one of the simpler flat pack kits to put up. The staves arrive precut and numbered, and the steel bands draw the barrel together. The work is mostly lifting and aligning rather than cutting. Every kit comes with its fixings and an illustrated assembly guide.

Most people put one up with a helper or two, often over a weekend. You can also have a builder or handyperson do it instead. Heater wiring must be done by a licensed electrician.

Yes. A barrel sits on cradles that carry its weight along its length. The ground underneath needs to be level, sufficiently load bearing and free draining. A concrete slab, concrete pads or a deck built for the load all work. Water needs to drain away from the structure. Have the base finished before delivery.

Yes. The timber walls hold heat well through winter, and in summer most owners simply move their sessions to early morning or evening.

The level of protection you give it, the products you use and your upkeep decide how the outside holds up over the years. Apply a suitable exterior finish soon after assembly. Refresh the coating in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended schedule. Picking a spot with some afternoon shade, keeping leaf litter off the top and making sure the base drains all help. Coastal sites benefit from a more frequent wash down and recoat.

That depends on your electricity tariff, the output of the heater you choose and how often you use it. A wood fired heater costs whatever firewood costs you.

A barrel is cheaper to run than a square room of the same floor area, because there is less air to heat. Keeping the door shut, sitting the barrel on a well drained base and not overshooting the temperature all trim the bill.

Looked after, a European spruce barrel lasts for many years. The timber is slow grown and kiln dried before it is machined, so the staves stay stable and the joints stay snug. The bands hold everything tight as the barrel moves with the seasons.

Longevity comes down to upkeep. Keep the exterior coated and clear debris off the top. Keep water draining away from the base. In termite prone areas keep the timber clear of soil and check it regularly.

Yes. There is an air inlet and an adjustable outlet, so fresh air is drawn through the room while you are sitting in it. Where the vents sit varies by model, so check the layout on the listing.

The adjustable outlet lets you change how the air feels during a session. Opening it up afterwards helps the interior dry out. Leaving the door open once you have finished keeps the timber dry and the room fresh.

It comes down to shape, warm up and how you want to use the space. A barrel has no corners, so there is less air to heat and it warms up faster. The curved roof sheds rain and leaves.

A cabin sauna has straight walls and a flat floor, so it is easier to fit a change area or a shower. It suits a larger group and sits more naturally alongside a house. Both take the same heater types and use the same European timber. The dimensions for each model are on its listing.

Your barrel sauna arrives flat-packed on pallets by freight truck. We offer free freight to metro depots in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. Request a freight quote if you live outside our free delivery zones.

From the depot you can pick up for free, or arrange delivery to your property with the depot. Items held in stock are dispatched within one to four business days. Made to order buildings take roughly eight to fourteen weeks. They're manufactured in Europe and shipped once your order is placed. The listing tells you which applies to the barrel sauna you're looking at. We confirm the timing with you when you order.