Garden saunas
Turn a quiet corner of your garden into a cosy, year-round escape. Explore garden saunas in barrel, cube and cabin designs, from compact outdoor options for smaller gardens to spacious cabins for sharing with family. Find the right fit with practical advice on space, bases, planning rules and delivery, or speak to our expert team.
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NORDHAVEN
4-Person Barrel Sauna
NORDHAVEN
4-Person Barrel Sauna
NORDHAVEN
4-Person Barrel Sauna
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Buying guide
Choose a garden sauna that fits your space, from compact designs for narrow plots to larger cabins for family use.
Even a small garden (10 to 30 square meter) can hold a little escape of your own. Compact 2 to 4-person barrel saunas (1.8m x 1.5m with 2.7 m² footprint), cube and cabin saunas (2.0m x 2.0m with 6.0 m² footprint), start around £2,000. Allow 0.5 to 1 metre clearance around your sauna, and choose electric heating for convenient warmth in compact gardens.
Make the most of a slim garden with a compact barrel or narrow cabin sauna that typically seats 2 to 4 people. Barrel saunas are 1.94m across, so a Micro (1.5m long, 3 m²) or Small (2.3m long, 4.4 m²) suits a plot about 3m wide and allows 0.5m clearance either side. With price starting from £3,000, choose electric to avoid chimney smoke near neighbours. Flat-pack panels ease tight access.
If you have a garden with 30m² or more space, you can choose a 4 to 6-person barrel (3m long, 5.8m², from £5,500) or a cabin with a changing room (about 10m², from £10,000). Larger gardens can fit 6 to 8-person barrels (7.8m² and £7,000 starting price). Choose electric or wood-fired heating if there is enough room for a chimney.
Even a sloping garden can become your cosy escape. Barrel saunas (starting around £2,500) suit uneven ground with level supports. Sauna tents (starting at £795) need less groundwork. Keep additional £400 to £1,500+ budget in mind to level the base before enjoying your warm retreat.
Find a garden sauna that complements your outdoor space, from sleek modern designs to traditional timber cabins.
Bring a clean, modern feel with modern garden saunas and glass-fronted cube designs, starting from around £4,200. ThermoWood, dark finishes and large windows look beautiful beside patios and decking. Ideal for contemporary homes, these saunas need a level base with good drainage and clear access.
Let your garden's natural charm shine with a traditional garden sauna. Wooden barrel and cabin designs (usually available from £2,000) feel at home beside stone paths and brick walls. A well-drained, levelled base and good airflow help protect the timber.
Transform your garden woods with a wooden barrel or pent-roof cabin sauna, starting from just £2,500 to £3,000. Leave one-metre space around your sauna and keep it away from low tree branches. Make sure the base drains the water and does not damage tree roots. You can use a wood stove in the countryside, but may choose an electric heater if your area has strict smoke laws.
The right spot can make your garden sauna feel like a natural place to unwind:
Garden sauna within 2m of a boundary must be no higher than 2.5m to meet permitted-development conditions.
Choose a sunny or shaded spot to suit your preference, and consider exposure to wind and rain.
Avoid overhanging branches and check for tree roots and drainage before preparing the base.
Face windows towards your favourite view, and use hedges/fencing or screens for privacy.
Ensure the sauna kit can pass through gates and paths, and leave room to open the door and move around it.
A cold plunge or outdoor shower can complete your setup, but plan for suitable drainage.
A strong and level, well-brained base is critical for keeping a sauna stable and ready for relaxing sessions. Choosing the right base depends on the sauna model, ground conditions, and total weight.
Micro saunas (1 to 2 people) weigh around 500kg and need a 200 × 200cm base. Small (2 to 4 people) weigh 590 to 595kg and need 240 × 200cm. Medium (4 to 6 people) weigh 650 to 655kg and need 240 × 240cm. Large (6 to 8 people) weigh 880-920kg and need a 320 × 240cm base.
Base type
Typical UK spec
Best for
Watch out for
Concrete pad
Usually about 100mm thick. Recommended for 4-6 person barrels, strongly recommended for 6-8 person
Permanent installs on stable ground
Needs falls and a drainage plan and hard to reverse
Paving slabs
100-150mm compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base plus a 30-50mm mortar bed
Micro to medium saunas
Uneven laying lets slabs sink and tilt the cabin
Gravel
Compacted and level, only if your manufacturer lists it
Well-drained sites with lower budgets
Can settle over time
Ground screws or timber frame
Screws set into the ground with a frame on top.
Sloping, soft or wet ground
Needs a site check and manufacturer approval
Timber deck
Must carry the sauna's full weight plus bathers
Micro and small saunas.
Reinforce the frame and keep air moving underneath
Garden sauna is usually allowed without planning permission in England. It must be single storey, no taller than 2.5 metres near a fence, and take up less than half your garden. But you will need permission for listed buildings, conservation areas, flats or commercial use. Small buildings under 15m² with no beds are normally exempt from building rules.
Smoke from a chimney can be fined up to £300 in a smoke control area. Most wood-fired sauna stoves are not approved for smoke control areas. Once a flue passes through a roof, full smoke rules apply.
England's rules are not UK-wide. Each nation runs its own permitted development order:
Rule
England
Wales
Scotland
N. Ireland
Eaves height
2.5m
2.5m
3m
2.5m
Overall height
4m / 3m
4m / 3m
4m
4m
Boundary threshold
2m to 2.5m
2m to 2.5m
1m to 2.5m
2m to 2.5m
Site coverage
50%
50%
50% rear curtilage
50% + 25m² cap
Raised platform
0.3m
0.3m
0.5m
Not permitted
Sources: WoodFiredSaunas nation comparison.
Most garden saunas arrive on a pallet for kerbside delivery, so you may need to move the parts to the garden yourself.
Measure gates, side passages, tight turns and steps, and send photos to the supplier in case you have narrow access.
Finish the level, load-bearing base before delivery by following the manufacturer's measurements and support requirements.
Arrange a registered electrician to check the heater's power needs and install the required supply before use.
Confirm who will assemble the sauna, move it from the kerb and fit the heater or chimney.
Clear the route and installation area and before delivery, confirm extra charges for lifting equipment and assembly.
Following table guides you about the factors that affect the total garden sauna cost:
Cost item
Typical UK cost
What to check
Sauna (kit or cabin)
£3,000-£15,000 ready-made and DIY kits about £3,500-£8,000
Size, timber and glazing
Heater
Electric about £400-£1,800
Wood-burning about £700-£2,500 plus £200-£500 for the flue
Some barrel and cube kits exclude it. Match heater kW to the sauna room
Base
Concrete about £50-£85/m² installed, often £500-£1,500 for a small base
Paving about £300-£700
Must carry the weight. Concrete needs about a week to cure
Electrics
About £300-£600 for a simple supply
More for long runs or a new consumer unit
6kW heaters need a 32A supply, 9kW need 40A. Buried armoured cable. None for wood-fired
Delivery
Often free on UK mainland orders
Usually kerbside only, and some postcodes cost extra
Assembly
DIY about 1 to 2 days
Professional about £1,250 to £2,890
Confirm who carries and fits the heater or chimney
Extras
Lighting £100-£400
Stones £30-£80 a box
Exterior wood treatment £30-£60 a year
Easy to forget, so add them up front
Once you have a budget, check the physical fit. Following table compares real model sizes with capacity and installation needs for guidance:
Sauna
Footprint
Capacity
Weight and base
Installation notes
Micro barrel
1.53 x 1.94m (about 3 m²)
1-2
500 kg; base 200 x 200cm
Suits tight spaces; allow 50cm all round
Small barrel
2.27 x 1.94m (about 4.4 m²)
2-4
590 kg; base 240 x 200cm
Concrete, reinforced slabs or deck
Medium barrel
2.27 x 2.29m (about 5.2 m²)
4-6
650 kg; base 240 x 240cm
Concrete recommended
Large barrel
3.01 x 2.29m (about 6.9 m²)
6-8
880-920 kg; base 320 x 240cm
Concrete strongly recommended; 9kW heater advised
Cube
About 2.05-2.2m wide x 2.4-3.9m deep
Up to 4 or 6, by model
Check model weight
Check internal size, not just outside
Cabin with changing room
About 2.34 x 4.34m (about 10 m²)
Check bench length
Check model weight
70mm logs; changing room adds length
Pod / oval
2.25-2.4m wide x 2.6-5.1m long
2-4
Check model weight
Check delivery access
Typical cost per electric sauna session
Typical Garden sauna delivery time
Concrete, paving slabs or approved supports
Potential lifespan with proper care
FAQ
In many cases, planning permission is not needed but rules depend on where you live and the sauna's height and position. It also depends on how the property is used. Listed buildings, designated areas and commercial installations may have additional restrictions. Check with your local planning authority before installation.
Garden sauna within 2 metres of boundary is generally limited to 2.5 metres in height under permitted development rules. But other conditions apply and rules differ across the UK. You need to check the requirements for your location before choosing a position.
Some garden saunas may be exempt but it depends on factors such as floor area and usage. A sauna with sleeping accommodation or commercial installation may have different requirements. Therefore, it is important to check with the local building control team if you are unsure.
You can do it only if the stove and fuel comply with the rules for your area. In England, you generally need an approved appliance to burn authorised fuel in a smoke control area. But please check current requirements and suitable stove options before buying a wood-fired sauna.
It depends on the sauna's external dimensions and capacity and access requirements. A compact barrel sauna occupies around 3m², but a larger model or cabin with a changing room needs considerably more space. Allow room for safe access and installation as specified by the manufacturer.
Sauna needs a level and load bearing base. You can choose from concrete, properly laid paving slabs, compacted gravel or a reinforced timber frame depending on different sauna models and ground conditions. Please always follow the manufacturer's requirements and consider the sauna's weight and drainage.
You can put it on sloppy ground, provided the ground and foundation can safely support the sauna. You may need to level the site or may arrange a suitably engineered raised base before installation. Please ask the supplier to assess your ground conditions and confirm the foundation requirements for your chosen model.
Choose a spot with stable ground and good drainage with practical access from your house. While placing the sauna, consider sunlight, wind exposure and nearby trees and view from windows. Leave the required clearance around the sauna and use suitable screening or planting if you want more privacy.
Most electric sauna heaters need an appropriately rated electrical supply and larger heaters may need a dedicated circuit. Exact requirements depend on heater's output and distance from your property. You need to ask a qualified electrician to confirm the supply, cabling and installation requirements before ordering.
Some sauna kits are designed for DIY assembly but larger cabins require professional installation. You need to check if the sauna price includes assembly and installation price. Hire a qualified professional for installation and electric work.
Many garden sauna kits arrive on a pallet for kerbside delivery and moving and assembly are separately arranged. Before ordering, measure the gates and narrow turns and confirm if the delivery team can place the sauna in your garden. If a sauna needs specialist lifting equipment, then additional change will be needed.
Position the sauna windows towards your garden or a preferred view and keep it away from neighbouring windows wherever it is possible. Use fences, screens or plants to give your sauna more privacy and keep them far enough away to allow safe airflow and access.
Reviews
4.8
Based on [N] reviews
Sarah M.
Verified buyer, Bath
“Exactly what we hoped for. The team talked us out of a bigger model that wouldn't have suited our garden.”
James T.
Verified buyer, Leeds
“Delivery was smooth and the installers were tidy. We use it most evenings now, even in the rain.”
Priya K.
Verified buyer, Surrey
“Beautifully made. The glass front makes the garden feel part of it. Advice was calm and honest.”
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