Buying a home sauna, step by step
The steps
On this page
Buying a sauna is a run of decisions, and each one narrows the next. Work through them in order, and use the linked guides when you need the detail.
1 Decide where it will go
Indoors, a cabin fits a spare room, attic or garage and starts at about €2,099. Outside, a garden sauna starts at €3,550, holds more people and keeps heat and steam out of the house, but needs a base and a cable from the house.
2 Choose infrared or traditional
Infrared runs at about 43 to 57°C, warms up in 15 to 25 minutes and costs about €0.47 a session. Traditional runs at about 66 to 91°C with steam from the stones, and costs about €2.54 a session with a 6 kW heater. Most garden saunas are traditional; a wood-burning stove is an option on some.
3 Pick the shape and size
Buy for the number of people who will usually use it at once. A 2-person indoor cabin is about 1.2 × 1.9 m; a 4 to 6 person garden sauna is typically 2.2 to 3 m on its longest side. For the garden, choose between a barrel, a cube and a cabin.
4 Set a budget, including running costs
Compare listed prices for the type and size you've chosen, and add delivery, fitting, a base and electrics where they aren't included. Then check what it will cost to run at your electricity price, and whether it beats paying for public sessions.
5 Check planning and wiring
Most garden saunas are exempt from planning if all your garden buildings stay within 30 m² and at least 25 m² of garden is left. A traditional heater needs a dedicated circuit, and any new wiring must be done and certified by a registered electrical contractor. Get the electrics priced before you choose the spot.
6 Prepare the space
A garden sauna needs a solid, level base, ready before delivery, and a route wide enough to bring it in. Indoors, check the ceiling height and leave space around the cabin.
7 Compare sellers and buy
Ask each seller what the price includes (heater, delivery, assembly, installation), the heater's kW rating, the warranty on the cabin and the heater, and who prepares the base. If you can, try the type you're buying first.
Running costs at 40.64c per kWh. Prices are listed prices from Irish sellers; see how we price.
Common questions
What should I check before buying a sauna?
Where it will go, whether you want infrared or traditional heat, the size for your usual group, the full cost including delivery, base and electrics, the running cost at your electricity price, the planning rules for a garden sauna, and what each seller includes and guarantees.
What is the best first sauna for a home?
For most people starting out, a 1 or 2 person indoor infrared cabin: the lowest price, often no new wiring, no base, no planning and the lowest running costs. If you want high heat and steam, or a sauna for a group, a traditional garden sauna suits better.
Sources
Where to buy a sauna in Ireland
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