Are you thinking about building your own outdoor sauna? Well, you’ve come to the right place! As someone who is passionate about saunas, I am thrilled to share my experience and knowledge with you.

There are several ways to get an outdoor sauna, but I believe that the best way is to either DIY from scratch (if you have the time) or get a builder to do a custom build.

Barrel saunas and sauna kits may serve purpose, but nothing beats a cabin-style outdoor sauna like they have in Finland.

When you’re starting your outdoor sauna project, just like with building your own house, you want to begin with good outdoor sauna plans. This includes careful consideration of layout, ventilation, construction techniques, details, materials, and heater choice. You want to ensure that your sauna is well-thought-out to provide you with the best sauna experience possible.

Until recently, it was almost impossible to find outdoor sauna plans that included proper bench height, let alone check all these boxes. We are happy to say that good sauna plans are becoming easier to find.

What Makes a Good Outdoor Sauna Plan?

A good sauna plan consists of three key principles: heating, ventilation, and surroundings. The heating aspect involves ensuring enough heat and steam capacity to allow sweating and steam generation from the hot stove stones. Ventilation is important for fresh air circulation, removal of perspiration, carbon dioxide, and steam accumulation.

It should strike a balance between not creating chilling or burning sensations and not cooling off the sauna too quickly. Lastly, the surroundings of the sauna should be designed to support and enhance the sauna experience, preparing and helping the mind to absorb the sauna ritual.

Outdoor sauna layout

Good sauna layout is a key to building a good outdoor sauna. When in doubt, do it like the Fins do. Outdoor sauna should have a spacious changing room and a shower inside. The shower is not 100% necessary but it is a nice addition.

Sauna dimensions for 4 people should be at minimum 6’ x 6’ or 2 meters by 2 meters. All our projects are 2m by 2m or bigger. The ideal bench layout is benches adjacent to the wall, opposite the stove. With this type of layout you will avoid the awkward corner situation.

There is a lot more to a good outdoor sauna plans than the layout. Read below for more tips.

What is essential to a good sauna plan package?

When you consider buying outdoor sauna plans, make sure they have

Well thought out internal layout
Proper framing
Sauna suitable materials are specified ( no styrofoam!)
Proper ventilation for the type of stove.
Complete list of materials
Fire safety considered
Plumbing diagram

Materials Needed to Build an Outdoor Sauna

Your sauna will need several things. Depending on your layout and the site, the list of materials will vary. First, I will list the necessary items:

2 x 4’s for walls. ( 2×2’s if your are building an internal sauna)
Rock Wool Insulation
Aluminum Breather membrane
Sauna Heater
Sauna heater rocks (olivine diabase)
Wood boards for internal and external siding
Wood for benches
Ventilation system
Accessories (e.g. bucket, ladle, thermometer, hygrometer)
Door with wooden handles
Chimney system (if going with wood heater)

Nice to have:

Plumbing, electricity
Internal shower
Window to the outside
Thermally modified wood
Wireless sauna heater control unit ( if going with electric heater)

Looking for the perfect outdoor sauna plan?

If you’re looking for the perfect outdoor sauna plan, look no further! We’ve done the work for you and designed a number of great outdoor saunas. Our plans include everything from sections, elevations, framing layouts, constructions step-by-step diagrams, and a bill of materials. A professional architect has done them and are without a doubt the best outdoor sauna plans available online.

I hope this article has given you some helpful insights into building your own outdoor sauna. Remember, a sauna is a long-term investment in your health and well-being, so take your time and enjoy the process. Happy building!

A good home sauna plan should prioritize two critical aspects: ventilation and electrical setup.

Ventilation: It is essential to design for fresh air intake and steamy used air outtake. If the sauna is adjacent to a bathroom, it might be possible to use existing bathroom mechanical ventilation, but it’s not always a sure thing. Factors such as the distance from the hot room door to the vent need to be considered. Fresh air intake is also an important issue to address.
Electrical: A 220v setup needs its own circuit and attention to the length/gauge of the wire. Hiring a licensed electrician can be costly, but it’s necessary for safety and proper setup.

Additionally, the changing room next to the hot room door should be more than just a place to dump your clothes. It should be a place to enjoy time between sauna rounds. If possible, create an outdoor space with a simple deck, patio chairs, and maybe a fire pit. Introducing some native greenery can also enhance the experience.

Lastly, it’s important to practice spending at least the same time cooling down as you do heating up. This allows your body enough time to cool down in a cool environment.