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Garden saunas in the UK: sauna tents, outdoor cabins and plug-in infrared
For most UK gardens the choice is between a wood-fired sauna tent, a permanent outdoor cabin or barrel sauna, and a small plug-in infrared cabin indoors. Here's how they compare on space, heat, running costs and the rules worth checking first.
Sizing and running-cost calculator
Electric (infrared) running cost
Wood-fired running cost
The electric figure assumes full power the whole time, so it's an upper estimate. Your unit rate is on your energy bill. The 25p and £8 defaults are only starting points; put in your own figures.
Garden sauna options: tent, barrel or cabin
| Sauna tent | Barrel or cabin sauna | Indoor infrared cabin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set-up | Pitch on flat ground; packs away | Permanent; needs a level, solid base | Assemble indoors or in a garden room |
| Heat | Wood-fired stove with stones and steam | Wood-fired or electric heater with stones | Infrared panels; lower air temperature, no steam |
| Planning | Portable; bast says no building permit needed | Usually treated as an outbuilding; check permitted development | Not normally a planning question indoors |
| Power | None needed for a wood stove | Wood needs none; electric heaters often need a dedicated circuit | Small models run from a 13 amp socket |
| Price on this page | From £1,495 (bast Löv Basic) | Not compared here | £1,499 (HealthPod HotBox 1) |
A permanent garden sauna counts as an outbuilding for planning purposes. The Planning Portal's guidance for houses in England says outbuildings under permitted development must be single storey, no more than 2.5 m high if within 2 m of a boundary, not in front of the house, and, together with other extensions and buildings, must not cover more than half the land around the original house. Different rules apply to flats, listed buildings, conservation areas and in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check with your council if you're unsure. Electrical work to power an outdoor heater should be done by a qualified electrician.
Spec comparison
Rows that suit the number of people and space you entered are highlighted.
| Model | People | Space needed | Height | Heat source | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bast Löv Basic | 2 to 4 | 210 x 210 cm set up; bast recommends a 250 x 250 cm area | 190 cm at centre | Wood-fired compact stove; bast says 80°C in 15 to 20 minutes | £1,495 |
| bast Näver Basic | 4 to 6 | About 2.3 x 2.3 m (bast's FAQ says allow about 2.5 x 2.5 m) | 190 cm | Wood-fired Malm stove; above 100°C, about 20 minutes to heat | £1,695 |
| bast Björk Basic | 4 to 10 | About 3.2 x 3.2 m | 210 cm | Wood-fired Malm stove; about 25 minutes to heat | £1,895 |
| HealthPod HotBox 1 (indoor infrared) | 1 | 100 x 90 cm, 190 cm tall | 190 cm | Electric infrared, runs from a standard 13 amp socket | £1,499 |
bast prices are bast Sauna UK's listed prices for the Basic packages at the time of writing (Löv Premium is listed at £1,945, Näver Deluxe at £2,645 and Björk Plus at £2,095). HealthPod's price is from its own product page.
Featured retailer: bast Sauna UK
bast makes portable sauna tents with wood-fired stainless steel stoves, sold in three sizes. The tents are three-layer fire- and water-resistant fabric, pack into a bag that fits a car boot, and bast says they go up in about 10 minutes. bast lists a 2-year warranty and free delivery.
Garden and home sauna buying guide (UK)
1. Garden tent, garden cabin or indoor cabin
Sauna tents are the cheapest way to get proper wood-fired heat and steam, and they pack away. Garden cabins and barrel saunas are permanent, cost more and may need a base and planning advice. Indoor infrared cabins suit a spare room, garage or garden room and run on electricity, often from a normal socket for the smaller models.
2. Measure the space properly
You need a flat, firm, non-flammable area for a tent, with the stove pipe well clear of trees, fences and overhangs. bast recommends about 2.5 x 2.5 m for Löv and Näver and about 3.2 x 3.2 m for Björk. For an indoor cabin, measure the footprint and allow room for the door and airflow.
3. Heat and steam
Wood-fired stoves with stones give the classic Finnish experience, with steam when you pour water on the stones. bast quotes above 100°C for Näver and above 80°C for Löv. Infrared cabins run cooler in air temperature and don't give you steam.
4. Power, smoke and the rules
- Electric: check whether the cabin really runs from a 13 amp socket. Anything bigger usually needs a dedicated circuit from a qualified electrician.
- Wood-fired: check whether you're in a smoke control area and whether the stove is exempt, and burn only dry wood.
- Planning: portable tents generally don't need permission. Permanent structures can, especially near a boundary, at the front of the house, or in conservation areas.
5. Running costs
Use the calculator above. Electric costs depend on heater power, session length and your unit rate. Wood costs depend on the price of logs where you live and how many sessions a bag gives you.
6. Weather and storage
Tents can stay up for long stretches, but wind, snow and damp storage all shorten the life of fabric and stoves. Dry everything before you pack it away.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home sauna cost to run in the UK?
For an electric sauna, multiply the heater power in kW by the hours it's on and by your unit rate. A 2 kW heater on for 45 minutes uses at most 1.5 kWh, so at 25p per kWh that's about 38p a session. For a wood-fired tent, the cost is mostly firewood: divide the price of a bag of dry logs by the number of sessions you get from it. The calculator on this page does both.
Do I need planning permission for a garden sauna tent?
bast says its tents need no building permit, as they're portable and come down. Permanent garden saunas and cabins are different and can fall under permitted development rules or need planning permission, depending on size, height and position. If you're in a listed building, a conservation area or a flat, check with your local council first.
Can I use a wood-fired sauna stove in a smoke control area?
Many UK towns and cities are smoke control areas, where you can only burn authorised fuels or use exempt appliances. Check your council's website before buying a wood-fired tent, and ask the seller whether their stove is exempt. Use only dry wood either way, and think about neighbours and where the smoke goes.
Will a sauna run off a normal 13 amp plug?
Some small infrared cabins are designed to, such as the 1-person HealthPod HotBox 1 on this page. A 13 amp socket can supply up to about 3 kW, so larger cabins and traditional electric heaters often need a dedicated circuit fitted by a qualified electrician under Part P of the Building Regulations. Never run a sauna from an extension lead.
How many people fit in a sauna tent?
bast lists Löv for 2 to 4 people, Näver for 4 to 6 and Björk for 4 to 10, depending on the benches you choose. For regular use by two or three people, the middle size gives room to sit without being squeezed.
Is a sauna safe for everyone?
No. Heat exposure isn't suitable for everyone, including during pregnancy, with some heart conditions or with some medication. Speak to your GP first if any of that applies. We don't make health claims about saunas.