Buying guide
A garden sauna gives you a proper Finnish-style sauna a few steps from the back door. Our saunas are made by Palmako in Estonia from Nordic timber and delivered as pre-cut kits. This guide covers the main styles, sizes, heaters, what you need on site, planning and looking after the timber.
Barrel, cube or cabin?
| Style | Our models | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Fjell (0.9 to 1.6 + 0.7m², from £2,390), Skog (oval, 3.0 + 1.5m², from £5,250) | Round shape helps the heat circulate evenly. Roof shingles included. Glass front and thermo timber options on Fjell. |
| Cube barrel | Lys (1.1 to 2.0m², from £2,590) | Modern squared shape, only 2.08m high, smoked glass door and optional glass front. Shingles included. |
| Cabin | Kota (2.6 or 4.1m², from £2,490), Stille (1.5 to 8.2m², from £2,690), Hytte (4.1m², from £3,990), Tind (insulated, 3.5m², £4,250), Lumi (3.8 + 2.1m², £5,990), Lumi Large (insulated, 7.6m², £7,250) | More room, upright walls, windows and space for a changing area or canopy. Painted finishes on Kota, Hytte and Stille. Roof covering is extra. |
| Sauna house | Stuga (6.8m² with dressing room, from £5,490), Vik (sauna and garden room, 12.8m², from £7,750), Bastu (three rooms, 11.5m², £8,250) | A sauna plus a separate room for changing, relaxing or a garden office. Roof covering is extra. |
Want the full spa routine? We also sell wood-fired hot tubs and cold plunges, made by Palmako and delivered the same way.
More detail in our guides: garden sauna buying guide, barrel or cabin sauna? and planning permission for saunas and hot tubs.
Sizes and how many people
Sizes are given as the inside floor area of the steam room, with any changing room or canopy added after a plus sign. As a guide from Palmako: Fjell 0.9m² seats 2 to 3; Fjell 1.3 and 1.6, Skog, Hytte 4.1 and Stille 5.3 seat up to 4; Lys 1.1 and 1.4 and Lumi seat up to 3; Lys 2.0 seats up to 6. A changing room makes a big difference in British weather: you can undress, cool down and keep towels dry without going outside.
Choosing a heater
Palmako saunas come without a heater, so you choose. Electric heaters (Narvi 3.6, 6 or 9kW, or the award-winning HUUM Drop) are the easiest to live with: switch on and the sauna warms up while you get ready. They must be connected by a qualified electrician, and bigger heaters may need a dedicated supply. A wood-burning heater (Harvia WKM3 set) gives the traditional crackle and smell and needs no electrics, but needs a chimney and a little more time. Heaters are sized to the steam room, and we'll check the match before you order.
Base, access and delivery
- Base: every sauna needs a flat, level, solid base: a concrete slab, paving or a screw pile base.
- Access: kits arrive by lorry in large, heavy packs (cabins can weigh over a tonne), so think about how they'll reach the spot.
- Delivery: free to mainland England, Wales and Scotland, direct from Palmako. Islands and Northern Ireland are quoted separately.
- Lead time: made to order, typically 2 to 4 weeks, longer for Stille, Lys and painted finishes.
Planning permission
In England many garden saunas fall under permitted development for outbuildings: within 2m of a boundary the limit is 2.5m high. Our barrels are 2.06 to 2.25m, the Lys 2.08m, Lumi about 2.37m, and Hytte and Stille about 2.49 to 2.50m. A heater flue adds height, and rules differ in Scotland, Wales, conservation areas and for listed buildings, so check with your council if you're not sure.
Building and treating the timber
The kits are pre-cut with an assembly manual and all the fixings. It's a two-person job; allow a day or more depending on the size. Palmako delivers the timber untreated (unless you choose a painted finish), so treat the inside with a sauna-safe product and the outside straight after assembly. Palmako guarantees its timber buildings for 5 years.
Common questions
Is a heater included?
No. Choose an electric or wood-burning heater with your sauna; heaters are delivered with it.
Is the roof included?
Barrel and cube saunas come with roof shingles. Cabins (Hytte, Stille, Lumi) need a roof covering, which we supply in the right quantity for each model.
Can you install it?
Ask us. We're confirming installation with Palmako.