If you’re going the electrical route, the sauna heater’s aesthetic may come into play too. The heater’s finish and style can easily influence the feel of your sauna, so take some time to research options and find one that matches your taste.

How to use the sauna

If you’re on board with sauna life and ready to create your own, the last thing you need to learn is how to actually use one. In order to get the full health benefits of a hot room, there is a ritual and technique that must be followed. First of all, you want to keep your sauna super clean, which means all bathers should shower before entering. And though it’s kosher to sit in a sauna naked, you should always keep a towel between your skin and the wood bench—think of this as an opportunity to style your sauna with cute merch. The suggested strategy for a sauna session is to heat up for 10 to 15 minutes inside, then to cool down outside by jumping in the shower—or straight into a nearby freezing lake like a true Finn.

While in the sauna, Finns also traditionally slap themselves with a bunch of birch twigs (called a vasta, or vihta), which aids in circulation and adds to the soothing aroma. Another fun activity is heating up the room by throwing water over the hot coals. This calls for another great accessory: a bucket and ladle, which we love in coordinating wood, but can also be found with a modern aluminum finish. For deeper reading about everything sauna, we recommend this super-thorough blog or speaking with an experienced contractor.

How much does it cost to build a home sauna?

The cost of creating a home sauna can vary. “When we look at the breakdown, I think we can conservatively estimate that the cost for a DIY sauna could range anywhere between $3,000 and upwards of $20,000,” says Kathryn Linea Rund, strategic design and development advisor at Real Estate Bees. “You can keep the costs down with found or reclaimed materials, and the simpler and smaller you go, the cheaper the costs will be. If you pay someone to build a sauna, all the same costs would apply, but you now also have the costs for labor, design, and engineering.  Another option would be buying a prefabricated sauna and paying for delivery and installation.” The prefab route can save you a good chunk of money, especially if you go for a smaller one- or two-person sauna.

Is it cheaper to build or buy a home sauna?

In most cases, it’s cheaper to buy a premade sauna, but you won’t get as large or as customized a sauna as you would if you constructed one yourself, to your own bespoke requirements. And if you want a larger home sauna, DIY building is definitely the way to go. “With DIY, you can save 30 to 40% over a prefab, but only if you know what you’re doing,” says founder and principal of Errez Interior Design, Matt McGarry. A lot of this cost is dedicated to proper insulation, but that spend saves you money in the long run, McGarry explains. “Insulation isn’t just a line item; it’s the backbone of efficiency. Expect to spend $15 to $30 per square meter, which for a standard eight-by-five-foot sauna (40 square feet), means $300 to $600 in total. Fiberglass is cheap, but can degrade. Mineral wool is a solid middle ground, and spray foam, while pricey, seals like a vault. Skimp here, and you’re left with a drafty wooden shed instead of an outdoor sanctuary.”

Are home saunas expensive to run?

The average home sauna is quite affordable to run. Assuming you use a two- to three-person sauna three to four times a week, and for about 15 minutes each time, you can expect expenses of just five to $10 each week. Infrared saunas can cost half that much. And of course a smaller one-person sauna will cost less, as well. Just make sure you spend the money to build your sauna properly and to maintain it as needed over time—proper construction and maintenance can save you cash in the long run, says Kiril Ratia, founder of Ratia Construction. “If, on paper, you can DIY a sauna for a few hundred dollars, just remember that the cost of potential damage done to your home with one leak or electrical malfunction can snowball very quickly.” That damage could be catastrophic were there a fire, of course. So when in doubt, hire a professional to check things out.