How to Plan a Wood Fired Sauna Experience at Home in the UK

A wood fired sauna at home gives you reliable, dry heat on cold or wet days. You walk a short distance from the house and step into a warm, simple space.

To make that work, you need to decide where the sauna sits, how the stove and flue will run, and how you move between your house, the cabin and any cooling-off area.

Why choose wood fired saunas for a UK home?

Wood fired saunas give you real flame, steady heat and the scent of timber. The air often feels softer than in a dry electric cabin.

In most UK homes they work best outdoors. You step from a cool garden or courtyard into warm air that you control through the fire and air vents.

Unlike electric models, these saunas need more hands-on setup and a proper flue, but many owners like that part of the routine.

Can you install a wood fired sauna indoors, or does it need to be outside?

The stove produces real smoke, so you need a safe flue route and good ventilation. That becomes complex and expensive inside a normal house.

Indoor use tends to make sense only in purpose-built outbuildings with the right structure, air flow and fire clearances. If you are not working with a suitable outbuilding and a competent flue installer, you should keep it outside and look at an electric sauna for any indoor room.

For most UK households the best place for a wood fired sauna is:

• A garden cabin
• A corner of a terrace or patio
• A solid base beside a swim spa or hot tub

Electric saunas suit indoor rooms more easily, especially where flue routes are limited. Wood fired units usually sit better outdoors in gardens, on terraces or beside other spa products.

Where is the best place to put a wood fired sauna at home?

On site visits we start with three questions: how easy it is to reach the sauna, where the smoke will go and where you will cool down between sessions.

You want a short, safe route from the house, with a level path, simple lighting and a clear spot for shoes and robes.

Check prevailing wind direction so smoke does not blow straight towards doors, windows or close neighbours.

Basic screening, planting and careful door placement usually give enough privacy for evening use.

How much space do you need for a wood fired sauna setup?

You do not need a huge garden, but you do need space for more than the cabin itself.

Plan for:

• The footprint of the sauna and its roof
• Space for the door to open fully
• A small area by the door for shoes, robes and towels
• A safe clear zone around the flue and any hot surfaces
• A spot to store dry wood close by

Inside, check bench length and headroom. A compact two-person cabin should still let you sit upright in comfort. If you want to lie down, you will need longer benches.

Many smaller UK gardens suit compact outdoor sauna cabins and barrel designs from our sauna and steam range, which keep the footprint tight while still giving room for two to four people.

What base and flue setup do wood fired saunas require?

The cabin needs a firm, level base that drains well. In many installations, owners use a small concrete slab, porcelain tiles on a prepared base or composite decking that can carry the weight. The key checks are load rating and drainage.

We supply several outdoor cabins in our sauna and steam range with either a wood burning stove or an electric heater, so we can match the heat source to your space and local requirements.

The flue needs the same care. You must:

• Use a flue system rated for solid fuel
• Take it to a safe height above the roof line
• Keep clear of nearby trees, fences and overhangs
• Fit caps and, if needed, spark arrestors in line with stove guidance

Good flue design helps the stove draw well and keeps smoke away from doors, windows and seating areas. Avoid long horizontal runs or tight bends in the flue, as they make the stove harder to light and keep drawing. In many cases the safest option is a twin-wall stainless system that runs straight up from the stove through the roof with minimal bends.

In the UK you also need to take neighbours and local guidance into account. A modern efficient stove, a suitable flue and dry wood usually keep smoke low and directed away from nearby properties.

How do you shape the experience you want from your sauna?

When you have agreed the layout and flue route, you can decide what you want each session to feel like.

Decide how you like to use heat:

• Higher temperatures for short, intense sessions
• Lower, gentler heat for longer stays
• Still, dry air or soft steam from ladling water on the stones

These stoves warm up over time. In most installations we see, people light the stove 45 to 60 minutes before they plan to use it, then hold the cabin at a steady heat with small, regular top-up logs.

Warm, low-level light is easier on the eyes than bright white spots, so most customers we work with choose simple wall or under-bench lighting that avoids glare and keeps wiring straightforward.

Plan a basic cooling routine, such as a cold shower on the terrace or a seat outside the cabin where you can rest between sessions.

Which accessories make a wood fired outdoor sauna easier to use?

A few specific items make it easier to use and look after a wood fired sauna:

• A bucket and ladle for water and aromatherapy oils
• A clear thermometer, and sometimes a hygrometer, so you understand the heat and humidity
• Fire gloves and an ash shovel for safe stove care
• A neat wood store or log rack close to the cabin
• Good quality towels and robes with hooks near the door
• Simple path and step lighting

If you plan to link your sauna to a wider home spa, you might also look at cold plunge tubs or outdoor showers.

How do you maintain a wood fired sauna, so it lasts in the British weather?

Because the cabin sits outside all year, steady, simple care matters more than occasional deep cleans.

Key habits include:

• Emptying ash into a safe metal container once it has cooled
• Checking door seals, hinges and vents so the stove burns cleanly
• Letting the cabin dry after use by opening vents and, sometimes, the door
• Treating or oiling external timber to cope with rain and sun
• Using dry, seasoned wood so the flue stays cleaner
• Booking periodic checks if you are not confident inspecting the flue yourself or working safely at height

The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company can advise on care products and, where needed, arrange maintenance support from qualified engineers.

What are your next steps if you want a wood fired sauna at home?

If you would like one at home, contact our team to talk about your space for a perfect sauna setup! A short call or showroom visit will help narrow down which models suit your home and what base and flue work you might need.

From there, we can book a site survey so an experienced installer checks access, base options and safe flue routes. During the visit we confirm where the cabin can sit, how the flue will run and what base you will need.

Once you are happy with the plan, you can choose your cabin and stove from our outdoor sauna range, with our team advising on size and layout. At the same time, we can look at the area around the sauna, so access, seating and any other spa products work together.

With sensible planning, a wood fired sauna can become something you use most weeks, not just on occasional weekends.