Not only that, but we can help you with any questions you have regarding your custom DIY sauna build. We have years of experience building saunas and can answer any questions you have.
We also offer custom modular freestanding saunas which can be installed and taken down when you move (go to modular freestanding saunas page here). But if you’re looking for a permanent DIY sauna kit, keep reading!
Our all-in-one kits come with everything you need to install a custom sauna in your space:
Tongue-and-Groove Wood Panels: High-quality, pre-cut panels for walls and ceilings.
Pre-Made Benching & Backrests: Comfortable, sturdy seating designed for relaxation. Our benching & backrests are made of clear, knot-free wood as knots get hot in the sauna.
Sauna Heater: Choose from our selection of top-rated heaters to suit your sauna size and style. Wifi, knob-control and wood-fired sauna heaters are available.
Ventilation Components: Proper airflow for a safe and enjoyable sauna experience.
Door : A stylish, tempered glass (or douglas fir frame) sauna door is included in kit.
View all of the custom options available in your sauna below.
The size and layout of your sauna are important to consider before building the sauna.
Factors to consider are :
We can help walk you through the process to ensure that the sauna is the right size and layout for you. Call 612.505.9700 or reach us through our contact form for any questions you have!
The sauna heater is the heartbeat of the sauna. Each sauna heater has something to offer. Warranty, steam quality, durability, Wifi (or not) to name a few.
We will help you properly size your sauna heater and walk you through the different heater options available (and why you might choose one heater over another). We offer both Wifi and knob-controlled electric sauna heaters.
Featured Sauna Heater Brands :
All our wood is mill-direct, using only the highest quality, hand-selected wood. All from verified sustainable forests. All wood choices are chosen for their ability to hold up for years (typically decades) in the harsh sauna environment.
All wood that touches skin (benches, backrests, duckboard flooring, heater guard, headrest) is chosen for staying cool to the touch of the skin (knots get hot in the sauna!)
Wood Types Available :
Each custom DIY sauna kit comes with a standard 2-bar backrest. There are upgraded backrest versions available.
We offer 4 main types of lighting for your sauna :
LED strip lighting comes pre-installed behind your backrest. Can also be placed under bench.
Puck Lights go into the ceiling.
Globe Light mounts on the wall.
Each sauna door swings out. The glass doors feature a single pane, tempered glass with a latch. Wood doors feature a single clear, tempered pane down the center, with ball & catch latch or self-closing hinges.
Door Types Available :
Our sauna doors are available in sizes :
Our standard sauna window comes in a single pane, tempered glass. We do offer double pane windows. They’re available in both clear and bronze tint. All windows pre-hung in the panels.
Below are our standard sauna window sizes in the custom sauna. We can do entirely custom window sizing if the below options are not what you’re looking for.
Window Sizes:
A duckboard walkway comes standard with each sauna kit. Duckboards sit on the floor of the sauna and are walked on.
Duckboards are nice to have, but they’re not a requirement. Particularly if you put tile down in your sauna. If your sauna floor is concrete, we recommend a duckboard.
Duckboards usually are built in the primary wood species of the sauna.
An additional duckboard can be purchased for outside of the sauna (entryway, etc).
Upper bench skirts are an upgrade in the sauna. They sit in between the lower and upper bench (lower bench skirts are available, just far less popular for convenience reasons).
Bench skirts are popular in saunas for aesthetics purposes. They help tie the look of the sauna together.
Additional materials, parts, accessories available in DIY sauna kit include :
We keep our custom DIY sauna kit process as simple as possible – without leaving out any critical details of your sauna build. It starts with submitting a form or giving us a call at 612.505.9700. Don’t hesitate to ask us any questions throughout the building process.
It starts when you submit a quote, or give us a call (612.505.9700).
After you submit a form, we’ll reach out to you about your sauna project!
We’ll walk you through the different sauna options available, preparation needed before installing a sauna, and answer any questions you have during the process.
At this phase we’ll need exact measurements of your sauna so we can go on to the next step…
After you’ve decided on the custom options, we’ll get a CAD drawing for it. You’ll still have time to change the sauna if you want.
After you’ve approved the CAD, the building process will start.
Typically custom saunas have a lead time (duration changes throughout the year).
We’ll let you know when the sauna is ready to be picked up or delivered!
Building your own sauna is not as daunting as it may seem. If you can frame a room, you can install one of our custom DIY sauna kits. Below are some examples of saunas that all started with one of these same kits. Kits can be ordered as custom infrared, custom indoor, or custom outdoor.
The team of sauna builders here in Cokato, Minnesota has been doing this for decades, building thousands of these pre-cut sauna kits each year.
All sauna components including the sauna heater, wood cabinetry, controls, speaker system, and LED lighting system are covered under our industry leading 5 year warranty.
Building your own sauna isn’t just about saving money. The real satisfaction comes from creating something permanent with your own hands, exactly how you want it.
Here’s what draws people to DIY sauna kits:
You Control Every Detail When you build it yourself, you decide exactly where that bench sits, how the lighting feels, which way the door swings. No compromises because “that’s how we usually do it.” You know your space better than anyone – that odd corner or sloped ceiling becomes an opportunity, not a problem.
The Timeline Works for You Professional installation means working around someone else’s schedule. With a DIY kit, you work at your own pace. Take a weekend, spread it over a month – whatever fits your life. Most customers spend 20-30 hours total on installation, usually spread over 2-3 weekends.
You Actually Save Significant Money A DIY sauna kit can save you anywhere from 30%-60% off a professionally installed custom sauna. That’s real money staying in your pocket – enough for years of sauna accessories, or maybe that deck renovation you’ve been considering.
You Know Exactly What’s Behind Those Walls Every screw, every piece of insulation, every electrical connection – you installed it. When something needs maintenance five years down the road (spoiler: it probably won’t), you know exactly how everything fits together. No calling three different contractors trying to figure out who did what.
Let’s talk straight about what you’re signing up for. This isn’t assembling IKEA furniture, but it’s also not building a house. If you’ve framed a wall or installed a door, you’ve got the skills.
The Skills You Need (Or Can Learn)
Some people knock it out in a long weekend. Others take two months working Sunday afternoons. There’s no wrong pace.
Tools You’ll Actually Use
Already have most of these? Good. Need to borrow or rent a few? That works too. No need to buy professional-grade everything for one project.
Before Your Kit Arrives
Frame out your space with 2x4s or 2x6s, 16 inches on center. Nothing complicated – just a box with a door opening. Insulate with R-13 minimum. Run your electrical to where the heater will mount and any lighting– we recommend you hire a pro for for running electrical.
Install your vapor barrier on the warm side (inside) of the insulation. This is critical – moisture in your walls leads to problems. Use foil vapor barrier, overlap the seams by 3 inches. Takes an extra hour to do right, saves years of headaches.
When Your Kit Arrives
Everything comes labeled and organized. Panels are numbered, hardware is sorted, and you get detailed drawings showing exactly what goes where. It’s like a giant, sophisticated puzzle where all the pieces actually fit.
Start with the ceiling – it’s easier to work overhead before the walls go up. The tongue-and-groove panels lock together; you’re mostly just air nailing the T&G to the studs. The walls go up next, working from the corners in. Leave the door wall for last – it’s easier to move materials in and out.
The Satisfying Parts
Installing the benches is where it starts feeling real. They come pre-assembled; you’re just securing them to the wall cleats we provide. The heater mounts to the wall (follow those clearances exactly – this isn’t where you improvise). Door installation takes patience but isn’t complicated – think of it like hanging an exterior door, just smaller and lighter.
The Final Details
Running the heater controls, installing your light fixtures, adding the backrest – these finishing touches take a few hours but transform a wooden box into an actual sauna. First firing is always a moment – that new wood smell, the heater glowing, realizing you actually built this thing.
Overthinking the Layout Upper bench at 38-40 inches, lower at 18-19 inches. Door swings out. Heater opposite the door, low vent under the heater, high vent diagonal across. That’s 90% of sauna design right there. Don’t overthink it.
Skimping on Electrical Your electrician quotes $1,200 but your neighbor says he’ll do it for $200? Get the licensed electrician. Saunas pull serious amperage. This isn’t where you cut corners.
Wrong Wood in the Wrong Place Any wood with knots touching skin will get uncomfortably hot. That’s why bench tops and backrests come in clear cedar or aspen. Save the knotty pine for the walls where it looks great and nobody’s sitting on it.
Forgetting About Venting Having an inlet vent low, near the heater and an outlet vent kitty corner (typically under the under bench) is critical. Venting is needed to ensure proper performance of your sauna heater.
DIY Works Great When:
Consider Our Modular Kits Instead When:
Go Full Custom Installation When:
Your custom DIY sauna kit awaits. Call 612-505-9700 or contact us online to get yours.
From the ancient Finnish Savusauna to the traditional Finnish sauna we know today, powered by an electric sauna heater or a wood stove, saunas have been a place of gathering for centuries.
Whether you plan to enjoy your sauna by yourself, or sharing it with close friends and family members for years to come, we’d love to be a part of your story.
We use our own saunas daily, the process is truly in our blood. Our Finnish ancestors brought this habit with them and it has been passed down for generations.
Your one-stop-shop for all of your DIY sauna needs. Get expert recommendations tailored to your space, budget, and goals. We’ll reach out to you about your project after you submit a form.
Our sauna specialists offer personalized guidance. Get expert recommendations tailored to your space, budget, and wellness goals. We’ll reach out to you about your project after you submit a form.
