A DIY sauna kit is a sauna that arrives cut to size, with every part and a manual, so you can put it together at home. In Australia, kits run from about $1,450 for a portable sauna tent to over $30,000 for a large European log sauna. Two people can build most barrel kits in about a day.
Below are the 10 kinds of DIY sauna kits that suit Australian homes, with our current prices, what comes in the box and what each one needs. Prices are our regular prices at the time of writing (October 2026). Any sale price shows on the product cards.
Why Choose DIY Sauna Kits?
A kit usually costs less than a sauna built from scratch, and you skip the design work. Whether you want an indoor sauna for a spare room, an outdoor barrel sauna or a log sauna for the garden, there is a kit that fits.
Most kits come partly pre-assembled, with the walls, benches and door already made. There is no cutting. On most kits the only extra part to buy is the heater, which you choose yourself. Our barrel kits take two people about 6 to 8 hours with basic tools.
1. 2 to 4 Person Barrel Sauna
The barrel sauna is the classic outdoor sauna kit, and the easiest one to build. Curved staves wrap around a front and back wall and are held tight by stainless steel straps, like a barrel. It seats 2 to 4 people and fits a small backyard.
The staves are about 38 to 40 mm of solid timber, so the wall itself holds the heat and no extra insulation goes in. You can heat it with an electric or a wood-fired heater.
The kit comes with roof shingles, a bucket and ladle, a thermometer and hygrometer, a lamp holder, a heater fence and about 20 kg of sauna stones. The heater is sold separately, so you can pick the one you want.
Barrel Sauna Sizes and Prices
- White Spruce Barrel Sauna: $6,090 (1500 mm long) or $6,890 (1800 mm long)
- Western Red Cedar Barrel Sauna: $7,190 to $8,890, by length and glass
- UNITY Barrel Sauna (3 to 5 people, full glass front): $6,790 in carbonised spruce or $8,490 in cedar
5% OffWhite Spruce Barrel Sauna2 to 4 people · White spruceIn stockFrom$5,785.50
Cedar Barrel Sauna2 to 4 people · Western red cedarIn stockFrom$7,190
Read More: How to Choose Your Barrel Sauna
2. Barrel Sauna with Porch
A porch turns the barrel sauna into a small outdoor retreat. You get a covered spot to sit and cool down between rounds, and the sauna room stays warm behind the door.
It goes together the same way as the 2 to 4 person barrel. The only difference is the longer staves that make the porch. Our two porch kits seat 4 people:
- COVE Carbonised Spruce Barrel Sauna with Porch: $7,185
- Western Red Cedar Barrel Sauna with Front Porch: $9,385, or $9,685 with half moon glass
Cove Carbonised Barrel + Porch4 people · Carbonised spruceIn stock$7,185
Cedar Barrel Sauna + Porch4 people · Western red cedarIn stockFrom$9,385
3. Best Large Sauna: Square Barrel Sauna
A square barrel sauna uses the same easy barrel assembly, with interlocking tongue and groove staves held by straps. But the square shape gives you the room of a sauna cabin, with two levels of benches against the back wall. Sit high for more heat, or low for less.
The thick staves stand up well to Australian weather, so it suits an outdoor spot. Our square barrel kits seat 4 to 8 people:
- Carbonised Spruce Square Barrel Sauna: $8,185 (1800 mm) or $9,380 (2300 mm)
- Western Red Cedar Square Barrel Sauna: $10,685 (1800 mm) or $12,080 (2300 mm)
- UNION Series, made in Europe in thermo spruce: $10,400 to $15,300
Carbonised Square Barrel4 to 8 people · Carbonised spruceIn stockFrom$8,185
Cedar Square Barrel Sauna4 to 8 people · Western red cedarIn stockFrom$10,685
4. The Ultimate Outdoor Sauna: Barrel Sauna with Panoramic Glass
The panoramic barrel sauna swaps the back wall for a large window. Sit in the heat and look out over your garden, the bush or the water. The window also lets in plenty of natural light.
The kit includes 39 mm Western Red Cedar staves, the panoramic window, a tempered glass door with self-closing hinges, benches, floor platforms, stainless steel straps and roof shingles. The heater is sold separately.
- Cedar Barrel Sauna with Panoramic Glass (4 people): $10,490
- Cedar Barrel Sauna with Panoramic Glass and Porch (4 people): $12,485
5% OffCedar Panoramic Barrel Sauna4 people · Western red cedarIn stock$9,965.50
5% OffCedar Panoramic Barrel + Porch4 people · Western red cedarIn stock$11,860.75
5. Round Cube Saunas
Like the look of a rounded pod sauna, but want more headroom? The Leil Round Cube is a square sauna with soft, rounded corners. It is built the barrel way, so it is quick to put together, and it has more room inside than a barrel of the same length.
Each Round Cube is made in Estonia from 40 mm thermo-treated Nordic spruce, with split-level aspen benches. The double-glazed mirror windows let light in and keep the view in private. They run on an electric heater, sold separately.
Prices run from $21,945 for the Round Cube MINI to $28,665 for the longest Round Cube DOUBLE. See the full Round Cube range.
Made in Europe5% OffLeil® Round Cube Mini3 to 7 people · ThermowoodIn stockFrom$20,847.75
Made in EuropeLeil® Round Cube Single3 to 10 people · ThermowoodIn stockFrom$25,200
6. DIY Sauna Cabins/ Cube Saunas
Prefer the classic sauna room? A sauna cabin has flat walls, a traditional layout and space for more people. Cabins come in two kinds: indoor and outdoor.
Glass Front
An indoor sauna with a glass front fits a spare room, an ensuite or an apartment. The Leil Como indoor saunas come as pre-made ThermoWood wall panels with an insulated ceiling, a tempered glass door and adjustable feet to level them on any floor. They seat 1 to 4 people and cost $10,600 to $13,077, with the electric heater sold separately.
Outdoor Cabin
An outdoor log sauna sits well next to a pool or in a garden. The log boards stack on top of each other, and the shingle or membrane roof keeps the weather out.
- CUBE Log Sauna (4 to 10 people, 45 mm spruce logs, electric or wood-fired heater): $11,500
- Leil Patio Series (40 mm thermowood logs, insulated roof): $15,200 to $33,000
Made in EuropeCube Spruce Log Sauna4 to 10 people · Nordic spruceIn stock$11,500
Made in EuropeLeil® Patio XXS Sauna4 to 5 people · ThermowoodIn stock$15,200
7. Infrared Sauna Kits
An infrared sauna is the simplest kit to set up indoors. It arrives flat-packed with a printed manual, goes together with basic tools, and runs off a standard 230V power point. No special wiring, no plumbing.
Our Aura infrared saunas are made of Canadian hemlock with low EMF carbon panels, and they are SAA Approved and RCM marked. They seat 1 to 4 people and cost $4,099 to $5,841. They suit a spare room, a garage or a wellness room.
5% OffAura 2-Person Infrared, Bluetooth2 people · Canadian hemlockIn stock$4,284
5% OffAura 4-Person Infrared, Bluetooth4 people · Canadian hemlock · Corner modelIn stock$5,409
8. Portable Sauna Tent
The cheapest way to a real wood-fired sauna is a sauna tent. Ours costs $1,450 and comes with its own stainless steel wood stove, so it needs no power at all.
The tent has three layers of insulated fabric on fibreglass poles. It goes up in the backyard and packs away for camping trips or the beach. It is a good first sauna if you are not ready for a permanent one.
9. Sauna Liner Kits
Already have a room that is framed, insulated and wired? Then you only need to line it. You buy the lining boards, bench boards, door and heater, and fit them yourself. Read our sauna insulation guide first, because the insulation and foil go in before the boards.
We sell the parts in our sauna timber and components range. Western Red Cedar lining boards start at $360 a pack, and a pack of the 7.5 mm boards covers about 2 square metres. Canadian hemlock cladding starts at $220 a pack, and glass sauna doors start at $1,100.
Tip: for the 7.5 mm cedar boards, work out the area of your walls and ceiling in square metres, then divide by 2 to get the number of packs.
10. Flat Pack Sauna Kits
A flat pack sauna arrives as a set of parts on one pallet, ready for you to build. The Leil Lerra is our flat pack barrel sauna. It is made in Estonia from 40 mm Thermopine, seats up to 6 people, and comes with a printed manual. Two people can build it in about a day.
The Lerra PURE costs $13,080, and the Lerra PLUS with a covered terrace costs $14,880. You choose the electric heater when you order (it is sold separately), and it ships with the sauna.
Made in EuropeLeil® Lerra Pure Thermo BarrelUp to 6 people · Thermowood · Panoramic window optionIn stock$13,080
Made in EuropeLeil® Lerra Plus Thermo BarrelUp to 6 people · Thermowood · Covered terraceIn stock$14,880
How Much Does a DIY Sauna Kit Cost in Australia?
Here is what the kits cost in our store at the time of writing (October 2026), at regular prices:
- Portable sauna tent with wood stove: $1,450
- Infrared sauna, 1 to 4 people: $4,099 to $5,841
- Barrel sauna, 2 to 6 people: $6,090 to $14,990
- Porch, square barrel and panoramic saunas: $7,185 to $15,300
- European log, indoor and Round Cube saunas: $10,600 to $33,000
On most kits the heater is extra. Electric heaters start at about $500 and wood-fired heaters at about $1,750. Also allow for a level base and a licensed electrician if you choose an electric heater. For the full picture, see how much a sauna costs in Australia and how much it costs to build your own sauna.
How to Build a Sauna Kit at Home in 5 Steps
- Check with your council. Rules on size, height and distance from the boundary differ by state and council.
- Make a flat, level base. A concrete slab or compacted pavers work well. Barrel saunas sit on wooden cradles, so they do not need a full foundation.
- Build it with two people. Follow the manual. Most barrel kits take about 6 to 8 hours, and a flat pack kit takes about a day.
- Get the power connected. In every state, a licensed electrician must wire an electric heater and the light. A wood-fired heater needs a flue and the clearances in its manual.
- Protect the outside. Oil or stain the outside timber so it lasts in the sun and rain.
For every detail, read our complete Australian guide to building a sauna.
What Is the Best Wood for a DIY Sauna in Australia?
- Western Red Cedar: rich colour, a gentle scent and natural resistance to rot. It costs the most.
- Spruce and pine: lighter and cheaper. Carbonised or thermo-treated spruce and pine resist moisture and last well outdoors.
- Canadian hemlock and aspen: smooth and low in resin, so they suit benches, lining and infrared saunas.
More on this in sauna wood types and thermowood vs cedar.
Wrapping Up
With a DIY sauna kit, you do not need carpentry experience to have a home sauna. The parts are cut, the manual is clear, and two people can finish most kits in a day. Start with your space and budget: a tent or an infrared sauna for a small start, a barrel for the classic backyard sauna, or a log sauna for a bigger group. Browse all our sauna kits to compare them side by side.
FAQs
How much do DIY sauna kits cost in Australia?
In our store (October 2026, regular prices), a sauna tent costs $1,450, an infrared sauna starts at $4,099 and a barrel sauna starts at $6,090. Large European log saunas cost up to $33,000. On most kits the heater is extra.
What is the cheapest way to get a sauna at home?
A portable wood-fired sauna tent ($1,450, stove included) or an infrared sauna that plugs into a power point (from $4,099).
Can I install a DIY sauna kit myself without professional help?
Yes. Two people with basic tools can build most kits in about a day. The one job you cannot do yourself is the wiring: a licensed electrician must connect an electric heater and the light.
What is the difference between a barrel sauna and a cabin sauna kit?
Barrel saunas use curved, thick staves held by straps, so they are quick to build. Cabin saunas have flat walls and a more traditional room layout with more space.
Do sauna kits need extra insulation added during installation?
No. Barrel and log kits use 38 to 45 mm solid timber that holds the heat. Liner kits are the exception: you insulate the room yourself before the boards go on.
What size sauna kit is best for a small Australian backyard?
A 2 to 4 person barrel sauna in the 1500 mm length, or the Leil Lerra PURE, which is about 2.2 m by 2.1 m and seats up to 6.
Can DIY sauna kits be heated with firewood instead of electricity?
Yes for most outdoor kits, such as the barrel, square barrel and Cube saunas. Some kits, such as the Leil Lerra, are made for an electric heater. Infrared saunas use electric panels only.
What's the difference between an infrared sauna kit and a traditional sauna kit?
Infrared panels warm your body directly at a lower air temperature. A traditional heater warms the air and the stones, and you can pour water for steam. More in traditional vs infrared saunas.
Do I need a permit to install a sauna kit at home in Australia?
It depends on your state and council. Small freestanding structures are often exempt, but the limits on size, height and distance from the boundary differ. Check with your council before you order.
What wood is best for a home sauna kit: cedar, spruce, or aspen?
Cedar is the premium choice for its scent and rot resistance. Spruce is the lower cost choice, and thermo-treated spruce lasts well outdoors. Aspen and hemlock suit benches and indoor lining.
How long does it take to assemble a DIY sauna kit at home?
About 6 to 8 hours for two people on most barrel kits, and about a day for a flat pack kit. Large log saunas take longer.
