An Expert Guide to the Best Wood for Saunas

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Sauna: a tradition that has roots in Norway, Finland, and throughout Europe—the thermal bathing tradition is being embraced the world over. Probably in no small part due to an August 2018 Mayo Clinic study¹ that found a regular sauna practice can decrease the risk of vascular diseases and arthritis and improve immune system functionality.

Many fit folks are adding a home sauna to their wellness routines. Saunas are a unique construction puzzle: they have to be heat-resistant and moisture-resistant, and the outside should withstand sub-freezing temperatures depending on where you live. This means you want to choose high-quality wood with insulation properties when you build your sauna, whether working on a DIY sauna, choosing a pre-made sauna on the market, or working with a company on a custom build. So, what is the best wood for saunas?

There are many choices when looking for a home sauna experience: an infrared sauna or traditional sauna, an indoor sauna room built into your home, or a freestanding outdoor sauna, and of course, what type of wood you should use for your sauna. I’m a Nordic sauna guide, and for this article, I’ll look at the many options to help you decide which is the best wood for your sauna.

How Are Saunas Made?

There are several ways to craft a sauna, so it depends on the type of sauna you’re building. In North America, you can expect a small room consisting of a few sauna benches, usually one low and one high, as well as a sauna heater (either an electric heater or a wood-burning stove) that heats a thermal mass. Most frequently, the thermal mass is a large cluster of rocks surrounding the heat source—be it electric or wood-burning.

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Common Types of Wood Used in Saunas

Consider sitting on a sidewalk on a hot day versus sitting on a wooden bench—the sidewalk will be too hot to sit on for long, which is why wood is considered the best material for building a sauna. Wood naturally heats a room softly, and depending on the type of wood you select, it can give off a pleasant odor when heated. Wood is also naturally moisture resistant, an important consideration when using steam in your sauna.

Your choice of wood makes a big difference in your sauna experience. Many kinds of wood are appropriate for sauna use, from cedar to eucalyptus. The right wood for your sauna depends on your budget, aesthetic, and location. You’ll also want to choose something that can withstand high temperatures, is knot-free, and is durable.

In the next section, I’ll describe the benefits and drawbacks of each type of wood.

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Cedar

Cedarwood, particularly western red cedar, and northern white cedar, are woods seen frequently in saunas in North America. Cedar is a popular choice for saunas because of its relative affordability, pleasant odor, and pleasing look. Something to consider is that cedar isn’t hypoallergenic, and some may experience asthma-like symptoms when they come in contact with it.

Hemlock

Hemlock is similar to cedar in its durability and moisture resistance. Aesthetically, hemlock is lighter in color than the classic red hues of American and Canadian cedars. While hemlock is considered to be “scent-free,” there are reports of some folks finding hemlock to have a slightly sour scent.

Aspen

Many European countries prefer aspen wood for the interior of their saunas. However, aspen should be thermo-treated—specifically for sauna building—before construction, which is a process that will increase the longevity of this otherwise less-durable wood. Aspen is lighter in color, and many sauna builders use it for their interior sauna walls.

Alder

In Norway (and other parts of Scandinavia), alder is a popular choice for building saunas. Much like aspen, alder is lacking in the durability department, but when thermally treated before building, it can last as long as spruce.

Spruce

Many Finnish saunas—touted as the sauna standard due to their long history of sauna tradition—are made using Nordic spruce wood. While cedar is readily available across the United States and Canada, it’s not a tree found in Europe. While spruce isn’t quite as durable as cedar, it’s similarly thermally suited since it won’t conduct heat like harder woods, keeping that heat inside your sauna where it belongs.

Pine

Pine is king for affordability but less popular due to the presence of knots—you’ve probably heard the term knotty pine. And, while pine also has a pleasant odor, it’s lacking in the durability department and more likely to begin showing signs of wear and decay earlier.

Basswood

Also known as the linden tree, basswood is technically a “soft hardwood,” Many sauna builders in the US and Canada use basswood as an alternative to cedar due to its scentlessness and hypoallergenic qualities.

Eucalyptus

This Australian tree—preferred by koalas—now grows in many places across the globe and is a stunning wood with beautiful grain. While eucalyptus can be an excellent choice for sauna, many sauna builders will find the price point of this wood to be higher than they’d prefer.

How To Choose the Best Wood for Saunas

Consider your budget, aesthetics, climate, potential allergies, and where you’ll place it—indoors or outdoors—when choosing the best wood for your sauna design. It also has to pass your personal sniff test. That said, cedar is one of the more popular woods used for sauna building in North America, while spruce is more prevalent in Europe.

What Wood Should I Burn In a Sauna?

Now that you’ve chosen the wood to build with—what kind of wood should you burn in your sauna? If you’re using an electric stove, this issue won’t apply to you, but if your stove is wood-fired, the type of wood you use matters! Here are a few things to consider when choosing the fuel supply for your sauna.

Locals Only

First and foremost, only use locally sourced wood. Pests thrive in dried wood, and you could introduce an invasive species if you order wood online that gets shipped from far away. Selecting kiln-dried firewood is also preferable to help stop the spread of pests.

Hardwood vs Softwood

Hardwood—often from deciduous trees like maple, oak, and birch—burns longer. So, if you want a fire that lasts for a long time, then opt for hardwood. Softwood—from coniferous trees like pine, cedar, and spruce—will burn faster, making it better for starting a fire and getting it up to temperature quickly. It’s worth noting, however, that softwood will need frequent refueling if you want a longer sauna session.

Starting and Maintaining

You may consider using different woods, or at least different sizes of logs, when starting the fire and aiming to increase the temperature. Small, drier pieces of wood burn faster than their larger counterparts, and softwood will burn faster than hardwood, creating quick bursts of heat. This can be particularly useful in the colder months if you’re getting your sauna up to temp from freezing or below temperatures.

I like to have several small, dry pieces of pine or fir when I’m starting my fires, and once I’m up to temp, I switch to larger pieces of maple or birch.

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Best Wood for Saunas: Final Thoughts

When choosing the best wood to build your sauna, you’ll want to consider price, aroma, quality, moisture resistance, and durability. With the above guide, I hope you have the insider knowledge needed to help you select the best wood for your ideal sauna experience.

Best Wood for Saunas: FAQs

Can you DIY a sauna?

Building saunas is a massive undertaking but is completely within the realm of possibility for DIY enthusiasts! Just be sure to research the best sauna construction practices before diving in.

Is cedar or pine better for saunas?

While pine is a very affordable option for a wood sauna, it often has more knots in the wood than cedar. Cedar is also known to be more durable than pine and is likely to last much longer.

How do you keep sauna wood from rotting?

Selecting a quality wood for sauna building is your first step in preventing the wood from rotting. If you’re using less-durable wood like aspen or alder, treat it with the necessary thermal processing before building. Finally, ensure the longevity of your sauna by taking the time to dry the sauna walls and benches after each use, simply by using a towel to remove excess water or sweat.

References

Laukkanen, J. A., Laukkanen, T., & Kunutsor, S. K. (2018). Cardiovascular and Other Health Benefits of Sauna Bathing: A Review of the Evidence. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 93(8), 1111–1121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2018.04.008

Sarah Gardner, E-RYT 200

Sarah is a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance and has over 100 hours of additional training in Yin, Restorative, and Trauma-conscious practices. She teaches online and in person and writes for several online publications. In addition to teaching and practicing yoga, Sarah is a sauna guide at a traditional Nordic Sauna in Northern Minnesota and loves to swim, run, hike, snowboard, and paddleboard.

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