Red Cedar Saunas: Indoor and Outdoor Cedar Saunas

Western red cedar is the classic sauna wood. It is light, soft to the touch, carries a natural aroma and contains oils that help it resist decay, which is why it is used both for indoor infrared cabins and for outdoor saunas exposed to weather. This collection gathers 162 red cedar saunas: 59 full spectrum models, 34 far infrared, 33 low-EMF carbon cabins, 13 red light therapy saunas, 10 US-standard models, 7 traditional saunas and 6 outdoor saunas.

Indoor cedar sauna or outdoor?

Hot rock saunas in red cedar

A hot rock sauna heats a load of stones with a stove, and ladling water onto the stones raises the humidity for a short burst of steam. In this collection 11 models use an electric stove and one a wood-burning stove. Cedar handles the heat and humidity cycles of a traditional sauna well. See traditional saunas for indoor stove cabins and our sauna rocks guide for stones.

Cedar pod and barrel saunas

Many buyers search for a cedar pod sauna, a rounded outdoor cabin. Our closest designs are the red cedar barrel saunas, including the MS-OD08 Solid Red Cedar Outdoor Barrel Sauna with Anti-UV Finish and a panoramic barrel with a glass end. If you need clear (knot-free) cedar, ask for the wood grade with your quote rather than assuming it.

Red cedar infrared saunas

Most cedar saunas here are infrared: carbon fiber on 93 models, full spectrum on 63, far infrared on 18, red light panels on 14 and ceramic on 8. Widths run from 90 to 200 cm (about 35–79 in). Rated power runs from 1,400 to 3,475 W; 149 models list 110–120V and 152 list 220–240V. Use the power calculator to plan the circuit.

What to check

• Wood grade, board thickness and whether benches are also cedar
• Whether the model is also offered in hemlock (133 are), which helps build a price ladder
• Certification: 151 models list CE and ETL; some list RoHS, TÜV, ISO 9001 or FSC

Compare woods in red cedar vs hemlock.