DIY Sauna Plan

The DIY Sauna Plan is a step-by-step guide that walks you through building a 175–220°F capable sauna for a fraction of the cost of buying one.

FYI –This isn’t a cookie-cutter cornhole board printout… It includes:

• Complete shopping lists with direct links
• Detailed cut plans for two sauna sizes
• Color-coded assembly diagrams
• Video tutorials covering every aspect of the build.

It’s designed for first-timers—clear instructions, easy-to-find materials, and pro-level results.

Think of it as having a buddy who’s already built it, showing you every step 👍

Don’t believe me? Check out customer builds and feedback here.

The DIY Sauna is about $1,200–$1,300 all-in... right down to sandpaper and screws.

That's literally thousands less than buying a prefab sauna — plus you get the pride of saying "I built this myself."

Here's the breakdown.

• DIY Heater Kit & Plan – ~$550.00
• Dimensional Lumber – ~$60.00
• Cedar Boards & Lumber – ~$210.00
• Exterior Panel/Board – ~$160.00
• Screws & Nails – ~$60.00
• Casters (Optional) – ~$35.00
• Magnets & Hinges – ~$12.00
• Vapor Barrier & Foil Tape – ~$90
• Insulation – ~$55
• Stain & Oil – ~$30
• Brushes, Sandpaper, etc. – ~$10

Grand Total (Estimate) ~$1,272.00

If you build based on the plan, you’ve got two sizes available (see diagrams & images above). The beauty of DIY, however, is that you can customize your build to suit your needs.

The "Standard" – ~54" x ~31-1/2" x ~46"

The "XL" – ~60" x ~37" x ~50"

Want a peek at what it looks like inside

👉 Check out this video on YouTube

I designed this build to be completed using basic tools – ones you likely have on hand or could easily borrow from a friend.

The required tools are in bold below, but life is easier if you can at least gain access to everything listed here.

• Miter Saw or Circular Saw
• Jigsaw
• Drill
• Orbital Sander
• Brad Nailer
• Pocket Hole Jig
• Hammer
• Tape Measure
• Framing Square
• Utility Knife
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Sharpie

I recommend using the DIY Heater Kit for this build – yes, I developed it myself but it is truly the most cost-effective heater for this style of sauna on the market.

It utilizes four IR heat lamps and can easily heat the sauna over 200°F, provides red light and infrared therapy and reduces EMFs.

So is it infrared or... ?

The DIY Sauna is the best of both worlds. It heats to traditional sauna temperatures AND packs the benefits of infrared heat.

If you want the full list of recommended heaters, shoot me an email and I'll send you the heater section of the DIY Sauna Plan.

There’s a number of options out there for these bulbs – there’s nothing new here in regard to sauna therapy, they’ve been used in sauna products (and even bathrooms) for years. They come in either 275W or 375W.

I’ve tested a good amount of bulbs and have my top recommendations linked in the plan and an overview in this YouTube segment.

The short version – I prefer either RubyLux or Feit.

The Heater Kit pulls about 8A with four 275W bulbs, and about 12.5A with two 275W and two 375W bulbs.

With heavy, daily use you can still expect operating costs to be less than $100/year. That’s literally pennies compared to a spa membership.

Ambient temperature plays a factor here, but from cold start, it hits sauna-level temps in about an hour.

There's a table above that shows what to expect but most customer reviews say it heats up faster – feel free to read up on the reviews below 👍