Custom Size Sauna: Can You Get One Made to Fit?

Custom Size Sauna: Can You Get One Made to Fit?

You measured your space, compared it to every standard sauna on the market, and nothing fits right. Too wide, too narrow, wrong height, wrong depth. This is more common than you would think, especially when you are working with an existing room, an awkward corner, or a specific outdoor footprint.

The good news: custom-sized saunas are absolutely a thing. The important part is knowing when a custom build is worth it versus adjusting your space to fit a standard unit.

When Custom Makes Sense

Custom sizing is the right call in these situations:

• Unusual room dimensions - A room that is 5x9 feet does not match any standard sauna size, but a custom unit can fill that space perfectly.
• Low ceilings - Standard saunas assume 7-foot ceilings. If your basement or attic has 6.5 feet, you need a shorter unit built specifically for that height.
• Built-in installations - When the sauna is going into an alcove, closet conversion, or integrated into a bathroom, custom dimensions ensure a clean fit without awkward gaps.
• Specific capacity needs - Maybe you need a 3-person sauna, but every manufacturer jumps from 2-person to 4-person. A custom build gets you exactly the size you want.
• Commercial or specialty applications - Spa installations, gym saunas, or medical-use saunas often require specific dimensions for ADA compliance or unique room layouts.

When Standard Is the Better Choice

Custom is not always the answer. Standard-sized saunas from our indoor sauna collection or outdoor sauna collection have some real advantages:

• Cost - Standard saunas are mass-produced, which keeps prices lower. Custom builds typically cost 30-60% more than a comparable standard unit.
• Lead time - Standard units are often in stock and ship within days. Custom builds take 4-12 weeks depending on the manufacturer and complexity.
• Proven design - Standard sizes have been built thousands of times. The bench layout, heater placement, and ventilation are all optimized. Custom builds may require more tweaking to get things right.
• Resale - If you ever sell the sauna, standard sizes are easier to move because they fit in more spaces.

If your space is close to a standard size, it is often simpler and cheaper to adjust the space (framing out a wall, building a small platform) than to order a custom sauna.

What Can Be Customized?

Most sauna manufacturers offer several levels of customization:

• Dimensions - Width, depth, and height adjusted to your specifications
• Bench configuration - Number of benches, bench depth, L-shape vs. straight layouts
• Door placement - Left or right side, glass vs. solid wood, door height
• Window placement - Size, position, and number of windows
• Heater location - Placed to suit the room layout rather than a fixed default position
• Wood species - Cedar, hemlock, aspen, spruce, or thermowood throughout or in combination
• Exterior finish - For outdoor saunas, options for exterior cladding, roofing material, and trim color

The Custom Process

Here is what a typical custom sauna order looks like:

1. Measure your space carefully - Provide exact dimensions including ceiling height, doorway clearances, and any obstructions (pipes, electrical panels, structural elements)
2. Consultation - Work with the manufacturer to determine what dimensions, bench layout, and features work for your space
3. Design review - Review a drawing or plan showing the sauna layout, bench placement, heater location, and vent positions
4. Manufacturing - The sauna is built to your specifications, typically taking 4-12 weeks
5. Delivery and installation - Custom saunas ship as panels for on-site assembly, just like standard models

Pricing Reality

Custom saunas are more expensive, but the premium varies widely. Small modifications to an existing design (adjusting width by a few inches, moving the door) might add only 10-15% to the price. A fully custom design from scratch with unusual dimensions and premium features can be 50-100% more than a comparable standard unit.

Get quotes from multiple manufacturers. Some companies specialize in custom work and their pricing is more competitive than companies that primarily sell standard models.

DIY Custom Option

If you are handy, building a custom sauna from a sauna kit is another route. Sauna material kits include the interior wood, vapor barrier, insulation, and hardware. You supply the framing and labor. This approach gives you complete control over dimensions and costs less than ordering a prefab custom unit, but requires carpentry skills and more time.

Bottom Line

Custom-sized saunas fill a real need when standard sizes do not match your space. They cost more and take longer, but you get a sauna that fits your specific situation perfectly. Before going custom, check whether a standard model from our indoor or outdoor sauna collection comes close enough - sometimes a few inches of difference is not worth the premium. But when the fit really matters, custom is the way to go.