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Do you dream of getting a garden sauna for your detached house garden? In a garden sauna, with the wood crackling in the stove's firebox, the steam feels completely different than in, for example, a small electric sauna.
A smoke sauna in the yard of a detached house is a fairly easy and inexpensive project, but it requires remembering a few points. We have compiled into this article a list of things to remember, so that your sauna purchase goes more smoothly.
We are also happy to help if you have any further questions.
Article content:
Does a sauna built in the yard of a detached house require a permit?
For a garden sauna to even be possible in the garden of a detached house, your plot must have the required amount remaining Building rights. You can get help with this from your local municipality's building authorities.
A building permit is no longer required for a garden sauna. Based on legislation that came into effect at the beginning of 2025, garden saunas or leisure buildings under 30 square metres can subsequently be built without a building permit.
Read more about the details of the change and the building permit for the garden sauna (required for buildings larger than 30 square metres or those with a fixed stove, among other things) in our article:
Does a garden sauna require a building permit?
Where should the garden sauna be located?
When siting a garden sauna to be built in the yard of a detached house, several points should be taken into consideration:
- Explore the plot to the master plan and find out what's needed from the municipality's building control department. Are there any restrictions on the location, colour, or building materials for a garden sauna? Is there any building allowance left, and how much?
- The more central the location or smaller the plot, the stricter the requirements with placement and design On a larger and more remote plot, the requirements for placing a garden sauna are also less stringent. Bring in a good designer or seek advice from a sauna manufacturer – we are happy to help.
- Please note Compass points and neighbours. Does the potential terrace face the morning or evening sun? Where will the sauna smoke drift – avoid smoke drifting directly into neighbours' or your own house windows.
- Possible from where Water and firewood Let's carry it to the sauna. Should the location take into account a place to store firewood?
- If your detached house is located in a zoning area, the zoning plan often stipulates building placement and minimum distance from the plot boundary. This minimum distance is often 5 metres.
- Take care with the placement Fire safety. So don't build too close to other buildings, for example.
- Please remember to consider environment. The area's zoning plan or building regulations may dictate, among other things, the colour, material, and roof type of a building. If the zoning plan does not address aesthetic matters, it is also advisable to assess yourself what kind of garden sauna would suit a detached house's garden and neighbourhood.
- How water matters The easiest solution for a garden sauna is to carry water. This makes dealing with wastewater simple, and no separate drainage solutions are needed. If the sauna is connected to the water supply or equipped with, for example, a hot water tank or a toilet, it is advisable to channel the garden sauna's wastewater into the sewage system.
What kind of foundations does a garden sauna in a detached house garden require?
When acquiring a garden sauna for your detached house garden, it's important to ascertain, What type of soil is on the plot. This also determines the type of foundations the garden sauna requires.
A proper foundation ensures that the sauna will stand the test of time and, for example, won't sink.
- Screw pile foundations are well-suited for soft clay soil.
- A traditional pier foundation is generally chosen for rock and moraine soil.
- On an uncultivated soil base, a sauna can be established quite easily.
The foundations for a separate sauna building or a sauna cabin are often ordered ready-made, which is an easy and reliable choice. Someone with a bit of building experience can also manage to build them themselves with a little research.
Ready for purchase, the foundations will cost approximately 1000-3000 €.
Read more about foundations >> Guide to choosing the foundations for a sauna building.
How much does a garden sauna for a detached house cost?
The final purchase price for a garden sauna to be installed in the yard of a detached house typically ranges between €10,000 and €20,000. For example:
- Small garden sauna (6-7 m2) costs 10 000-12 000€
- Garden sauna with a sauna lounge (12-16 m2) costs 15 000-25 000 €.
Building it yourself, either entirely or partly (from pre-fabricated components), can save on costs. However, don't be tempted by the first off-the-shelf package without examining the delivery contents and product quality more closely. Often, for example, the delivery might not include a roof, a stove, or seating at all.
Factors affecting the price of fur
- How ready are you to acquire a garden sauna solution:
- Keys-in-hand delivered ready sauna
- self-assembly sauna kit
- A self-built sauna using self-sourced materials
- Purchase of a garden sauna, equipment level
- sauna size.
Regarding the price – as always – the sky's the limit. However, most people who buy a garden sauna for their detached house garden end up with fairly basic solutions with minor customisations. The most important thing is that the garden sauna has a stove, benches, and soft sauna steams.
Examples of what a garden sauna in a detached house garden could cost:
1. Ready garden sauna, price depending on size approx. €12,000 – €20,000
- Gorilla 7-20 sq m
- Amount of workThe ready-made beach sauna requires no work from the buyer. The buyer is only responsible for ensuring the foundations are in order (and for any necessary building permit matters).
- Equipment: The completed lakeside sauna will be delivered ready for use, including the stove and benches. For this price, you get a modern sauna cabin with a spacious sauna, a changing room of about 10 m², and a comfortably sized terrace.
- To whom For those who appreciate personal time and quality sauna experiences.
2. Self-assembly garden sauna package, price approx. €9,000 – €15,000
- Gorilla Approximately 15 m2
- Amount of work: The buyer will be responsible for assembling the sauna, and for obtaining the building permit and completing the foundations.
- Equipment: A self-assembly sauna package generally includes, in addition to the walls, for example: benches, an intermediate ceiling, windows, doors, fittings, locks, flooring and gutters. For instance, purchasing a sauna heater is the buyer's own responsibility. The package also doesn't always include exterior roofing material.
- To whom For a hardworking builder who can handle a hammer and has plenty of free time.
3. Small barrel sauna, price approx. €3,000 – €10,000
- Gorilla 4-8 m²
- Amount of work: A barrel sauna is usually delivered in parts, leaving assembly to the buyer.
- Equipment: A log cabin package usually includes building materials, doors and windows, roofing felt, benches, flooring, etc. A sauna stove is typically not included in the price.
- To whom For someone with some building skills, who wants a small sauna and is potentially willing to compromise on the steam experience (the air volume in barrel saunas is smaller).
4. Garden sauna built from logs, price €6,000 – €10,000.
- Gorilla around 10 m2
- Amount of work: Building from scratch traditionally means a conventionally built garden sauna, meaning the builder procures the building materials to the site themselves, and processes, works with, and installs them themselves. A certain amount of building material is also wasted, and you have to take care of the construction waste entirely yourself.
- Equipment: You can completely influence the equipment yourself. The example takes into account basic equipment, i.e. surface treatments, benches and the sauna heater.
- To whom For a construction industry professional or at least a very experienced DIY enthusiast. A lot of time and effort will be required, so it's a good idea to have skilled helpers amongst your close circle.
Are you interested?
Would you like to know more about Ehtas garden saunas? We build and deliver ready-to-use garden saunas all over Finland with over 1300 saunas' worth of experience.
Book a free remote meeting with our experienced designers to make it easier to move towards making your dream a reality.
