Image: Select SaunasAlmost Heaven Salem
- Traditional barrel
- Up to 2 seats
- Red cedar
- 6kW Harvia KIP heater
All 8 picks at a glance
| # | Image | Pick | Score | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Image: Select Saunas | Best budget pick for 2 guestsAlmost Heaven Salem | 7.5Spec Score | $4,176 | Check price (paid link) |
| 2 |  Image: Select Saunas | Best with a cool-down porchAlmost Heaven Vienna | 7.3Spec Score | $4,922 | Check price (paid link) |
| 3 |  Image: Select Saunas | Best for 2–4 guestsAlmost Heaven Watoga | 7.5Spec Score | $4,922 | Check price (paid link) |
| 4 |  Image: Select Saunas | Best for 4-guest listingsAlmost Heaven Pinnacle | 7.5Spec Score | $5,303 | Check price (paid link) |
| 5 |  Image: Select Saunas | Best larger canopy barrel (4–6 guests)Almost Heaven Huntington | $6,252 | Check price (paid link) | |
| 6 |  Image: Select Saunas | Cabin upgrade for larger rentalsAlmost Heaven Timberline | 8.0Spec Score | $9,963 | Check price (paid link) |
| 7 |  Design concept: SaunaCloud | Custom outdoor infraredSaunaCloud Atlas Outdoor | 6.1Spec Score | $999 | Check price (paid link) |
| 8 |  Image: Select Saunas | Stand-up barrel (heater separate)SaunaLife E6 | 6.2Spec Score | $4,390 | Check price (paid link) |
On this page
A sauna is one of the few amenities you can add to a short-term rental after you buy it. Whether it pays back depends far more on your market, your nightly rate and your booked nights than on the sauna you pick. This guide does the math with published, third-party data, then lists the outdoor saunas we’d shortlist for a rental, using makers’ published specs and prices on Oct 13, 2026. We haven’t tested these saunas ourselves, we didn’t run the studies we cite, and nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.
What the data says about saunas and Airbnb revenue
The best public number we found comes from AirDNA, a short-term rental data company. In its amenities analysis, AirDNA used regression modeling on thousands of active U.S. listings to separate each amenity’s effect on average daily rate (ADR) from bedroom count, property type, location, occupancy and review score. Its sauna findings:
| Market type (AirDNA) | ADR lift for listings with a sauna | What AirDNA notes |
|---|---|---|
| National average | +7.4% | Higher where saunas are less common |
| Small city / rural | +9.4% | Strongest lift; experience-focused stays |
| Urban | +7.7% | Only about 1.22% of urban listings offer one |
| Mountain / lake | +4.2% | Saunas are most common here (about 6% of listings), and nearly 40% offer a hot tub |
| Coastal | +1.2% | Summer-peak markets get little lift |
Source: AirDNA, “Best Airbnb Amenities that Boost Revenue for Hosts” (published Nov 3, 2025, updated Jan 5, 2026). This is AirDNA’s analysis, not ours. Two caveats: it measures nightly rate, not occupancy or total revenue, and it shows what listings that already have saunas earn, not a guarantee of what adding one does. The same article’s FAQ lists a smaller national sauna figure (+5.9%), so we show a lower scenario in the worksheet too.
The free part: say “sauna” in your title
A separate analysis by IntelliHost, published by The Host Report, looked at 91,809 active U.S. listings. Among listings that already have a sauna, the ones with “sauna” in the title had nightly rates about 28% higher than those that didn’t, after comparing each listing to its own ZIP code’s median. Only about one in five sauna listings named it in the title. The authors note this is partly a “better operators do more things right” effect. Treat it as a marketing tip, not a return on the equipment: if you add a sauna, put it in the title and the first photos.
Payback worksheet: fill in your own numbers
Use your own nightly rate, booked nights and local quotes. The example column is an illustration only, not a result any host has reported to us.
| Line | How to get it | Example (illustration only) |
|---|---|---|
| A. Your average nightly rate (ADR) | Your last 12 months, from your host dashboard | $250 |
| B. Expected lift for your market | AirDNA table above (or your own comps) | 7.4% |
| C. Extra per booked night | A × B | $250 × 7.4% ≈ $18.50 |
| D. Booked nights per year | Your last 12 months | 120 |
| E. Extra revenue per year | C × D | $18.50 × 120 ≈ $2,220 |
| F. Sauna price | Price at checkout, plus shipping and tax | $4,176 (Salem at Select Saunas) |
| G. Electrical, base and assembly | Get local quotes; this is a placeholder, not a typical cost | $1,500 |
| H. Installed cost | F + G | $5,676 |
| I. Rough payback (years) | H ÷ E | $5,676 ÷ $2,220 ≈ 2.6 years |
Now the same example in different markets, so you can see how much location matters:
| Scenario (same $250 rate, 120 nights, $5,676 installed) | Extra per night | Extra per year | Rough payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small city / rural (+9.4%) | $23.50 | $2,820 | ≈ 2.0 years |
| National average (+7.4%) | $18.50 | $2,220 | ≈ 2.6 years |
| AirDNA FAQ national figure (+5.9%) | $14.75 | $1,770 | ≈ 3.2 years |
| Mountain / lake (+4.2%) | $10.50 | $1,260 | ≈ 4.5 years |
| Coastal (+1.2%) | $3.00 | $360 | ≈ 15.8 years |
All rows are arithmetic on example inputs, before taxes, platform fees and running costs. They are not forecasts.
Then subtract running costs. The worksheet above is gross. Take out electricity (a 6kW heater running two hours uses up to about 12 kWh, so multiply by your utility’s rate and by how often guests use it), extra cleaning time, wood care, eventual heater parts and any insurance increase. If your numbers only work in the best-case row, don’t buy yet.
Best outdoor saunas for short-term rentals
For a rental we looked for an outdoor-rated build, a set price, seat counts that match common guest counts, a standard 240V circuit, and a long room warranty. Every pick below is sold by Select Saunas or SaunaCloud, which pay us a commission. Prices from each seller’s site, Oct 13, 2026.
Image: Select SaunasThe lowest-priced outdoor barrel in our paid lineup. It’s a red cedar barrel with Two facing 39" benches, a 6kW Harvia heater on a 240V/30A circuit, and a 72" × 47" × 77" footprint. Almost Heaven lists a limited lifetime room warranty. It suits couples’ cabins and 1-bedroom listings.
Tradeoffs: two people is the real limit, so a group of four will take turns. There’s no porch for a cool-down seat. See our Salem review.
Image: Select SaunasA two-person barrel with a 1-ft canopy porch and small porch benches, so guests get a covered spot to sit between rounds. 72" × 60" × 77" footprint, 4.5kW Harvia heater (6kW upgrade offered) on 240V/30A, limited lifetime room warranty. The porch also looks good in listing photos.
Tradeoffs: same two-person interior as the Salem for about $750 more. See our Vienna review.
Image: Select SaunasA 6 × 5 ft barrel with Two facing 51" benches, so two guests sit with room to spare or four can sit together. 72" × 59" × 77" footprint, still a 30A circuit. Select’s listing shows a 4.5kW heater (6kW available at checkout), which is less heater than Almost Heaven’s own base build lists, so confirm the heater before ordering.
Tradeoffs: four adults is snug on two benches. See our Watoga review.
Image: Select SaunasA 6 × 6 ft barrel with Two facing 64" benches and a 6kW Harvia heater on 240V/30A. 72" × 72" × 77" footprint and a limited lifetime room warranty. If your listing sleeps four, this is the size that lets the whole group in at once.
Tradeoffs: about $1,100 more than the Salem and a larger base to prepare. See our Pinnacle review.
Image: Select SaunasThe biggest barrel here: Two facing 75" benches + two porch benches, a porch, and an 8kW Harvia heater. Footprint is 72" × 95" × 77". It fits 3-bedroom listings where four to six guests want to go in together.
Tradeoffs: it needs a 240V/40A circuit instead of 30A, a level base nearly 8 ft long, and a plan for a 915 lb freight delivery. See our Huntington review.
Image: Select SaunasA 6-person outdoor cabin with 88" of interior height, two bench levels, a wrap porch and an 8kW Harvia heater on 240V/40A. Guests can stand up inside, and a cabin reads as a bigger “feature” in photos than a barrel. Worth pricing for large group homes with a higher nightly rate, where a few percent of ADR is more dollars.
Tradeoffs: nearly double the Pinnacle, shingles are extra, and it needs a 128" × 112" level base plus flatbed offloading. See our Timberline review and barrel vs cabin.
Design concept: SaunaCloudSaunaCloud designs an outdoor far-infrared room around your site and climate and ships a cut-to-spec kit with plans for your contractor. Its example build is 8' × 6' × 8' outside, seats 3–4, uses 12kW on a dedicated 240V/60A circuit, and is insulated R-8 to R-13 by climate. SaunaCloud’s FAQ puts kits at $5,000–$15,000+. A design that matches the property can be a stronger listing photo than a standard barrel.
Tradeoffs: no fixed price; you hire the builder and electrician; a 60A circuit (in the example) is a big electrical job; it’s infrared, so no stones or steam. SaunaCloud’s warranty page lists residential terms (heaters 7 years) and a 1-year commercial term, so ask which applies to a rental. See our SaunaCloud review.
Image: Select SaunasA 3-person thermo-spruce barrel with 6'5" of interior headroom, so tall guests don’t duck, plus a roof kit in the box. Our review estimates about $5,600 before installation once you add a heater.
Tradeoffs: no heater included, so you pick and buy one; it’s heavy (1,103 lbs) and the bench is short. See our E6 review.
Comparison table
| Sauna | Price | Seats | Heater | Circuit | Footprint | Warranty (room) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almost Heaven Salem (paid link) | $4,176 | 2 | 6kW Harvia | 240V/30A | 72" × 47" × 77" | Limited lifetime |
| Almost Heaven Vienna (paid link) | $4,922 | 2 + porch | 4.5kW (6kW upgrade) | 240V/30A | 72" × 60" × 77" | Limited lifetime |
| Almost Heaven Watoga (paid link) | $4,922 | 2–4 | 4.5kW per Select (6kW upgrade) | 240V/30A | 72" × 59" × 77" | Limited lifetime |
| Almost Heaven Pinnacle (paid link) | $5,303 | 4 | 6kW Harvia | 240V/30A | 72" × 72" × 77" | Limited lifetime |
| Almost Heaven Huntington (paid link) | $6,252 | 4–6 | 8kW Harvia | 240V/40A | 72" × 95" × 77" | Limited lifetime |
| Almost Heaven Timberline (paid link) | $9,963 | 4–6 | 8kW Harvia | 240V/40A | 128" × 112" base | Limited lifetime |
| SaunaCloud Atlas Outdoor (paid link) | Quote-based + $999 shipping | 3–4 (example) | Far-infrared, 12kW (example) | 240V/60A (example) | 8' × 6' × 8' (example) | Heaters 7 yr residential; commercial 1 yr |
| SaunaLife E6 (paid link) | $4,390 + heater | 3 | Not included | Depends on heater | 77" interior diameter | Limited lifetime (SaunaLife) |
Almost Heaven’s published warranty covers the room for the lifetime of the sauna “for residential applications” to the original purchaser; heater elements 1 year, other heater parts 5 years. A rental may or may not count as residential, so get the answer in writing from the seller before you buy. Prices from Select Saunas’ and SaunaCloud’s sites, Oct 13, 2026; they change, so confirm at checkout.
Before you buy: what hosts need to plan
HOA, permits and your STR license
An outdoor sauna is usually an accessory structure plus new electrical work. Check HOA rules on outbuildings and setbacks, your city’s permit rules (the 240V circuit typically needs a licensed electrician and often a permit), and whether your short-term rental license or occupancy rules mention added amenities. Ask before you order, not after delivery.
Insurance and disclosure
Tell your insurer you’re adding a sauna for guest use and get their answer in writing, whether you carry a short-term rental policy or a homeowner’s policy with a rental endorsement. Ask the seller the same about warranty coverage for rental use. List the sauna accurately on your listing, with its rules.
Guest safety and house rules
This isn’t legal advice; follow the heater maker’s manual and your insurer first. Common host practices:
- Post simple rules inside and in the guidebook: how to turn it on and off, no unsupervised children, no glass, no alcohol in the sauna, towels on benches.
- Use the heater’s built-in timer and thermostat, and never bypass its high-limit cutoff. Harvia’s KIP heaters use dials on the unit; ask Select about a Wi-Fi controller if you want to switch it off or schedule it remotely.
- Keep the maker’s clearances around the heater, and keep firewood, towels and decor away from it.
- Light the path at night and add a non-slip mat at the door.
Cleaning and turnover
Add a sauna check to the turnover list: wipe benches and backrests, sweep and air it out, refill the water bucket, check the stones and heater guard, and look for damage. Guests sitting on towels keeps the cedar cleaner. Budget for periodic exterior wood care on cedar barrels.
Electrical: 240V is the big variable
Every pick here needs a dedicated 240V circuit: 30A for the Salem, Vienna, Watoga and Pinnacle, 40A for the Huntington and Timberline, and 60A in SaunaCloud’s outdoor example. Almost Heaven barrels like the Salem also need a 110V outlet for the light. The distance from your panel and whether your panel has room drive the cost, so get electrician quotes before you choose a size.
Foundation
Plan a level, drainable base sized for the footprint: Almost Heaven’s guidance covers a concrete pad, a bed of crushed stone, or pavers or a deck that support the full weight. The cold-climate guide has the details.
Winter
Where it snows, a barrel sheds snow well, but warm-up takes longer in the cold and the path to the door needs clearing between stays. See the cold-climate outdoor sauna guide for base, roof and warm-up planning.
When NOT to add a sauna
- Coastal, summer-peak markets. AirDNA’s lift is 1.2%; the worksheet rarely works.
- Markets where saunas are already common. In mountain/lake areas, about 6% of listings already have one and the lift drops to 4.2%.
- Your panel can’t take another 240V circuit without an expensive upgrade.
- Your HOA, insurer or STR license says no, or makes coverage unclear.
- Few booked nights. The lift is per booked night; at 50 nights a year, payback takes more than twice as long as at 120.
- You won’t market it. If it’s not in the title and photos, guests may never notice it.
Which sauna fits your rental?
- Studio or 1-bedroom couples’ stay: Salem (paid link), or the Vienna (paid link) for a porch.
- 2-bedroom, up to 4 guests: Watoga (paid link) or Pinnacle (paid link).
- 3-bedroom or group home: Huntington (paid link) barrel or Timberline (paid link) cabin.
- Design-forward property, infrared preferred: SaunaCloud Atlas Outdoor (paid link). Compare in best outdoor infrared saunas.
More options: best barrel saunas, outdoor saunas under $5,000, barrel vs cabin and traditional vs infrared.
FAQ
Does a sauna increase Airbnb revenue?
On average, listings with saunas charge more per night. AirDNA’s analysis found a 7.4% ADR lift nationally, ranging from 1.2% (coastal) to 9.4% (small city/rural). That’s a market average for listings that already have saunas, not a promise for yours, and it measures nightly rate rather than occupancy.
How much does it cost to add a sauna to an Airbnb?
The saunas here run from $4,176 (Salem) to $9,963 (Timberline) at Select Saunas on Oct 13, 2026, before the electrical circuit, base, delivery and assembly. SaunaCloud quotes each build; its FAQ puts kits at $5,000–$15,000+. Get local quotes for the rest.
Is a sauna or a hot tub better for an Airbnb?
AirDNA’s numbers favor hot tubs on nightly-rate lift (14.3% nationally vs 7.4% for saunas). AirDNA also notes saunas are compact and lower maintenance, and a sauna can stand out where no nearby listing has one. If you already have a hot tub, a sauna is a second feature for your title and photos.
Should I put “sauna” in my Airbnb title?
If you have one, yes. IntelliHost’s analysis found sauna listings that named it in the title had about 28% higher nightly rates than sauna listings that didn’t, compared within the same ZIP codes. It’s a correlation, but the change costs nothing.
Barrel or cabin sauna for a rental?
Barrels cost less, heat a smaller volume and shed snow. Cabins give stand-up room and more seats. See barrel vs cabin sauna.
Is the warranty valid for short-term rental use?
Ask first. Almost Heaven’s published warranty refers to residential applications, and SaunaCloud lists a separate 1-year commercial term. Get the seller’s answer for rental use in writing.
Did you test these saunas or run the revenue study?
No. This page is built from makers’ published specs and prices plus third-party data from AirDNA and IntelliHost. See how we score.
Sources
- AirDNA, “Best Airbnb Amenities that Boost Revenue for Hosts” (updated Jan 5, 2026): airdna.co
- The Host Report / IntelliHost, “The Free Pricing Lever Most Airbnb Hosts Are Ignoring” (updated June 10, 2026): thehostreport.com
- Almost Heaven Saunas warranty page: almostheaven.com/pages/warranty
- Select Saunas product listings for each Almost Heaven and SaunaLife model above (prices checked Oct 13, 2026)
- SaunaCloud outdoor, FAQ and warranty pages (example specs, kit price range, shipping; checked Oct 13, 2026)