Almost Heaven Salem
Score
- Traditional barrel
- Up to 2 seats
- Red cedar
- 6kW Harvia KIP heater
Almost Heaven Pinnacle
Score
- Traditional barrel
- Up to 4 seats
- Red cedar
- 6kW Harvia KIP heater
On this page
Short answer: buy the Salem if it’s mostly one or two of you sitting upright and you want the lowest price on an Almost Heaven barrel. Buy the Pinnacle if three or four people will use it, or if you want room to stretch out on the bench. They share the same wood, staves, heater and warranty, so you’re really paying about $1,127 for 24 more inches of barrel. Prices and specs come from Almost Heaven’s and Select Saunas’ product pages on Oct 9, 2026. We haven’t tested these saunas ourselves.
Salem vs Pinnacle at a glance
| Spec | Salem | Pinnacle |
|---|---|---|
| Price at Select Saunas* | $4,176 | $5,303 |
| Almost Heaven’s own price | From $4,485 | $6,060 sale through Oct 31 (reg. $7,575) |
| Seats (maker) | Up to 2 | Up to 4 |
| Interior bench length | 39¼" | 63¼" |
| Exterior size | 78"W × 47"D × 75⅜"H | 78"W × 71"D × 81½"H |
| Wood | Red cedar, 1⅜" staves | Red cedar |
| Included heater | 6kW Harvia KIP (dials) | 6kW Harvia KIP (dials) |
| Circuit | 240V/30A, hardwired | 240V/30A |
| Lead time (Almost Heaven) | 6–8 weeks | 6–8 weeks |
| Sauna warranty | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime |
*Listed on Oct 9, 2026. Select Saunas is an Almost Heaven dealer that pays us a commission. Its listings don’t say which door or lumber the price includes, so confirm the configuration before you order. Delivery, foundation and electrical work aren’t included.
Pick the Salem if…
It’s usually you, or you and one other person, sitting upright. The 39¼" bench seats two side by side, and the 47"-deep barrel is the easiest of the two to fit on a small patio or deck. You keep the same red cedar, stainless bands, 6kW Harvia KIP heater and limited lifetime warranty as the bigger model. Skip it if you want to lie down or regularly host a third person. A Wi-Fi heater version costs more ($5,484 on Almost Heaven’s site).
Pick the Pinnacle if…
You’re a household of three or four, or you want a bench long enough to stretch out. At 63¼", the Pinnacle’s bench is 24" longer than the Salem’s, and the barrel is 6" taller outside. Tradeoffs: it needs a base about 2 feet deeper, and it uses the same 6kW heater as the Salem to warm a larger room, so ask Almost Heaven whether that’s enough for your winters.
What about the Watoga in between?
Almost Heaven also makes the Watoga, a 59"-deep barrel with a 51¼" bench rated for 2–4 people, from $5,184 on Almost Heaven’s site. We don’t link to it: Select Saunas lists it with a 4.5kW heater rather than Almost Heaven’s 6kW, so it isn’t the same configuration. At Select’s prices, the Pinnacle costs about the same as a Watoga from Almost Heaven and gives you 12" more bench.
Wiring and site prep are the same for both
- Power: both 6kW KIP heaters need a dedicated 240V/30A circuit. Get an electrician’s quote before you order; the run from your panel often decides the real cost.
- Base: a level, solid pad (pavers, concrete or a framed deck rated for the weight). The Pinnacle needs about 78" × 71" of it, the Salem 78" × 47".
- Roof: barrels shed snow on their own, but shingles or a cover protect the top staves. Our cold-climate install guide covers foundation, wiring and snow.
The bottom line
Count the people, not the label. If it’s two of you sitting upright, the Salem saves about $1,100 and a couple of feet of yard. If anyone will lie down or you’ll regularly have three or more, the Pinnacle is the better buy. For more options, see our best barrel saunas comparison and best 2-person outdoor saunas.