Image: Select SaunasAlmost Heaven Salem
Score
- Traditional barrel
- Up to 2 seats
- Red cedar
- 6kW Harvia KIP heater
Image: Sweat KingdomSweat Kingdom Sweat Barrel
Score
- Red cedar barrel
- 2 seats (Regular)
- 6kW Harvia KIP
- Roof kit +$600
On this page
Short answer: for most buyers, an Almost Heaven barrel bought through Select Saunas costs less at your door and carries a longer warranty. The 2-person Almost Heaven Salem (paid link) was $4,176 with free shipping to the continental U.S., while the 2-person Sweat Kingdom Sweat Barrel (paid link) was $5,145 plus $750 flat freight, or $5,895 delivered before any roof kit. Pick Sweat Kingdom if you specifically want an Idaho-built barrel from a small direct-to-buyer maker, a HUUM heater option or its 30-day home trial (with real costs attached, see below). Prices and specs come from sweatkingdom.com, selectsaunas.com and almostheaven.com on Oct 26, 2026. We haven’t seen or used either sauna in person.
Side by side: the 2-person barrels
| Sweat Kingdom Sweat Barrel (Regular) | Almost Heaven Salem (at Select Saunas) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,145 (Black Friday price; was $5,895) | $4,176 (Almost Heaven’s own site: from $4,485) |
| Shipping | $750 flat, curbside LTL freight, contiguous U.S. only | Free to the continental U.S. on most saunas, curbside LTL on one pallet |
| Roof | Optional cedar bevel roof kit, +$600 | No roof kit in the listed price |
| Delivered, before tax | $5,895 ($6,495 with roof kit) | $4,176 |
| Seats (maker) | 2 | Up to 2 |
| Heater | 6 kW Harvia KIP, built-in controls; HUUM Drop 6 kW Wi-Fi +$1,800 | 6 kW Harvia KIP60B with dials; Select lists Wi-Fi control and heater upgrades (Almost Heaven’s own site: KIP Smart + Fenix Wi-Fi, +$999) |
| Power | 240V, 30A, hardwired (10/2 wire) | 240V, 30A, hardwired; light on a 110V/15A plug |
| Outside size | 6′ H × 4′ D × 6′ W | 72"W × 47"D × 77"H |
| Benches | Not listed | Two facing 39" benches |
| Wood | Red cedar | Red cedar, 1⅜″ ball-and-socket staves |
| Maker’s heat-up claim | 110–230°F in 45–90 minutes, depending on target and weather | 180–200°F in 45–60 minutes |
| Lead time | 5 weeks listed | “Made-to-order in WV, 3–4 week lead time” on Select’s listing |
| Warranty | 3-year limited, from delivery date | Limited lifetime on the sauna room; 5-year limited on the heater, 1-year on its elements |
| Returns | 30-day home trial; you pay return freight ($750–$1,500); assembled and discounted units aren’t returnable | 30 days from receipt, unopened and unused; 20% restocking fee and shipping both ways deducted |
| Built in | Idaho Falls, Idaho | West Virginia |
Sweat Kingdom prices from its Shopify product data, policies and product page; Select Saunas prices and specs from its Shopify product data and Salem listing; Almost Heaven’s own price from almostheaven.com; all checked Oct 26, 2026. Both Sweat Kingdom and Select Saunas pay us a commission if you buy through our links. Select’s listing doesn’t say which door or lumber its listed price includes, so confirm the configuration before you order.
What you pay at the door, by size
| Size | Sweat Kingdom (sauna + $750 shipping) | With $600 roof kit | Almost Heaven at Select (free shipping) | Gap (no roof) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | Regular: $5,145 + $750 = $5,895 | $6,495 | Salem (paid link): $4,176 | $1,719 |
| 4 people | Large: $6,145 + $750 = $6,895 | $7,495 | Pinnacle (paid link): $5,303 | $1,592 |
| Up to 6 people | XL: $7,145 + $750 = $7,895 (6 kW heater) | $8,495 | Huntington canopy (paid link) (4–6 people, 8 kW, 1-ft porch): $6,252 | $1,643 |
Base heaters only, before tax, Oct 26, 2026. Neither column includes a level base, the electrician or a permit; see what a home sauna really costs. Every Sweat Barrel size uses the same 6 kW heater; the Huntington’s 8 kW Harvia needs a 40A circuit instead of 30A. Buying from Almost Heaven directly costs more than Select right now: the Salem is $4,485, and the Pinnacle is $6,060 in Almost Heaven’s Fall Favorites sale (regular $7,575), which its terms say ends Oct 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
Image: Select SaunasA 2-person red cedar barrel, 72″ wide and 47″ deep, with two facing 39″ benches, a 6 kW Harvia KIP60B and stones included, made to order in West Virginia. Select lists free continental U.S. shipping and a 3–4 week lead time. If three or four people will use it, the same build stretched to 6′ deep is the Pinnacle (paid link) at $5,303; we break that choice down in Salem vs Pinnacle. Tradeoffs: returns cost a 20% restocking fee plus shipping both ways and only apply to unopened, unused kits, so treat it as a final purchase. Select’s price may not match Almost Heaven’s exact door and window options. See our Salem review.
Image: Sweat KingdomA red cedar barrel built in Idaho Falls with a 6 kW Harvia KIP, tempered glass front door, flat interior floor and stones included, in 2-, 4- and 6-person sizes ($5,145, $6,145 and $7,145). The product page offers a HUUM Drop 6 kW Wi-Fi heater (+$1,800) and an optional cedar roof kit (+$600). Its Black Friday banner says the sale runs through November 30. Tradeoffs: $750 freight on every order, a 3-year warranty instead of lifetime, one customer review on the product page, and the same 6 kW heater even in the XL. Sweat Kingdom owners on r/Sauna have described thin assembly instructions and waits longer than the listed lead time. Full details are in our Sweat Kingdom review.
The fine print that separates them
- Sale units may not be returnable at Sweat Kingdom. Its refund policy lists “discounted, clearance, or final-sale merchandise” and assembled saunas as not eligible for return. With the Black Friday price showing on every Sweat Barrel size, ask in writing whether your order still qualifies for the 30-day trial.
- Returning either costs real money. Sweat Kingdom estimates return freight at $750–$1,500, and the kit must go back disassembled on its original packaging and pallet. Select charges a 20% restocking fee on Almost Heaven saunas, keeps the original shipping cost, and requires the item to be unopened and unused.
- Cancelling. Sweat Kingdom accepts cancellations only before dispatch, with refunds reduced by up to 4.5% in processing fees and up to $750 in handling. Select’s policy allows cancellation within 12 hours of ordering if the order hasn’t shipped.
- Delivery is curbside for both. Moving the pallet is on you. Sweat Kingdom charges a $1,495 rerouting fee if the carrier can’t reach you to schedule, and both want shipping damage reported within 48 hours.
- Warranty length. Sweat Kingdom’s is 3 years from delivery and residential only. Select lists Almost Heaven’s as limited lifetime on the room, 5 years on the heater and 1 year on its elements.
- Same heater, different rooms. Both 2-person barrels run a 6 kW Harvia KIP on a 240V/30A hardwired circuit, so the electrician’s job is similar.
Choose Almost Heaven if…
- You want the lowest delivered price on a 2- or 4-person cedar barrel.
- Warranty length matters to you more than a home trial.
- You need a bigger group barrel with more heater: the 4–6 person Huntington comes with 8 kW.
Choose Sweat Kingdom if…
- You’d rather buy direct from a small Idaho maker and are fine paying about $1,600–$1,700 more delivered for it.
- You want a HUUM heater or a cedar roof kit on the same order page.
- You value a 30-day home trial and have confirmed in writing that your order qualifies.
Still deciding on a shape? Compare all seven barrels in our best barrel saunas list or read barrel vs cabin sauna.
FAQ
Is Sweat Kingdom cheaper than Almost Heaven?
Not on comparable barrels on Oct 26, 2026. Even with its Black Friday price, the 2-person Sweat Barrel was $5,895 delivered against $4,176 for the Almost Heaven Salem at Select Saunas, and the 4-person Large was $6,895 against $5,303 for the Pinnacle.
Do they use the same heater?
The 2- and 4-person models do: both ship with a 6 kW Harvia KIP that needs a 240V/30A hardwired circuit. Sweat Kingdom keeps the 6 kW heater in its 6-person XL, while Almost Heaven’s 4–6 person Huntington uses an 8 kW Harvia on a 40A circuit.
Which ships faster?
Select’s Salem and Pinnacle listings say 3–4 weeks made to order. Sweat Kingdom lists 5 weeks, and owners on r/Sauna have reported waiting longer. Both then go by LTL freight to your curb.
Which has the better warranty?
Almost Heaven: limited lifetime on the sauna room, per Select’s listing. Sweat Kingdom’s is a 3-year limited warranty from delivery, residential use only.
Did you test these saunas?
No. We haven’t seen or used either sauna in person. This comparison is built from each seller’s published prices, specs and policies, plus owner posts we cite as owner reports. See how we score.
- Sources (accessed Oct 26, 2026):
- Sweat Kingdom Sweat Barrel product page and Shopify product data (prices by size, heater and roof, compare-at prices, dimensions, electrical, lead time, Black Friday banner): https://sweatkingdom.com/products/the-large-barrel-sauna-6-person
- Sweat Kingdom shipping policy ($750 flat, curbside LTL, contiguous U.S., rerouting fee, 48-hour damage reporting): https://sweatkingdom.com/policies/shipping-policy
- Sweat Kingdom refund policy (30-day home trial, return freight, non-returnable items, cancellation fees): https://sweatkingdom.com/policies/refund-policy
- Sweat Kingdom 3-Year Limited Warranty: https://sweatkingdom.com/pages/warranty
- Select Saunas Almost Heaven listings and Shopify product data (price, specs, warranty, lead time, shipping tab): https://selectsaunas.com/products/almost-heaven-salem-2-person-barrel-sauna · https://selectsaunas.com/products/almost-heaven-pinnacle-morgan-4-person-classic-barrel-sauna-6x6-ft · https://selectsaunas.com/products/almost-heaven-huntington-4-6-person-canopy-barrel-sauna-6x7-1-ft-1-ft-porch
- Select Saunas returns and cancellation policy: https://selectsaunas.com/policies/refund-policy
- Almost Heaven direct prices (Salem, Pinnacle Fall Favorites sale): https://almostheaven.com/products/salem-2-person-barrel-sauna · https://almostheaven.com/products/pinnacle-4-person-barrel-sauna
- Owner reports on r/Sauna (Sweat Kingdom assembly and wait times): https://www.reddit.com/r/Sauna/comments/1q1ewq8/sweat_kingdom_sauna/ · https://www.reddit.com/r/Sauna/comments/1le13it/sweat_kingdom/ · https://www.reddit.com/r/Sauna/comments/1teitio/sixmonth_review_sweat_kingdom_sweat_pod_4person/