There’s something undeniably luxurious about stepping into a warm, steamy sauna—especially when it’s right in your own backyard. An outdoor sauna is an investment in your health, your home, and your daily routine. But before you can enjoy that first deep, detoxifying sweat, there’s some planning to do.
In this guide, we go over everything you need to know about planning an outdoor sauna install from start to finish. We’ll walk you through choosing the right sauna and location all the way to landscaping and final touches. Read on to get inspired!
How to plan an outdoor sauna install step-by-step:
- Choose the right sauna
- Select a location
- Prepare the site and foundation
- Schedule sauna delivery and installation
- Add landscaping and final touches
1. Choosing the Best Outdoor Sauna for Your Home
The first step in planning an outdoor sauna installation is choosing the right sauna for your needs. There are three main types to consider:
- Traditional saunas: use heated stones or electric heaters for a classic high-temperature sauna experience, often with steam
- Infrared saunas: use infrared (IR) panels to warm your body directly at a lower temperature, with added therapeutic benefits
- Hybrid saunas: combine traditional heating and steam with infrared technology, bringing you the best of both worlds
Beyond sauna type, you’ll also need to think about size and capacity. Outdoor saunas come in many different sizes, with options for 1–4+ seats. Consider how many people will be using the sauna at once. Will you be relaxing solo, or enjoying regular sessions with friends and family?
Materials and durability matter too. Be sure to choose high-quality, weather-resistant woods like cedar, hemlock, or Nordic spruce, which resist decay and provide excellent insulation.
Tylö Outdoor Saunas: The Lulea Collection
At Creative Energy, we’re proud to carry Tylo Saunas for their rich legacy in sauna-making and astounding quality. For over 75 years, they have been crafting Swedish saunas with an unwavering commitment to quality and performance.
The Lulea collection offers a traditional steam sauna experience, and durable modern design engineered for year-round outdoor performance. These outdoor saunas are available in 3-person and 4-person configurations, featuring spacious wraparound seating, multi-color LED chromotherapy lighting, an optional Bluetooth sound system, and compatibility with the Tylo ap for precise control during every session.
2. Choose the Best Location for Your Outdoor Sauna
The next step is selecting a location for your outdoor sauna. This is one of the most important parts of the project that involves careful consideration of many different factors, including:
- Accessibility: the sauna should be easy to reach and have adequate space around it to allow for future maintenance.
- Privacy: placement should feel secluded enough from neighbors or street view to allow you to have a relaxing experience.
- Shade: decide whether you want the sauna in full sun, partial shade, or near trees for natural cover.
- Proximity to house: local building codes and zoning laws may dictate how far you can install an outdoor sauna from your house.
- Aesthetics: think about sight lines from the house, landscaping, views, and how the sauna fits the overall backyard design.
- Clearance: for safety and installation purposes, there should be adequate clearance above the site, which means no overhanging branches, wooden structures, or other obstacles.
The Creative Energy team is more than happy to help you figure out the ideal location for your outdoor retreat. Contact us today to schedule a backyard consultation.
3. Foundation and Site Prep
Once you’ve selected a location for your sauna, it’s time to prepare the site and build a foundation for the structure to be installed on. You should never install a sauna directly on top of dirt, grass, or other unsteady surfaces. Instead, you’ll need a durable and study foundation.
You have several foundation options to choose from, including:
- Compact gravel pad
- Concrete pad
- Paver stones
- Deck or wooden platform
Whichever foundation you choose, it should extend at least 2 feet beyond the intended sauna margins to allow plenty of room for delivery, installation, and future access.
Permitting and Code Compliance
While not every outdoor sauna install requires a permit, many of them do. It varies greatly from city to city, but many local laws require approval for electrical, plumbing, or foundation work.
To keep everything compliant, it’s a good idea to always check with your local authorities to see if any permitting is needed before you move forward with installation.
Electrical Requirements
Most outdoor saunas require electricity to operate, so you’ll need a plan for connecting your sauna to a power source. A licensed electrician will be able to get all the electrical infrastructure set up for you. Every sauna has its own specifications, but traditional outdoor saunas from Tylö typically require 220V connections or 15–20-amp circuits.
4. Sauna Delivery and Installation
By the time delivery day arrives, most of the heavy planning should already be behind you, but knowing what to expect is important.
Before Delivery
Your outdoor sauna delivery and installation team will require clear access to your yard. Prior to installation, they will measure gates, pathways, and make note of any permanent features like stairs or landscaping that they will need to maneuver around.
In some cases, a crane or additional machinery may be needed to place the sauna on its foundation. Your electrician may need to be on-site to complete final connections and safety checks. They will coordinate that with you prior to delivery.
After Installation
Once installed and set-up, you will be given a walkthrough of how to use your new outdoor sauna, and a final inspection. This includes checking door seals, benches, heaters, ventilation, and controls to ensure everything is functioning properly. Any lighting, speakers, and additional accessories will be tested at this time as well.
You will likely need to hold off on any landscaping, paver work, or decorative pathways until after your sauna is installed. Completing these final touches afterward prevents damage to your work and gives installers the unobstructed access they need to position your sauna exactly where you want it.
5. Landscaping and Final Touches
Once your outdoor sauna is installed and connected to the necessary utilities, it’s time to focus on the final touches you’ve been dreaming about. This is where your vision truly comes to life.
Consider adding a pathway using natural stone pavers, gravel, or wooden decking for easy access. Landscaping with native plants, ornamental grasses, or privacy hedges can make the area feel more secluded while keeping maintenance manageable.
You can also incorporate practical elements like outdoor lighting to illuminate the path during evening sessions, or a small seating area nearby. Some sauna owners also add a dedicated storage spot for towels and robes, or an outdoor shower where you can cool down afterwards. These finishing touches can not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of your sauna but also improve functionality and convenience.
Shop Tylö Outdoor Saunas at Creative Energy
An outdoor sauna gives you full time access to a wellness retreat right in the comfort of your own backyard.
Since 1976, Creative Energy has been the Bay Area’s go-to source for hot tubs, swim spas, cold plunges, saunas, and more. We’re proud to carry a wide range of Tylö saunas for every lifestyle and budget, including infrared, hybrid, and traditional models. If you’re looking to install an outdoor sauna, our expert team can help you plan the project from start to finish.
Contact us online today or stop by any of our award-winning showrooms in Concord, San Rafael, San Mateo, or Dublin to browse our selection in person.