Sauna Design-Build Services | Tahoe Sauna Company

What a sauna costs

Most people want a number before anything else, so here it is.

$99

Per design product — materials list, 3D model, or construction instructions. All three for $499.

$1,000 and up

A full custom design package — 3D rendering, specs, stove sizing, and a ventilation plan.

$10,000 and up

Design plus the build, handled by our building partner. Varies with the stove and materials.

The range is wide because a 5x7 room with an electric heater and an 8x12 build with a wood stove, a changing room, and a deck aren't the same project. The stove and the interior wood move the number more than anything else. See what's included at each level →

From Empty Space to Finished Sauna

Every project follows the same path — we start with your space, design it in 3D, then bring it to life.

Empty backyard space before the sauna build — 1 Your Empty Space

Custom 3D SketchUp model of the sauna design — 2 A Custom 3D Design

Finished custom backyard sauna — 3 Your Finished Sauna

Want to build it yourself? You can buy the same design products we use — custom materials list, 3D SketchUp model, and construction instructions — on our resources page.

Get in Touch

Send us an email or schedule a call to discuss your project.

Choose a Package

DIY products, a full custom design, or a turnkey build.

We Design

3D renderings, specs, and materials lists for your exact project.

Construction

Our building partner, DIY build, or your preferred contractor.

All of our design services can be delivered remotely — we work with clients across the U.S., not just in the Tahoe region. Learn how remote design works →

Coming Soon
Interested in a pre-built sauna, ready to use? We're launching pre-built saunas — preassembled and delivered to your door.

See pre-built saunas →

The Drawings You Get With Your Design

A sauna that works comes down to details most builders have never had to think about: where the bench blocking goes, which way the foil laps, how the floor falls to the drain, how high the top bench sits. Our designs walk you and your builder through each phase with diagrams like these, so nothing gets figured out on the fly.

Sauna build diagram: The example building, and the same sauna without a changing room — **The example building, and the same sauna without a changing room**The example sauna every diagram is drawn on: an 8' × 12' outdoor sauna with a changing room, and the same building as a hot room only.

Sauna build diagram: Inside the open hot-room walls: bench blocking and vent boxes — **Inside the open hot-room walls: bench blocking and vent boxes**Anything that needs solid wood or a hole later goes in now.

Sauna build diagram: Wall and ceiling layers at the corner — **Wall and ceiling layers at the corner**The foil only works as one continuous envelope, so think of it like roofing: the ceiling sheet overlaps down onto the walls, every seam overlaps 6" or more, and every seam, staple line and hole gets aluminum tape.

Sauna build diagram: Section: far wall to the changing room — **Section: far wall to the changing room**Everything that gets wet sits on top of the liner, and the liner only stops at the inside edge of the drain channel.

Sauna build diagram: Bench heights: the rules, and this example's numbers — **Bench heights: the rules, and this example's numbers**Two numbers carry over to any sauna: the top bench sits 44" below the finished ceiling, and each tier steps down about 17".

Sauna build diagram: Plan: the heater, its pad and its clearances — **Plan: the heater, its pad and its clearances**The heater gets its own solid base, and on a drain floor that base sits on the liner with the duckboards cut out around it.

Schematic examples drawn on one sample sauna (8' × 12' with a changing room) so the numbers stay consistent. Click any diagram to open it full size.

See what's included at each level →

Design Options

Choose the level of support that fits your project.

Custom Design Products

From $99

Built for your specific project

Custom materials & lumber list — $99
Custom 3D SketchUp model — $99
Custom construction instructions — $99
All three (Full Design Package) — $499

Or skip the custom work and buy one of our ready-made sauna plans on the resources page.

Send an Email

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sauna design-build?

Design-build means we handle both the design and the construction side of your sauna under one roof. We create the plans — 3D model, materials list, heater and ventilation specs — and then connect you to a recommended builder to actually construct it. You can use our building partner, build it yourself, or bring in your own contractor.

Do you build the sauna yourself?

We design every project in-house. For construction we work with a trusted building partner, or we hand off the plans to you or your own contractor. The design is the same either way — you choose who swings the hammer.

Do I have to use your builder?

No. A lot of clients take our design package and build it themselves or hand it to a contractor they already trust. The plans are detailed enough to build from. If you'd rather not manage the build, we can connect you to our building partner and handle it end to end.

Can you design a sauna if I'm not in the Tahoe area?

Yes. All of our design work can be done remotely, and we work with clients across the U.S. We design the sauna, then connect you to a builder near you or hand the plans to your contractor.

How much does a sauna design-build cost?

Individual design products start at $99. A full custom design package runs $1,000 and up. A complete design + build, where our partner constructs the sauna, typically starts around $10,000 and varies with the stove and materials you choose.

Can I just buy a sauna plan instead of a custom design?

Yes. If you don't need a fully custom design, we sell ready-made sauna plans on our resources page. You get the same level of build-ready detail for common sizes at a lower price.

Tahoe Sauna Company

Sauna Design-Build