SIDE BY SIDE
See prices, running costs, specifications and trade-offs side by side. Choose two to four products of the same type.
Our traditional sauna pick
traditional electric barrel, 6kW KIP Smart Heater plus Fenix
$5,484US price, checkedCompact two-person cedar barrel with a 6 kW Harvia heater and app control
Check price at Almost Heaven Saunas for Almost Heaven Saunas Salem 2 Person Barrel Sauna Kit Full review →
Traditional heat cabin
Rustic Red Cedar, glass door, no window, 8 kW KIP heater with dials
$9,083US price, checkedOutdoor cedar barrel with a canopy and a hard-wired 8 kW heater
Check price at Almost Heaven Saunas for Almost Heaven Saunas Grandview 4-6 Person Canopy Barrel Sauna Full review →| Criterion | Almost Heaven Saunas Salem 2 Person Barrel Sauna Kit | Almost Heaven Saunas Grandview 4-6 Person Canopy Barrel Sauna |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $5,484Checked Oct 13, 2026 · Price details in the review | $9,083Checked Oct 13, 2026 · Price details in the review |
| Three-year ownership estimate | $5,484 Incomplete known subtotal. Not included: installation, annual consumables, other annual costs, energy use. | $10,363.40 Incomplete known subtotal. Electricity assumption: $0.18/kWh. Not included: installation. |
| Choose if | Two people with a level outdoor spot and room in the panel for a 240 V, 30 A circuit. | You have a firm, level outdoor spot about 7 by 8 ft and can run a 240 V hard-wired circuit to it. |
| Main trade-off | Electrician and base costs come on top, the benches are 39 1/4 in long, and opened kits can't be returned. | The heating elements carry only a 1-year warranty, and opened kits can't be returned. |
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| Exact variant | traditional electric barrel, 6kW KIP Smart Heater plus Fenix | Rustic Red Cedar, glass door, no window, 8 kW KIP heater with dials |
| Dimensions | Outside, assembled: 78 W × 47 D × 75 3/8 H in. Inside: 75 1/4 W × 39 1/4 D × 69 1/4 H in. Bench: 16 W × 39 1/4 L × 17 H in. Cradles: 54 × 6 in. Almost Heaven doesn't list the weight. Its barrel manual says the base must carry the sauna and its users, over 1,000 lb. | Outside: 82 3/8 W × 94 D × 85 7/8 H in. Inside: 79 5/8 W × 74 1/4 D × 79 5/8 H in. Bench: 20 11/16 W × 86 1/4 L × 20 H in. The cradles measure 57 7/8 × 6 in. Almost Heaven doesn't publish the sauna's weight. The manual says the base must support 1,000+ lb with people inside. |
| Installation | The heater needs a hard-wired 240 V, 30 A circuit, and the LED light plugs into a 120 V, 15 A outlet. Almost Heaven's manual says a licensed electrician must do all electrical work. Harvia's KIP manual lists a 25.0 A draw at 240 V, #10/2 heater wire plus #14/2 control wire, and a standard 2-pole breaker. It says no GFI may be used. It also says the control panel and power unit must go in a dry place, not outdoors. You build the barrel on a firm, level base that holds over 1,000 lb, such as a deck or concrete slab. On bare ground, the cradles sit on pavers. Lifting takes two or more people. The manual's tool list is a cordless drill, rubber mallet, hammer, framing square, screwdrivers, utility knife, level and wrench. No assembly time is given. Almost Heaven's installation service starts at $1,400 for assembly and setup. The electrical connection is an add-on at extra cost. The kit ships within four weeks by freight to the curb, and you move it from there. | Almost Heaven lists a 240 V, 40/45 A hard-wired connection for the 8 or 9 kW electric heaters. For the 8 kW KIP, the dials version of the KIP manual calls for a 40 A double-pole breaker. It specifies 8/2 copper wire with 90°C insulation. Harvia's KIP manual lists a 33.3 A draw at 240 V. A licensed electrician must do the wiring, and the heater is wired permanently, with no plug or pigtail. The dials manual says not to use a ground fault interrupter (GFI), citing the heater's UL listing. The LED light plugs into a standard 110 V, 15 A outlet, or an electrician can hard-wire it. Build on a firm, level base such as concrete, pavers, decking or stone. On bare ground, set the cradles on pavers. Assembly takes a drill, rubber mallet, hammer, framing square, screwdrivers, utility knife, level and wrench. You'll need two or more people to lift heavy pieces. Almost Heaven doesn't state an assembly time. Almost Heaven's installation partner, Pure Install, charges from $1,400, with final pricing in a custom quote. That covers assembly, setup and a site walkthrough. Electrical connection is an optional add-on and must be done by a licensed electrician. Delivery is scheduled separately, and unloading the flatbed is your job. Almost Heaven says 2 to 4 people can offload it piece by piece in 1 to 2 hours. You can also rent a forklift. Expect a call 1 to 2 weeks before delivery. |
| Materials | Rustic red cedar staves 1 3/8 in thick with ball-and-socket joints, a tempered glass door, and stainless steel bands, hinges and fasteners. No roof cover is included. The manual says water seepage won't harm the sauna, but it suggests a roofed shelter or Almost Heaven's rain jacket, which costs from $337. You can stain the outside with a UV-inhibiting stain. Never use paint or varnish on it. | The walls are 1 3/8 in ball-and-socket lumber. Almost Heaven says it's North American cedar, offered as Rustic Red Cedar or with an Onyx finish. Glass in the door and windows is tempered. Bands, hinges and fasteners are stainless steel. Almost Heaven recommends an exterior-grade stain or sealant with a UV inhibitor on the outside. It says not to treat the interior unless the product is approved for saunas. |
| Warranty | Almost Heaven gives a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects on all components. It excludes normal weathering, wear and tear, improper use or assembly, and weather events. It doesn't transfer to a later owner and applies only to saunas in the contiguous US. Harvia heaters get 1 year on heating elements and 5 years on other components. Wiring mistakes, poor stone placement and corrosion from salt or hard water aren't covered, and neither is an electrician's time on a claim. Harvia's own KIP manual is narrower. It guarantees the heater for one year and covers elements only on first use. It also needs the registration form back within 15 days and installation by a certified electrician. A GFI breaker voids the warranty on the heater's internal parts. The Fenix control's warranty isn't stated. | Almost Heaven gives a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects on the sauna's components. It excludes normal weathering, wear and tear, improper use or assembly, and weather events. Harvia heating elements are covered for 1 year and other heater components for 5 years. Heater coverage excludes incorrect electrical connections, improper stone placement, and corrosion from saltwater or hard water. Electrician costs for warranty claims aren't covered. The warranty doesn't transfer to a second owner and applies only to saunas in the contiguous United States. |
| Returns | Almost Heaven accepts unopened products within 30 days of receipt. The refund is the original amount minus the original and return shipping fees and a 25% restocking fee, paid after inspection. Returns start with a call to 888.355.3050. The policy doesn't cover cancelling an order. | Returns are accepted within 30 days of receipt only if the sauna is unopened and in its original packaging. Assembled units can't be returned. Almost Heaven charges a 25% restocking fee and deducts both the original and return shipping from the refund. Credit is given after the returned items are inspected. If you cancel while the order is in transit or can't accept the flatbed delivery on schedule, you pay both shipping legs plus the 25% fee. |
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These comparisons use published specifications, not head-to-head tests. Prices and terms are dated. Unknown costs are not zero. Check the exact variant before you buy.