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
Medium (Scala) 4 Person with the 9kW Spirit Smart Heater + Fenix; the 8kW Spirit build is no longer sold
$17,803US price, checkedSpruce outdoor cabin with a terrace and a 9 kW Harvia smart heater
Check price at Almost Heaven Saunas for Almost Heaven Saunas Timberline Outdoor Sauna, Harvia Collection Full review →| Criterion | Almost Heaven Saunas Salem 2 Person Barrel Sauna Kit | Almost Heaven Saunas Timberline Outdoor Sauna, Harvia Collection |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $5,484Checked Oct 13, 2026 · Price details in the review | $17,803Checked 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. | $17,803 Incomplete known subtotal. Not included: installation, annual consumables, other annual costs, energy use. |
| Choose if | Two people with a level outdoor spot and room in the panel for a 240 V, 30 A circuit. | You have a level outdoor spot about 11 1/4 by 10 1/4 ft and can run a 240 V, 50 A 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 roof ships with felt only, heating elements carry 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 | Medium (Scala) 4 Person with the 9kW Spirit Smart Heater + Fenix; the 8kW Spirit build is no longer sold |
| 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. | Scala size. Outside: 135 1/4 W × 123 1/4 D × 106 3/4 H in. Inside: 75 3/16 W × 75 3/16 D × 76 11/16 H in. The manual lists three benches, 3 1/2 in thick: two 74 3/4 in long (23 5/8 and 19 5/8 in deep) and one 51 3/8 in long (23 5/8 in deep), plus two backrests. Almost Heaven doesn't publish the weight. The manual says the base must hold 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. | The 9 kW Spirit heater runs on 240 V single-phase power and has to be wired by a licensed electrician. Almost Heaven's Spirit guide calls for a 50 A double-pole breaker and 8/2 copper wire rated 90°C. Don't put it on a ground fault interrupter (GFI). The guide cites the UL listing and says a GFI will damage the heater. The heater's power unit goes in a dry spot or a ventilated weatherproof enclosure, never inside the sauna. Almost Heaven's FAQ says cabins need a prepared foundation, and concrete is typically best. The manual asks for a firm, level base that holds 1,000+ lb, with pavers if it sits on the ground, plus a moisture barrier and anchoring. It also says to check local building codes. The tool list includes a cordless drill, rubber mallet, level, ladder and a table or skill saw. Heavy pieces take two or more people to lift. No assembly time is given. It ships in 8 to 12 weeks with curbside delivery. Larger models come by flatbed, which you unload yourself, piece by piece with 2 to 4 people or with a forklift. The LED light bar's manual says its power supply plugs into a 110 V outlet. Almost Heaven's installation service starts at $1,400, and electrical hookup costs extra. |
| 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. | Nordic spruce inside and out, in 1 5/8 in planks, with linden interior fittings. The window is double-glazed and fixed. The outer wooden door locks, and Almost Heaven describes the doors as insulated. The roof ships with roofing felt only, and the manual says to finish it with shingles or metal roofing that you buy separately. Don't paint or varnish the outside. If you want a finish, use a stain with a UV inhibitor. Don't treat the inside unless a product is approved for saunas. Almost Heaven lists the country of origin as Romania. |
| 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. Its warranty page covers heating elements for 1 year and other heater components for 5 years. The Spirit guide mentions only a 1-year heater warranty. Harvia's Spirit manual adds free repair work on heaters returned within 5 years, though parts may be charged after year one. That manual also voids the heater warranty if the registration form isn't returned within 15 days of purchase. Heater coverage excludes incorrect electrical connections, not following the maker's recommendations, poor 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. | You can return it within 30 days of receipt only if it's unopened and in its original packaging. Assembled units can't be returned. Almost Heaven charges a 25% restocking fee and takes both the original and return shipping out of the refund. Credit comes after the returned items are inspected. |
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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.