How big should a sauna be?

Size per person

Finnleo says to allow about 2 feet of upper bench per bather, either to work out how many people fit in a space or how big a sauna needs to be.

Thermory recommends about 600 mm of bench length per person, and at least one bench of 2000 mm or more for lying down.

The North American Sauna Society says a good size for an average two- or three-person sauna is 4 x 6 feet to 5 x 7 feet.

Thermory recommends a home sauna with room for at least two to three guests.

Room size range

The North American Sauna Society says home saunas can range up to 12 x 12 feet, while one-person 3 x 3 foot saunas still work, and public saunas are usually at least 100 square feet.

Finnleo's custom sample layouts range in approximate interior size from 4 x 6 feet to 12 x 12 feet.

The North American Sauna Society recommends a room shape close to square, or about a 6:4 ratio between wall lengths, for balanced temperature. The North American Sauna Society recommends a sauna at least 6 feet wide for lying down.

Ceiling height

The North American Sauna Society says a sauna space should preferably be 7 feet high. Finnleo gives the average sauna ceiling height as 84 inches.

Finnleo's custom-cut instructions say a ceiling over 7 feet should be dropped for proper sauna performance.

Thermory gives the optimal sauna room height as about 2100-2300 mm, with roughly 1000-1200 mm between the upper bench and the ceiling for sitting upright.

Benches

Finnleo says its saunas use lower and upper benches to offer seating at different temperatures, and are designed to maximize bench space and minimize floor space.

Finnleo's custom-cut instructions put bench supports at heights giving roughly 18-inch lower and 36-inch upper benches, adjustable for ceilings other than 7 feet. Thermory recommends placing the lower bench about 400-500 mm from the floor and the same distance below the upper bench.

Thermory gives upper-bench depth as around 600 mm, or 700 mm for lying down, and lower-bench depth as 400 mm, plus room for the stove at a safe distance.

The North American Sauna Society says designs typically maximize upper-bench length by running the main upper bench along the longest wall.

Our bench layout guide goes further into heights and depths.

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