Sauna doors and glass

Which way it opens

Finnleo's installation instructions state that sauna doors must always swing out. The North American Sauna Society says the best place for the door, which swings out, is on a longer wall.

The North American Sauna Society says a good sauna room has door, heater and vent locations that agree with one another while allowing maximum bench area and minimum floor area.

Glass or wood

Finnleo says an all-glass door has become the standard, and that glass resists high heat and withstands moisture fluctuations well.

The North American Sauna Society says glass doors and inside window panels bring in natural light and prevent a claustrophobic feeling. Finnish Sauna Builders says most sauna doors are made of glass to allow light in, and that windows should be double-glazed to retain heat.

Almost Heaven says heat is lost much faster through glass than through wood. (Almost Heaven Saunas)

Thermory's sizing rule for a standard electric heater adds about 0.5 kW for each square metre of glass on top of roughly 1 kW per cubic metre.

Almost Heaven advises considering which way a barrel sauna's door and window will face when choosing its spot, since tempered glass admits light unless an all-wood door is chosen. (Almost Heaven Saunas)

Sizes and rough openings

Finnleo gives a standard all-glass door as 24 x 80 inches, framed to a rough opening of 27-1/2 x 82 inches. Finnleo gives a standard wood door as 24 x 80 inches, framed to a rough opening of 26 x 82 inches.

Finnleo says a standard 80-inch door typically has no threshold, while a 72-inch door may take a single or double threshold.

Wood doors outdoors

Finnleo recommends sealing a wood door on all six sides, including edges, when it is used on an outdoor sauna, to prevent condensation damage.

Finnish Sauna Builders says the sauna door should be insulated and fit tightly within its frame to prevent heat leakage.

Read next

• How to size a sauna heater
• Sauna insulation and vapor barrier
• Sauna ventilation