The Best 2-Person Home Saunas That Actually Fit in Small Spaces

For countries like Finland, Japan, Turkey, and Russia, saunas are nothing new — for centuries bathhouses, onsens, and banyas have been baked into their culture as a way to maintain a healthy, social lifestyle. Here in the US of A, the hot- and cold-therapy obsession is relatively new, but it’s running at full tilt, with more and more Americans installing cold plunges and saunas directly into their homes. 

It’s actually never been easier to bring a sauna into your space, even if you’re working with smaller square footage. There’s no shortage of brands out there that make two-person saunas that can be installed indoors or in your backyard or patio. We rounded up a few of the best small-yet-sturdy at-home saunas that will help you get your sweat on, without taking up too much real estate.

Apartment Therapy SEO Home Strategist Jamie Birdwell-Branson actually reviewed this sauna firsthand, and it’s quickly become a regular part of her routine. “The Sun Home Luminar heats quickly, stays hot, and is a restorative place in my home thanks to the Bluetooth speaker and delicious smelling red cedar wood,” she says. “Sometimes as a working mom, you have to force yourself to find spaces like this — and luckily mine is in my garage.”

The Sun Home Luminar 2 is an infrared sauna which, unlike traditional saunas, uses far infrared waves to heat your body from the inside out (versus heating the air around you). It’s made with Canadian Red Cedar, steel, and aluminum, and includes three far-infrared heaters, as well as six full-spectrum heaters. There are also lovely add-ons like chromotherapy LED lighting, a Bluetooth audio system, and a companion mobile app so you can pre-heat your sauna on your way home from work. This outdoor-first sauna is compact enough to fit small yards, but can also work on a patio or in your garage like Birdwell-Branson. Just ensure that you have 4-6 inches of clearance around the exterior of the sauna, and 20-24 inches above. 

Quick specs: 

• Sauna type: Infrared
• Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor (if garage or covered patio, make sure there’s 20-24 inch clearance from the roof and 4-6 inches from any walls.
• Dimensions: 57” wide x 51.5” deep, 82.7” high
• Max temperature: 170 degrees Fahrenheit
• Added features: Bluetooth audio system, chromotherapy LED lighting, digital control panel and smartphone charging ports, optional red light therapy add-on, companion mobile app. 

While, of course, the purpose of a sauna is functional, not decorative, there’s no denying that a barrel sauna looks beautiful in a backyard. The circular design, which originated in Finland, blends beautifully into an outdoor environment, and this pick from Almost Heaven is available in two gorgeous finishes: Rustic Red Cedar or Onyx.

In addition to choosing your wood type, there are plenty of other customization options with the Salem 2-Person Barrel Sauna. You can choose from a wood-burning or electric Harvia heater (both options use traditional Finnish stones for intense dry heat), and can even customize the windows and doors to perfect your sauna’s aesthetic. Or, you can upgrade the entire system to the brand’s “Fenix” heater, which includes Wi-Fi control over the heat and light via an app. 

Quick specs:

• Sauna type: Traditional Finnish stone heater
• Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
• Dimensions: 78″ wide x 47″ deep x 75″ high
• Max temperature: 195 degrees Fahrenheit 
• Added features: Lots of aesthetic customization, optional Wi-Fi upgrade 

Another option with a beautiful silhouette, the Redwood Outdoors Duo Sauna is a great option for rooftops, patios, and backyards. This sauna uses the same Harvia heater as the barrel design above, and each heater option is designed to be doused in water for a healthy dose of hot steam. There are also plenty of add-on options to customize your sauna (think: snazzier heater stones, headrests and pillows, thermometers and timers, etc.).

The Duo is made from heat-treated hemlock, and the exterior has thoughtful details like a towel or robe peg for hanging, and shingles for weather protection. Also worth noting: your purchase includes a felt sauna hat and a doormat!

Quick specs:

• Added features: Optional add-ons to customize your interior and exterior, purchase includes a felt sauna hat and doormat
• Sauna type: Traditional Finnish stone heater
• Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
• Dimensions: 50.75” wide x 62.75” deep, x 82.75” high 
• Max temperature: 185 degrees Fahrenheit 

If you do have indoor space for a sauna, the Sunlighten mPulse Believe Infrared Sauna is a great pick. It uses the brand’s patented PulseIQ technology, which delivers red light, near-infrared, mid-infrared, and far-infrared light, and you can customize which types of light the sauna uses for each session via a built-in tablet.

In addition to having a space-friendly footprint, you can choose to order this indoor sauna in either Eucalyptus or Basswood to match your home’s interior. The mPulse Believe also includes a Bluetooth speaker system so you can listen to your favorite tunes or audiobook while you sweat.

Quick specs:

• Sauna type: Infrared
• Indoor or outdoor: Indoor (recommended 4” wall clearance, and 6” ceiling clearance)
• Dimensions: 52” wide x 47.6” deep x 78.5” high
• Max temperature: 154 degrees Fahrenheit 
• Added features: Customized treatment plans that use four different types of light, Bluetooth audio connectivity, included built-in tablet

For another infrared option at a lower price point, check out the Backyard Discovery Rylan 2-Person sauna. Despite the name “Backyard Discovery,” this is another indoor-use sauna, and its footprint is even smaller than the Sunlighten pick above, making it a good pick for large bathrooms or basement gyms.  

Unlike the Sunlighten option above, this sauna delivers only one type of light via carbon far-infrared heaters (which, for the price, may not be a big deal for you!). However, it does include chromotherapy LED lights, integrated red light therapy, and Bluetooth speakers, making it a pretty great deal overall. 

Quick specs:

• Sauna type: Infrared
• Indoor or outdoor: Indoor 
• Dimensions: 47.75” wide x 41.5” deep x 77” high
• Max temperature: 150 degrees Fahrenheit 
• Added features: Chromotherapy LED lights, red light therapy, Bluetooth speakers