Description
The Owner's Insights on the ALEKO Thermowood 5 Person Sauna
This is the outdoor sauna kit I suggest when a host wants a traditional wet/dry sauna that seats a whole group. It's a thermowood cabin for up to 5 adults, with a 6 kW Harvia KIP heater, a tempered glass door and an asphalt shingle roof.
What I like most is how simple it is to run. Your heater has two dials, one for temperature and one for on/off with a timer. There's no app or wall panel to explain in your house manual. Your guests can keep it dry and hot, or ladle water over the stones for a burst of steam.
My honest note: the kit price isn't the whole budget. You'll need a licensed electrician to run a dedicated 240V, 30-amp circuit, and a level base to set it on. If you sleep more than 5, the 8 person Canadian Hemlock sauna is the better fit.
Why You'll Love the ALEKO Thermowood 5 Person Sauna
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6 kW Harvia KIP heater, UL certified. A Finnish-made heater with simple dials. UL certification matters on anything guests use when you're not there.
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Automatic 60-minute shut-off. If a guest forgets to switch it off, the heater turns itself off within the hour.
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Thermowood walls. The heat-treated wood resists rot and warping and holds heat well, so your cabin stays solid through wet seasons.
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Wet or dry sessions. Your guests pour water over 35 lb of included stones for steam, or keep it dry at up to 194°F.
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Weather-resistant roof, tempered glass door. Asphalt roofing protects your cabin outdoors, and the door is tempered glass.
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Ready for the first session. Bucket, ladle, sand timer, thermo-hygrometer, LED light and built-in vents all come in the kit.
Not sure your property has the power or the space? Call us at 1-800-914-0074 or email sales@optimaloutdooroasis.com. Tell us where you want it, and we'll help you check the electrical and the base before you order.
Why You Should Consider an ALEKO Sauna
ALEKO is a Kent, Washington company that sells saunas, cold plunges, hot tubs and other outdoor living products across the US. On this model, ALEKO pairs its own cabin with a heater from Harvia, a Finnish heater maker. You get a 1-year limited warranty, free shipping to the contiguous US, and an ALEKO parts and support team behind it.
ALEKO Thermowood Outdoor Sauna Kit Specifications
| Model / SKU |
ALEKO SKD5HEM (SKD5HEM-AP) |
| Sauna type |
Traditional wet/dry sauna |
| Indoor / outdoor |
Outdoor |
| Seating capacity |
5 adults |
| Material |
Thermowood (wood species TBC) |
| Color |
Natural |
| Exterior dimensions |
5.91 ft L x 5.25 ft W x 5.25 ft H (180 x 160 x 160 cm), per ALEKO. Confirm with us before building your base |
| Interior dimensions |
TBC |
| Wall thickness |
TBC |
| Door |
Tempered glass, approx. 0.23 in (6 mm) thick |
| Roof |
Weather-resistant asphalt roofing |
| Benches |
TBC |
| Heater |
6 kW Harvia KIP electric sauna heater, made in Finland |
| Heater controls |
Dial controls for temperature and on/off timer. Shuts off automatically after 60 minutes |
| Temperature range |
158 to 194°F (70 to 90°C) |
| Electrical |
220-240V, single phase. 30-amp double-pole breaker, 10/2 copper wire (8/2 over 30 ft). No GFCI. Licensed electrician required |
| Certification |
UL-certified heater |
| Lighting and ventilation |
Interior LED light, built-in vents |
| What's included |
6 kW Harvia KIP heater, traditional wooden bucket with plastic liner, wooden water scoop, sand timer, thermo-hygrometer, 35 lb (16 kg) of sauna stones |
| Weight |
TBC |
| Assembly |
DIY assembly required. Electrician required for heater hookup |
| Country of manufacture |
Heater: Finland. Cabin: TBC |
| Warranty |
1-year limited warranty |
| Shipping |
Free to the contiguous US by LTL freight, typically 7 to 20 business days. Rural surcharges may apply |
What Electrical Hookup Does This Outdoor Electric Sauna Need?
This is an outdoor electric sauna, so plan the power first. ALEKO's manual for the Harvia KIP heater calls for a 240V single-phase circuit on a 30-amp double-pole breaker, wired with 10/2 copper wire. If the sauna sits more than 30 feet from your panel, the manual recommends 8/2 wire for the 6 kW heater. It also says not to use a GFCI on this heater.
That's a job for a licensed electrician, so get the quote before you order. Wondering about running costs? At full output, a 6 kW heater uses up to 6 kWh in an hour. Multiply 6 by your electric rate per kWh, and you have the most an hour of heating can cost you.
Is Thermowood Good for an Outdoor Sauna?
Thermowood is wood that has been heat-treated. ALEKO uses it on this cabin because it resists rot and warping in changing weather, and it has high thermal insulation, which helps the room hold its heat. For you, that means less worry about walls that swell or twist after a few wet seasons outside. ALEKO doesn't name the wood species, so ask us if that matters to you.
Is a 6 kW Heater Enough for a 5 Person Sauna?
For a 5 person sauna, 6 kW is the usual starting size, and it's the heater ALEKO pairs with this cabin. You can set your heater anywhere from 158 to 194°F with one dial. For context, 194°F is only 18 degrees short of the boiling point of water, so this heater gets properly hot. Build some warm-up time into your guest instructions, so the room is ready when they are.
How Do You Assemble a DIY Outdoor Sauna Kit?
ALEKO designed this DIY outdoor sauna kit for home assembly, and its video below walks through the build. Before your delivery day, prepare your outdoor sauna foundation: a level, solid base where the cabin will sit. ALEKO lists the footprint as 5.91 by 5.25 feet. Some retail listings show different measurements, so ask us to confirm the final size before you pour concrete or build a pad. Line up a helper and basic tools. Your electrician connects the heater once the cabin is built.
Wet or Dry: How Does a Traditional Outdoor Steam Sauna Work?
This is a traditional wet/dry sauna, so your guests choose the style. For a dry session, they sit back in the heat. For a wet session, they scoop water from the wooden bucket and pour it over the hot stones for a wave of steam. Your thermo-hygrometer shows temperature and humidity, and the sand timer helps your guests keep sessions short. Anyone who is pregnant, or has heart or blood pressure concerns, should check with a doctor before using a sauna.
Is This a Good Sauna for a Short-Term Rental?
For your rental, safety and simplicity matter most. The heater carries UL certification and shuts itself off after 60 minutes of running, so a heater left on after checkout won't run all day. Two dials run everything, which keeps your guest instructions to a few lines. Want to offer a hot-and-cold routine? Pair it with the Lumina cedar cold plunge. Post session times and house rules by the door, and your guests will use it with confidence.
Watch the ALEKO Sauna Assembly Tutorial
ALEKO's tutorial covers this model (SKD5HEM) and three sister saunas built the same way.
Important Notes Before You Buy
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Electrician required. The heater needs a dedicated 240V circuit on a 30-amp double-pole breaker with 10/2 copper wire (8/2 over 30 ft). No GFCI. Wiring and labor are not included.
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Base not included. You'll need a level, solid base. Confirm final dimensions with us before you build it.
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Specs still being confirmed. Wall thickness, weight, interior dimensions and bench layout are being confirmed with ALEKO. Ask us if you need them before ordering.
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Outdoor sauna. This model is sold for outdoor use.
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Assembly required. DIY assembly. Plan on a helper and basic tools.
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Freight delivery. Ships free to the contiguous US by LTL freight, typically 7 to 20 business days. Rural surcharges may apply, and PO Boxes aren't accepted. Inspect the delivery before you sign.
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Warranty. ALEKO lists a 1-year limited warranty. Ask us for the written terms before you order.
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Health. Guests who are pregnant, or have heart or blood pressure concerns, should check with a doctor before using a sauna.
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Not included. Electrical wiring and breaker, foundation or pad, installation labor, and any furniture or decor shown in photos.
Supporting Documents
Comparing sizes and woods? See the ALEKO Aris 4 Person Thermowood Sauna, all our outdoor saunas, or the full ALEKO collection. Questions about power, placement or delivery? Call 1-800-914-0074, email sales@optimaloutdooroasis.com, or read our shipping policy.
Prefer to pay by bank transfer? Save 3% on this item. Call 1-800-914-0074 or email sales@optimaloutdooroasis.com and we'll send you an invoice with 3% off. The discount applies to the product; shipping is billed as usual.