What Is the Best Wood for a Sauna? Cedar, Hemlock, Spruce, Aspen, and More
Published
Summary
There is no single wood species that a sauna must use. Western red cedar, hemlock, Nordic spruce, aspen, and other sauna-suitable woods are all used in professional products. What matters more is how the wood handles repeated heating and drying, how it feels against bare skin, and which part of the room it is used for.
Cedar is common in North America, not mandatory
Western red cedar is widely used because it is lightweight, visually distinctive, aromatic, and reasonably stable. It is available in clear and knotty grades, which gives buyers a choice between a cleaner look and a more rustic, lower-cost appearance.
Cedar is not what makes a sauna traditional, though. Finnleo uses Nordic white spruce as its standard because Finnish saunas have traditionally used it, and offers hemlock and cedar as alternatives.
Hemlock and spruce are established alternatives
Finnleo describes Nordic white spruce as light in color, with clean lines and a forest scent. Its hemlock is vertical-grain Canadian hemlock. SaunaFin says hemlock does not have quite the same aroma as cedar but is durable and sturdy.
Smell the woods in person if you can. People who find cedar too strong may prefer a lower-aroma species.
Bench wood can be different from wall wood
Benches are touched by bare skin, so surface temperature, smoothness, splinter resistance, and resin behavior matter.
Finnleo's standard custom interior pairs spruce walls and ceiling with abachi benches, while its cedar and hemlock options use the same species for walls and benches. Its backrests come in abachi or aspen as well.
The assembly matters as much as the species
Tongue-and-groove profile, fastening, board thickness, drying, and the wall assembly behind the wood all affect the finished sauna.
Finnleo's custom interiors show where the kit stops: the dealer's contractor, or the owner's, installs the sauna onto walls that are already framed.
Sources
Specifications, prices and installation requirements are as the makers published them on these pages on the date above and can change. Check the current manual and the retailer before you buy.