If you're investing in an outdoor sauna, one of the first decisions you'll face is whether to choose a barrel sauna or a cube sauna. Both provide the same health benefits and can be fitted with identical electric or wood-fired heaters, but they offer very different ownership experiences.

The right choice depends less on the heater and more on how you plan to use the sauna, how many people will use it and how it fits within your garden.

At Ice Cold Spice, we've seen increasing demand for cube saunas from homeowners creating dedicated outdoor wellness spaces, while barrel saunas remain an excellent choice for buyers wanting a compact, efficient and cost-effective outdoor sauna. Understanding the strengths of each design will help you make the right investment.

The Heritage Behind Each Design

Although barrel saunas are often associated with Scandinavian sauna culture, the traditional Finnish sauna has historically been a rectangular timber building.

Rectangular cabins maximise usable internal space, allow benches to be positioned at the ideal height and make it easier to accommodate families or larger groups. This remains the most common style throughout Finland today, particularly for permanent residential saunas.

Barrel saunas are a more modern development. Their curved construction creates a strong self-supporting structure using fewer components, making them efficient to manufacture, transport and install. Over the last two decades, they have become one of the world's most recognisable outdoor sauna designs.

Both designs are proven. The decision is not about choosing the more authentic sauna—it's about choosing the one that best suits your property and lifestyle.

Internal Space Is the Biggest Difference

The most significant practical difference between a barrel and cube sauna is the way the internal space is used.

A barrel sauna has curved side walls, which naturally reduce usable headroom around the edges. This creates an intimate environment and makes efficient use of heat, but it also limits the flexibility of the internal layout.

A cube sauna uses straight walls throughout, meaning almost all of the internal footprint is usable. The result is wider benches, more headroom and a room that feels noticeably larger than a barrel sauna of similar external dimensions.

For couples, either design works well.

For families or buyers who regularly entertain guests, the additional space inside a cube sauna is often appreciated.

Seating and Comfort

This is an area many buyers overlook.

Most barrel saunas feature long benches running along each side of the cabin. On larger models, these benches are often long enough for an adult to lie down comfortably. If your ideal sauna session involves relaxing quietly on your own or with one other person, this can be a genuine advantage.

Cube saunas follow a different philosophy.

Many incorporate traditional tiered benches, allowing users to choose where they sit depending on how much heat they prefer. The upper bench is positioned higher in the room where temperatures are greatest, while the lower bench provides a cooler seating position.

This reflects traditional Finnish sauna design and makes cube saunas particularly well suited to families or groups, as different users can choose their preferred heat level simply by changing bench height.

If you enjoy stretching out and relaxing, a barrel sauna may suit you better.

If you prefer the flexibility of traditional sauna seating, a cube sauna has the advantage.

Heating Performance

Barrel saunas generally heat up slightly faster because their curved ceiling encloses a smaller volume of air.

However, the difference is often overstated.

Modern cube saunas use insulated wall systems, insulated roofs and high-performance glazing that retain heat extremely effectively. Once both designs reach operating temperature, the difference in running costs is usually minimal.

For most buyers, insulation quality and heater specification will have a much greater impact on performance than the overall shape of the building.

Which Looks Better?

This comes down to the style of your property.

Barrel saunas have a distinctive Scandinavian appearance that suits traditional gardens, woodland settings and rural homes. Their curved profile has become iconic and remains one of the most recognisable outdoor sauna designs available.

Cube saunas have a cleaner architectural appearance. Large glazed front panels, straight lines and contemporary finishes allow them to sit naturally alongside modern extensions, outdoor kitchens, porcelain patios and garden rooms.

This is one reason we've seen increasing demand for cube saunas. Many homeowners now view the sauna as a permanent feature of their landscaping rather than simply another garden building.

Installation and Maintenance

Both designs require a level foundation and a suitable electrical supply.

Barrel saunas are generally simpler structures, using fewer framing components and naturally shedding rainwater because of their curved roof.

Cube saunas rely on engineered roof systems and slightly more complex construction, but this allows greater flexibility for insulation, glazing and internal layouts.

Maintenance requirements are very similar.

Whichever design you choose, investing in quality thermowood or Scandinavian spruce and following the manufacturer's maintenance guidance will ensure many years of reliable performance.

Which Sauna Offers Better Long-Term Value?

Value is about more than purchase price.

A barrel sauna often represents excellent value for buyers wanting a compact, efficient sauna that heats quickly and makes an attractive addition to the garden.

A cube sauna generally offers greater long-term flexibility.

The larger internal space, traditional bench layout and ability to incorporate changing rooms, covered terraces or panoramic glazing make it particularly attractive for homeowners creating a complete outdoor wellness area.

If you're planning to add an outdoor shower or cold plunge in the future, a cube sauna often integrates more naturally into the overall design.

Barrel vs Cube Sauna Comparison

Feature	Barrel Sauna	Cube Sauna
Traditional heritage	Modern commercial design	Traditional Finnish cabin design
Heat-up time	Slightly faster	Very good
Internal space	Good	Excellent
Lie-down comfort	Excellent	Good
Tiered benches	Less common	Common
Panoramic glazing	Limited	Excellent
Modern appearance	Good	Excellent
Best for	Couples and smaller gardens	Families and larger wellness spaces

Which Should You Choose?

A barrel sauna is an excellent choice if you want efficient heating, a compact footprint and long benches that allow you to lie down and relax. It remains one of the most popular outdoor sauna styles and offers outstanding value for first-time buyers.

A cube sauna is often the better investment if you're creating a permanent outdoor wellness space. The additional internal room, tiered bench layouts and contemporary appearance make it particularly well suited to regular family use and modern garden design.

At Ice Cold Spice, we've seen increasing numbers of customers choosing cube saunas as part of larger landscaping and wellness projects. Buyers are increasingly looking beyond the sauna itself and creating complete outdoor spaces that include cold plunge pools, outdoor showers and relaxation areas. The flexibility of a cube sauna makes it well suited to this style of project.

Final Thoughts

Both barrel and cube saunas provide an exceptional sauna experience when designed and built to a high standard. The decision is not about which shape is objectively better, but which best suits your property and how you intend to use it.

If your priorities are simplicity, efficient heating and the ability to recline during your sauna sessions, a barrel sauna remains an excellent option.

If you value additional internal space, traditional tiered seating and a sauna that integrates seamlessly into a contemporary garden, a cube sauna is likely to provide greater long-term satisfaction.

Whichever design you choose, focus on build quality, insulation, timber specification and heater performance. Those factors will have a far greater impact on your enjoyment than whether the roof is curved or flat.