The original wood-burning sauna heaters were often a pile of stones placed on a rack above a brick fireplace. Heat from the fire warmed the stones, which in turn heated the surrounding air. The mystical nature of the wood burning sauna heater, combined with the scent of aromatic wood burning, and the crackling of the fire still add to the enjoyment and relaxation of a sauna. These still provide enough of a lure to many sauna bathers that they still use wood heaters in their saunas.

There are of course some drawbacks to using traditional wood heat for your sauna. Burning wood produces soot and ask and often requires a great deal of attention while burning. Also, do to the smoke, it means that you have to install a chimney and a flue. It comes down to wood burning sauna heaters being a great deal more work than other types. Chopping and gathering wood as well as a great deal of maintenance or required. Wood burning heaters also take much longer to heat a room when compared to gas or electric. A medium-sized sauna may take as long as 3 or 4 hours to reach optimal sauna temperatures. It is important to install fireproofing around the stove so that you reduce fire hazards.

When designing your sauna you have to decide if the fire will be stoked and fueled from the outside of the sauna or the inside. If bathers will be responsible for fueling and maintaining the fire, you'll have to make sure that you build in enough room for a small amount of wood. If you are fueling and stoking the stove from the outside then you'll have to make sure that you build an easy access along with dry storage for wood and stoking tools.

The best woods that can be used to fuel your sauna heater are dense and burn slowly, producing and even heat with very little soot. Birch, oak, and elm are favorite woods. It is also important to choose a wood that smells pleasant to you as it burns. No matter what type of wood you choose, you should make sure that it has been well seasoned (kept drying for at least 6 months)