18 DIY Sauna Bench Plans You Can Make Today (with Pictures)

One of the greatest ways to unwind after a long day is to spend time in the sauna! A sauna and the benches that are inside are both great projects for (at) home builders looking to craft a space of serenity. In this article, we’ll focus on the seating arrangements and examine a collection of beautiful sauna benches and plans that will stoke the flames of inspiration.

Whether you are a first-time builder or an experienced carpenter looking for a challenge, we have a sauna bench design for your next luxurious project. Let’s step into this list of sauna bench plans that will have you relaxing in style in no time.

A quick note: as many sauna benches are built into the rooms, many of these plans feature specs for the whole sauna. These can easily be adapted by just adding benches to your existing structure.

The Top 18 DIY Sauna Bench Plans

1. Two-Level Sauna Corner Bench

We’re starting things off simple, easy, and functional with plans for a two-layered sauna bench. This design is excellent for amateurs just starting with DIY projects. This design has plans available in three sizes, so whether you want to build a small, medium, or large sauna bench, this is a great place to start looking.

The simplicity of these plans allows beginner DIYers to knock the project out without much of a problem. With a couple of basic tools and 2x4s, your steaming days are just around the corner.

2. Corbel Supported Sauna Bench

This is a neat design that features corbels. A corbel is a decorative support, usually in the shape of a small triangle. They can be found up and down the eaves of large roofs. While you should be comfortable running a jigsaw to make the curved and more decorative cuts, this is a relatively easy design.

Here’s a big hint; the key to making a good cut is getting the layout perfect. The laminate plywood corbels are ideal for building a unique and interesting design.

3. T-brace Sauna Bench

This is another bench design from a sauna that features a corner bench, but it is only on the lower level. This bench features a slightly different style of support. It isn’t evident in the finished project, which makes the sauna benches look like they’re floating. The T-brace arms are a solid design, and the floating bench illusion and the sleek design make this sauna seat a very satisfying DIY project.

4. Shuffle Bench Sauna

This is a very cool design from some sauna builders in Russia. It features a unique bench layout. The clever design solves some of the issues associated with corner benches. Instead of having dead space in the corner where nobody sits, the lower bench becomes more of a footrest. This increases the seating capacity by one. It’s an easy build with nothing but square cuts and a simple footing design.

5. Wall-Mounted Retractable Sauna Bench

Here’s a smart, functional design for the more experienced DIYers. Saunas are a large part of social life around the world, especially in Eastern Europe. You’ll have to scroll down a bit, but you’ll find a schematic for a wall-mounted, hinged bench that slides.

It was designed to make it easier to clean underneath the bench, which is a common issue with saunas. Taking the extra time to build a hinged and sliding bench solves a potentially big issue with the sauna since the area underneath the bench is prone to mold if it isn’t cleaned.

6. Finnish Style Sauna

Here is a tasteful Finnish style of design that features 2×2 slats with spaces in between rather than 2x4s that run the length of the bench, as we’ve seen a few times. It is a very beautiful design, especially when coupled with nice underlighting, like in the photos!

This design requires a fair amount of work and will require skills in cutting and laying out the slats. Consistency is the key; with a sharp pencil and a sharper wit, you should have no trouble installing this bench in your sauna.

7. Advanced Finnish Bench

If you consider yourself a decent carpenter and are up for a challenge, look at these Finnish sauna benches. The angular, asymmetrical slats are a work of art. If you enjoy puzzles, you will likely enjoy testing yourself with this amazing design!

The curved wood and modern look of these awesome benches are stunning. It’s certainly common knowledge that the Finns love their saunas, and apparently, they build their benches right, too.

• Related Read: 7 DIY Barrel Sauna Plans You Can Make Today (with Pictures)

8. Curved L Sauna Benches

Here is another beautiful set of designs from another company in Russia, where the word for bench translates into ‘shelves’ in English. These designs are attractive and functional. By curving the corners of the benches, the designers have taken a big piece of the corner bench’s design flaw out of the picture.

Most people would typically never sit at a 45° angle in the corner of a bench with a 90° angle—it would be uncomfortable. Putting a curve on the inside corner is a simple yet very clever detail. If your sauna’s heater is installed and functional, it provides the perfect environment for bending the wood to create the curve. Also, an inside corner where the wood is fixed is one of the easiest bends to make; it’s just a matter of steam and patience.

9. Easy 2 Layer Sauna Bench Plans

These highly functional two-layer bench plans are a gorgeous, simple way to complete your sauna bench project. The site has plans for quite a few sizes. These benches are nothing fancy but are straight, flat, and simple.

Sometimes simplicity is beautiful, and the 20” and 12″ benches provide enough space for 2 people to lie down comfortably. If it is too simple for you, check out number 17 for a great add-on idea.

10. Interlocking Sauna Benches

Here is another unique set of sauna bench plans. They are similar to the ones for the Simple Sauna Bench Plans above but feature an L pattern at staggered elevations. Aside from aesthetics, there isn’t much to gain from building in this pattern; however, we’ll admit it looks really slick. The little pockets underneath might make a good place for your water bottle or flip-flops.

11. Finlandia Sauna Bench Plans

This sauna bench idea can also be bought as a kit. If you don’t want to wait, however, they give you the specs for the bench so you can easily build it yourself with 2x4s and 2x2s. It is just a simple L-shaped sauna bench, and while there may be similar designs on this list, these plans do a nice job of laying out the measurements. There are some excellent instructional resources for readers here as well.

12. Reclining Sauna Bench Plans

How high should the sauna bench be? These sauna bench plans tackle the height question and offer some reasonably easy reclining options. This is the next level of luxury in sauna bench design.

The process required to bend wood and form it requires equipment that may be a little out of reach of today’s average DIYer. The design requires some angled cuts, making it a great challenge for beginners who want to level up.

13. Simple Sauna Bench

These plans for a simple, single sauna bench are helpful for adapting benches into a custom configuration. They are also a great way to learn new skills and start with something basic that can be replicated into more complex arrangements. If you’re new to carpentry and woodworking and want to improve your skills, this project is ideal.

14. Step Up Sauna Benches

Here are simple sets of plans for beginners. The benches feature an enclosed staircase-style design within the sauna. Depending on the size of the sauna bench you are looking to build, there are a few versions of these simple step-up designs.

These are great beginner projects that don’t require expensive materials. The benches should come together quickly, so you don’t need to put aside weeks to complete the project, either.

15. Simple Sauna Benches with Headrests

These plans for sauna benches include headrests! You can use them to incorporate headrests in any other sauna bench plans on this page or just follow these plans to keep it simple. It is another great beginner project that will encourage skill-building.

You don’t need to be a beginner, however. The headrests are an excellent bench accessory that adds luxury to the experience.

Related Read: What Is The Best Wood for a Sauna? What You Need to Know!

16. Sauna Bench Configuration for Wheelchair Access

For DIYers who need to consider a larger door and bench configuration, here is a sauna bench layout that was built with your chair in mind. This project allows you to design your own custom sauna and bench layout on the website, so don’t feel restricted by the specs given; they are just standard examples.  If you want to install a sauna bench for a loved one or friend who uses a mobility chair, these adaptable plans are perfect.

17. Sauna Bench Backrest Designs

This is an excellent idea for adding comfort to any existing sauna benches. These DIY sauna bench backrests can take a dull design and transform your sauna into a place of comfort and luxury. The chaise-style sauna benches are much easier to construct than other designs.

Long curved jigs required to make the backrests take a lot of experience to build correctly. This simple, modular backrest style can be added to any flat sauna bench, making this a piece of simple perfection.

18. Hearth Wrapping Step Up Sauna Bench Hearth Wrapping

This set of sauna bench designs is a fantastic resource for DIYers looking to toy with a few ideas. Peruse these plans for a multitude of ideas that you can start working on today. Most are very simple, with straight cuts, features, and different sizes to modify your sauna bench project.

They also show you how to build the nice footrests you find in many Eastern European saunas, encouraging you to kick off your flip-flops and feel the grains of the cedar under your feet. What could be more relaxing than steaming the day out in your sauna on your homemade bench?

Conclusion

Relaxing in your sauna is an unforgettable experience, but if your benches are uncomfortable, one of the plans we discussed can provide comfort and luxury. Although a few of the projects require more experience to complete, most are suitable for casual DIYers and crafters. Before jumping into one of the projects, remember to wear safety gear to protect your eyes, lungs, and other body parts.

Featured Image Credit: nkaminetskyy, Pixabay