Best Wood Fired Hot Tubs for a Winter Backyard
A wood fired hot tub gives you a steaming soak in the snow with no electrician, no 240V circuit, and no monthly power bill for the heater. You light a fire, wait a few hours, and climb in.
They are slower than an electric spa and you will be hauling firewood. In exchange you get a quiet tub with no pumps humming, a smell of woodsmoke in the air, and a setup that works at a cabin or the far corner of the yard where power never reached.
We picked complete tubs at a few price levels, then added two heaters for anyone who wants to build a soak around a stock tank or an existing tub.
Best Overall: SaunaLife Model S4N Soak Series
SaunaLife's S4N is the one we would buy if the budget allows. It is a full wood burning hot tub sized for up to six people, so it works for a couple on weeknights and a group of friends on New Year's Eve.
SaunaLife is known for barrel saunas, and the S4N has the same natural wood look that blends into a backyard instead of looking like a plastic spa. It is a big investment, so plan the spot carefully. You want level, solid ground and a safe distance from the house for the stove and chimney.
Give yourself a few test fires before guests arrive. Learning how much wood it takes to hit your ideal temperature is part of the fun.
SaunaLife Model S4N Wood-Fired Hot Tub Soak Series
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1,000+ reviews
A six person wood burning hot tub with a natural wood finish that heats without any electrical hookup.
Shop on Amazon →Best Classic Cedar Tub: Canadian Redwood Cedar 5 ft Wood Fired Hot Tub
If you picture a round wooden tub steaming in the snow, this is it. The Canadian Redwood tub is a 5 foot cedar soaking tub heated by wood, and it comes with a paddle for stirring the water so the hot layer on top mixes down.
Cedar smells great when it is warm and handles moisture well. A 5 foot tub is cozy for two to four adults, which is the sweet spot for most backyard soaks.
Wooden tubs swell to seal when they are first filled, so expect a little seepage for the first day or two. That is normal, not a defect.
Canadian Redwood Cedar 5' Outdoor Wood-Fired Hot Tub with Paddle
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A classic 5 foot cedar soaking tub with a wood fired heater and a mixing paddle for even water temperature.
Shop on Amazon →Best Hot Tub and Cold Plunge in One: ALEKO PIWSHTUB
ALEKO's PIWSHTUB has an internal wood stove for hot soaks, and you can skip the fire and use it as an ice bath in summer. That makes it a smart pick if you are into contrast therapy or just want one tub that earns its spot year round.
It costs well under the premium cedar tubs, which makes it the easiest way to try wood fired soaking without spending sauna money.
With an internal stove, keep a guard or clear boundary around the firebox side so nobody leans against it while it is hot.
ALEKO Wood-Fired Hot Tub and Ice Bath with Internal Stove PIWSHTUB
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1,000+ reviews
A wood fired hot tub with a built in stove that doubles as a cold plunge in warm months.
Shop on Amazon →Best Heater to Build Your Own: ALEKO External Wood Burning Hot Tub Heater
Already have a wooden tub, a big stock tank, or a DIY soaking tub? ALEKO's external wood burning heater sits outside the tub and circulates water through the firebox, so the fire stays out of the soaking space entirely.
Keeping the stove outside means more room inside the tub and no hot metal near your legs. It also makes reloading wood easier, since you are not reaching over the water.
Plan your plumbing before you buy. You will need the right fittings and a level pad for the heater next to the tub.
ALEKO External Wood-Burning Hot Tub Heater KITSTOVECMY1
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An external wood stove that heats tub water through circulation, keeping the fire out of the soaking area.
Shop on Amazon →Best Budget DIY Option: QUELECO Stainless Steel Heating Coil
The cheapest path to a fire heated soak is a coil. QUELECO's 29 foot stainless steel coil sits in a fire, and water moves through it by natural convection into your tub.
It is made from 304 stainless, which matters when the water is going into something you sit in. People pair coils like this with a galvanized stock tank and a fire pit for a weekend project tub.
This one is coil only, so you supply the tub, hoses, and fittings. It rewards a bit of tinkering.
QUELECO 304 Stainless Steel Heating Coil 1 inch x 29 ft for Wood Fire Hot Tub
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A food grade stainless coil that turns a fire pit and stock tank into a homemade wood heated soak.
Shop on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a wood fired hot tub take to heat up?
Most take roughly two to four hours to go from cold tap water to soaking temperature, depending on tub size, air temperature, and how dry your wood is. A cover cuts that time a lot.
Do wood fired hot tubs need electricity?
No. The stove heats the water, and most designs move water by natural convection. That is why they are popular at cabins and in yards without a 240V circuit.
Is a wood fired hot tub cheaper to run than an electric one?
If you have access to firewood, it usually is, since there is no heater or pump on your power bill. The trade off is time and effort, because you build and tend a fire each time.
Can I leave a wood fired hot tub outside all winter?
Yes, as long as you keep using it or drain it before long freezes. Water left sitting in the heater or pipes can freeze and crack them.
Quick Tips for Wood Fired Hot Tubs
- Start the fire early. Plan on a few hours to heat a full tub from cold water. Start in the afternoon for an evening soak.
- Burn dry hardwood. Seasoned oak or maple burns hotter and cleaner than damp or soft wood, so you use less of it.
- Stir before you step in. Hot water rises. Mix the tub with a paddle so you do not get a scalding top layer over cold water.
- Cover it between soaks. A simple insulated cover holds a surprising amount of heat overnight and saves wood the next day.
- Drain before a hard freeze. If the tub will sit unused in freezing weather, drain the heater and plumbing so nothing cracks.