Finnleo Wood-Burning Sauna Stove

Finnleo Wood-Burning Sauna Stoves — Karhu 20 Home & Saga 22 Basic

Finnleo's wood-burning sauna stove lineup brings the authentic, centuries-old ritual of Finnish sauna bathing to home saunas, cabins, and outdoor bathhouses. Manufactured by Kastor for Finnleo, these CE-certified stoves are built from Finnish structural steel and forged steel components, delivering the genuine crackle, aroma, and radiant heat of a real wood fire that electric heaters simply can't replicate. Whether you need a compact stove for a smaller home sauna or a high-capacity unit for a larger cabin-style room, the Finnleo wood-burning range offers two proven models — the Karhu 20 Home and the Saga 22 Basic — each engineered for deep heat retention, smooth steam (löyly), and years of reliable performance.

Model Lineup at a Glance

• Karhu 20 Home: Compact chrome-accented stove for sauna rooms from 282 to 702 cu. ft., holding 70 lbs (35–40 kg) of rocks with an approx. 12 kW nominal output
• Saga 22 Basic: Larger, high-capacity stove for sauna rooms from 423 to 777 cu. ft., holding an impressive 330 lbs (145–150 kg) of rocks for deep, long-lasting heat storage

Key Features Shared Across the Series

• Genuine wood-burning heaters with CE certification for safety and quality
• Floor-standing installation with a compact footprint relative to heating output
• Deep stone compartments engineered for even heat transfer and rich, soft steam
• Glass viewing door to enjoy the ambiance of the live flame
• Removable ash pan for simple, ongoing maintenance
• 115 mm (4.5 in) flue connection for standard chimney installation
• Sauna rocks included with every stove
• Built for genuine unprocessed firewood (birch or alder recommended)

Karhu 20 Home — Construction & Design

The Karhu 20 Home is built from high-grade Finnish structural steel and finished with a stylish chrome front panel that complements any sauna interior. Internally, a Coanda-style air circulation system channels hot combustion gases through a deep rock compartment for fast, even heating and excellent heat retention, so the stove keeps radiating comfortable warmth long after the fire has burned down. The fire door uses special Ceram glass rated to withstand 800°C, letting bathers safely enjoy the visible flame. Adjustable legs allow for a stable, level installation on a variety of floor types.

Saga 22 Basic — Construction & Design

The Saga 22 Basic is built around a rugged, forged steel frame designed to withstand the intense, repeated heat cycles of wood-fired sauna use. Its distinctive rock basket runs from top to bottom of the unit, exposing the stones directly to the fire below for maximum thermal storage and the soft, enveloping steam that traditional wood-burning stoves are known for. A small glass door lets bathers enjoy the visible flame, while the removable ash pan keeps maintenance simple.

Heating Performance

Both stoves are engineered to bring their respective sauna room sizes up to bathing temperature efficiently on a single loaded batch of wood. The Karhu 20 Home reaches bathing temperature in roughly 40–50 minutes with approximately 72% combustion efficiency, and additional wood can be stoked once the prior batch has burned to embers for longer sessions. The Saga 22 Basic's larger 330 lb rock mass stores substantially more thermal energy, producing long-lasting radiant heat and a smoother, more comfortable löyly when water is thrown on the hot stones — ideal for bigger rooms or extended bathing sessions. Both units are designed to burn cleanly using properly seasoned, unprocessed firewood at 12–20% moisture content.

Rocks & Heat Retention

Sauna stones are included with both models. The Karhu 20 Home holds approximately 70 lbs (35–40 kg) of stones, recommended at least 10 cm in diameter and placed loosely and vertically to allow flue gases to pass freely between them. The Saga 22 Basic holds a considerably larger 330 lbs (145–150 kg) load, taking full advantage of its top-to-bottom rock basket design for deeper heat storage and a longer-lasting sauna experience. In both cases, correct stone size and placement are essential — overpacking or using undersized stones will prevent the rocks from reaching proper bathing temperature even if the surrounding air heats quickly.

Installation & Flue Requirements

Both the Karhu 20 Home and Saga 22 Basic use a 115 mm (4.5 in) flue connection and are installed as floor-standing units. Proper clearances to combustible materials, a compliant chimney/flue system, and adequate room ventilation are required for safe operation. A protective base is required (and available as an accessory) when installing either stove on flammable flooring, and a protective wall accessory can reduce side/back safety clearances for the Karhu 20 Home. The Saga 22 Basic can be paired with an optional 4.5-inch chimney basket to complete a code-compliant chimney installation.

What's Included

• Karhu 20 Home or Saga 22 Basic wood-burning sauna heater
• Sauna rocks
• Removable ash pan
• Glass viewing door (fire door)
• Grate and connection pipe for flue installation (Karhu 20 Home)
• Rock basket / rock nest assembly (Saga 22 Basic)
• Door handle with mounting hardware (Karhu 20 Home)
• Steel caps for soot hatch and unused flue opening (Karhu 20 Home)
• Installation and user instructions

Note: Chimney components, protective wall, and protective base are available as separate optional accessories and are not included with the base heater unit unless otherwise specified by your dealer.

Technical Specifications Comparison

• Karhu 20 Home — Sauna Size: 282–702 cu. ft. | Nominal Output: approx. 12 kW | Rock Capacity: 70 lbs (35–40 kg) | Dimensions (W x H x D): 17" x 28.75" x 18" | Flue Diameter: 115 mm | Installation: Floor-standing, adjustable legs | Fuel: Unprocessed firewood (birch or alder recommended) | Certification: CE-marked
• Saga 22 Basic — Sauna Size: 423–777 cu. ft. | Rock Capacity: approx. 330 lbs (145–150 kg) | Flue Opening (Inside Diameter): 4.5 in (115 mm) | Installation: Floor-standing | Fuel: Unprocessed firewood (birch or alder recommended) | Certification: CE-marked

Why Buy Finnleo From Us

Finnleo, distributed by Sauna360 in Cokato, Minnesota, is one of the most trusted names in authentic Finnish sauna heating. Both the Karhu 20 Home and Saga 22 Basic bring genuine Nordic wood-fired sauna tradition into your home, cabin, or bathhouse, backed by CE certification and decades of Finnish sauna manufacturing heritage. As an authorized Finnleo dealer, we offer full factory warranty support, expert guidance on sauna room sizing, chimney and flue requirements, and installation, plus dedicated help before and after your purchase. Have questions about which model fits your space, flue clearances, or accessory selection? Reach out and a sauna specialist will help you get it right the first time.