Which Sauna Brands Are Most Exposed to U.S. Tariff Increases?

Not all sauna brands face the same tariff exposure. The current trade environment has created two distinct tiers: a 145% surcharge on Chinese imports and a 15% Section 122 surcharge on European goods. Where a brand actually manufactures its products, not where it's headquartered, determines its exposure. Here's how the major brands stack up.

Extreme Exposure: Chinese Manufacturing (145% tariff)

Sauna360 / TyloHelo (Sweden/Finland): The parent company of Tylo, Helo, Finnleo, and Amerec faces the worst tariff exposure of any major sauna brand, precisely because its Nordic branding obscures Chinese manufacturing. U.S. customs import records show Sauna360 Inc. receives the vast majority of its prefabricated sauna kit shipments from two Chinese manufacturers, Wuxi Sfactor Co. and Changzhou Sfactor Co., both based in Jiangsu province. A 2022 Enterprise Minnesota report confirmed the arrangement, quoting company management saying Sauna360 "manufactures most of its free-standing sauna units in China," with those kits shipped directly to consumers for in-home assembly. At 145% tariffs, a container that cost $5,000 to ship from China in 2019 now carries a tariff bill many times the product value. Custom-built units are produced at the company's Cokato, Minnesota plant, and heaters still come from Finland and Sweden, but those segments represent a small share of volume. Sauna360 was acquired by Masco's Watkins Wellness division in July 2023 and does not publish manufacturing disclosures.

High Exposure: Finnish and Estonian Manufacturers (15% tariff)

Harvia (Finland): The world's largest sauna equipment company manufactures across Finland, Estonia, and Germany. Its heaters, sold through a wide U.S. dealer network, face the full 15% European surcharge. However, Harvia's 2024 acquisition of ThermaSol (Texas-based) and its Almost Heaven factory in Lewisburg, West Virginia give it a domestic manufacturing foothold for steam and barrel-sauna products. CEO Matias Järnefelt told analysts on the Q3 2025 earnings call that the tariff regime is lifting costs, but that Harvia is being measured on pass-through: "Tariffs also apply higher cost of goods sold due to tariffs and currency exchange rates. It's also a little bit of a balancing act, what's the right strategy and right pace?" He also disclosed on the Q3 call that Harvia is "assessing what potentially could be the right time for us to have a sauna cabin factory" in North America, a move that would further insulate the Group from European-origin tariffs.

HUUM (Estonia): All HIVE and DROP heaters are manufactured in Estonia. HUUM has no U.S. production. Tariff exposure is total on the heater side, though some distributors pre-stocked U.S. warehouses to buffer near-term pricing.

Thermory (Estonia): The world's largest thermowood producer ships from Estonian and Finnish factories. Thermally modified wood is a key material for outdoor sauna construction. Thermory does maintain U.S. warehouse operations, but the product still enters the country as an import.

Moderate Exposure: European Brands with U.S. Distribution

KLAFS (Germany, owned by Kohler): German manufacturing, facing the 15% European surcharge. Kohler's U.S. distribution network and supply chain scale give KLAFS more flexibility than standalone European brands to absorb or route around tariff costs.

Lower Exposure: North American Manufacturers

Homecraft (Canada): Manufactured in Surrey, BC since 1988. Canadian products face their own tariff considerations (Section 232 on certain materials), but are not subject to either the China 145% or European 15% surcharges.

Dundalk Leisurecraft (Canada): Cedar saunas manufactured in Ontario. Similar Canadian tariff dynamics apply.

Tariff Exposure Summary: Extreme (145% China tariff): Sauna360/TyloHelo/Finnleo prefab kits (primarily Chinese manufacturing). High (15% Europe tariff): HUUM, Narvi, IKI, Saunum (100% European, no U.S. production), Harvia (European manufacturing, partial U.S. presence via ThermaSol). Moderate: KLAFS (German manufacturing, Kohler distribution). Lower: Homecraft, Dundalk Leisurecraft (Canadian manufacturing, custom Sauna360 units built in Cokato, MN).

What Buyers Should Know

If you're buying a sauna or heater in the U.S. right now, manufacturing origin matters more than brand origin. The Supreme Court struck down IEEPA tariffs in February 2026, but a 15% replacement surcharge remains through at least July 2026. A Finnish-branded sauna kit made in China carries a 145% tariff. The same kit made in Finland carries 15%. The price difference on a $5,000 sauna is significant and will either be absorbed by the distributor, passed to the consumer, or both. Canadian-made alternatives from Homecraft and Dundalk Leisurecraft, and custom-built Sauna360 units from Cokato, MN, avoid both tariff tiers entirely.

Update, August 23, 2026: the Canadian position described above changed. New Section 338 duties effective August 22 put an additional 50% on a list of Canadian goods that includes shaped cedar, plywood, MDF, wooden doors and wooden seat parts, though not on 9406.10, the classification for a complete prefabricated wooden sauna. See our line-by-line read of what the 50% list does and does not cover for Canadian saunas.