What certifications do saunas need for the US and EU?

For the US, retailers and inspectors typically expect a listing from a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory such as ETL or UL; sauna heaters are commonly required to meet UL 875, and Bluetooth modules need FCC authorization. For the EU, CE marking under the Low Voltage, EMC and RoHS directives applies, plus RED for radio features.

Which Incoterm should I use to import saunas?

FOB is the most common choice for experienced importers because you control freight and insurance while the supplier handles export clearance and loading. EXW gives you more cost control but more work in China. CIF and DDP simplify logistics for newer buyers but reduce visibility over freight costs. Under Incoterms 2020, FOB, FAS, CFR and CIF are for sea transport only.

How many saunas fit in a container?

It depends on model size, carton dimensions and whether you mix models. A 40-foot high cube offers about 76 cubic meters, a 40-foot standard about 67.7 and a 20-foot about 33. Load the actual carton list into a container calculator and confirm the final loading plan with your supplier before booking.

How long does it take to import saunas from China?

Total time is production plus inland transport, ocean transit, customs clearance and final delivery. Production time depends on model, customization, order size and season, and transit time depends on route. Confirm production lead time with your supplier when you place the order, and build in buffer for sampling and certification.

How to Import Saunas from China: A B2B Guide

Short answer. Importing saunas from China comes down to four decisions made in the right order: confirm the certifications your market requires, agree an Incoterm that matches your logistics capability, plan the container load from real carton data, and build a timeline that includes sampling, certification and transit. Most problems importers face come from settling these after the deposit is paid instead of before.

Which certifications do you need?

Start here, because certification determines which models and configurations you can buy at all.

Market	Requirement	What it covers	Applies to
US / Canada	NRTL listing (e.g. ETL, UL)	Electrical safety testing to a named standard	Complete sauna or heater
US	UL 875	Electric dry-bath (sauna) heaters; referenced by building codes	Traditional sauna heaters
US	UL 1563	Electric spas; expanded in January 2025 to cover cold tubs and ice baths	Cold plunge tubs
US	FCC Part 15	Radio devices are intentional radiators and generally need certification and an FCC ID	Bluetooth audio, Wi-Fi controls
EU	CE: Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU	Electrical safety, roughly 50-1000 V AC	All mains-powered saunas
EU	CE: EMC Directive 2014/30/EU	Electromagnetic compatibility	All electrical saunas
EU	RoHS 2011/65/EU	Ten restricted substances, 0.1% limit (cadmium 0.01%)	Electrical and electronic parts
EU	Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU	Products with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth	Cabins with wireless features

Practical points:

Ask for the certificate, not a logo. Check the listing in the certifier's online directory, and confirm the model numbers and voltage match what you are ordering.
Customization can change certification scope. A new heater layout, voltage or control panel may fall outside an existing listing. Ask your supplier before finalizing an OEM design.
Cold plunge tubs are a separate category. Treat their chiller, pump and electrical system as its own compliance project.

Many Mars models list CE and ETL certification. Confirm the current certification for each specific model and configuration with our team.

Which Incoterm should you choose?

Incoterms 2020 has eleven rules. Four of them, FAS, FOB, CFR and CIF, are for sea and inland waterway transport only. The rest (EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, DDP) work for any mode.

Incoterm	Seller's responsibility ends	Who books main freight	Good for
EXW	Goods made available at seller's premises, not loaded	Buyer	Buyers with a strong China-side forwarder
FCA	Goods handed to buyer's carrier at named place	Buyer	Consolidated or multimodal shipments
FOB	Goods on board the vessel at the named port	Buyer	Most experienced importers
CIF	Goods on board; seller pays freight and minimum insurance to destination port	Seller	Buyers who want a simple landed-port price
DAP	Goods ready for unloading at named destination	Seller	Buyers who want door delivery but clear customs themselves
DDP	Goods ready for unloading at destination, import-cleared	Seller	Small buyers; least visibility over duties and freight

Two details catch buyers out. Under CIF, risk still passes to you when goods are loaded at the origin port, even though the seller pays freight. And under Incoterms 2020, CIP now defaults to broader ICC (A) insurance cover, while CIF keeps the minimum cover.

How do you plan the container load?

Saunas are bulky relative to their weight, so you will usually fill a container by volume long before reaching its weight limit. Reference internal dimensions are below; individual containers vary by manufacturer.

Container	Internal L x W x H (mm)	Capacity
20GP	5898 x 2352 x 2393	~33 m³
40GP	12032 x 2352 x 2395	~67.7 m³
40HQ	12032 x 2352 x 2698	~76.4 m³

Sources: RCL for 20GP and 40HC, Hapag-Lloyd for 40' standard.

The extra 300 mm of height in a 40HQ often lets you stack an additional layer of flat-pack cartons, which is why many sauna importers default to it. Run your actual carton list through the container calculator, then ask the supplier to confirm the loading plan.

What packaging should you specify?

Sauna damage in transit usually happens at corners, glass doors and heater panels. Specify:

Carton or crate construction for each component (panels, roof, bench, glass, heaters)
Corner protectors and edge boards on wood panels
Separate protection for tempered glass doors and fronts
Moisture protection (film wrap, desiccants) for wood and electronics
Clear carton labels with model, part number, carton X of Y and gross weight
Solid wood pallets and crates treated and marked under ISPM 15, which requires approved treatment such as heat treatment to a 56°C core temperature for at least 30 minutes and the IPPC mark
Retail-ready printed cartons if you ship direct to consumers

Mars offers custom packaging and logo printing as part of OEM/ODM orders.

How do you plan lead time?

Lead time varies by model, customization, order size and season, so confirm it with your supplier at order. Build your plan from these stages rather than one total figure:

Sample order, production and shipping
Sample evaluation, revisions and approval
Certification or listing updates, if customized
Deposit and mass production
Pre-shipment inspection
Inland transport, export clearance and loading
Ocean transit
Import clearance, duties and final delivery

Tariffs and duties can change during this window. Check current classification and duty rates with a licensed customs broker before you price.

Pre-order checklist

Certification documents verified for each model and voltage
Incoterm and named place written in the contract
Carton list with dimensions and weights for the load plan
Packaging specification agreed in writing
Approved sample retained as quality reference
Inspection criteria and acceptable defect levels defined
Spare parts list and warranty process agreed
User manuals and labels in your market's language
Customs broker engaged and duty rates checked

Key takeaways

Certification comes first: NRTL listing and UL 875 for US sauna heaters, UL 1563 for cold tubs, FCC for radios; CE (LVD, EMC, RoHS, plus RED for radio) in the EU.
FOB suits most importers; FAS, FOB, CFR and CIF are sea-only terms under Incoterms 2020.
Plan loads by volume: about 33 m³ (20GP), 67.7 m³ (40GP) and 76.4 m³ (40HQ).
Specify packaging in writing, including ISPM 15 for solid wood.
Confirm production lead time with your supplier and build a stage-by-stage timeline.

Electrical configuration is the other early decision; read sauna electrical planning. When you are ready to quote, contact our export team with your target models, market and Incoterm.