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Sauna Buying Guide

Lauren Bongers

By Lauren Bongers
Updated February 16, 2024

Saunas, whether indoor or outdoor, make a great addition to any home. Used for health benefits and relaxation, saunas can help you look and feel your best. Here's a guide to the different types of saunas so you can choose the best one for your lifestyle.

A Western cedar barrel sauna outdoors.

Benefits of Saunas

A robed woman sitting inside a sauna relaxing.

Saunas provide a variety of health benefits, many of which are clinically proven. In addition to providing pain and stress relief as well as general relaxation, saunas are known to:

  • Boost immunity
  • Help with weight loss
  • Detoxify the body
  • Aid in cardiovascular health
  • Help with asthma symptoms
  • Provide skin benefits
  • Improve blood pressure
  • Enhance sleep

Caution

Saunas are not recommended for those who are pregnant, intoxicated, have kidney disease, are sick, or have open wounds. Check with your health care provider and consult the manufacturer’s warnings before using a sauna.

Types of Saunas

There are a few different types of saunas including traditional and infrared saunas. There are also indoor saunas and outdoor saunas, too. Saunas are made from different types of woods including cedar and hemlock fir. Another thing to consider when buying a sauna is whether you want a canopy-style barrel sauna or cabinet-style sauna.

Electric Saunas

A Western cedar outdoor traditional sauna in a grass lawn.

Electric saunas, also known as traditional saunas, create warmth by heating a pile of rocks to 195 degrees Fahrenheit in 25 to 30 minutes. You can create steam by pouring water over those rocks. You’ll need to shut the door and vents to keep your body heated and to receive potential health benefits.

Infrared Saunas

An infrared light inside the interior of a wood sauna.

Infrared saunas work by using infrared light, or radiant heat, to warm your core directly. If you’re too hot, you can open the roof and vents and still get the benefits. These saunas are generally built for indoor use and use less electricity than traditional saunas.

Infrared saunas come in carbon and ceramic designs. Carbon infrared saunas can reach a maximum temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit in about 10 minutes. Ceramic infrared saunas can also generate 140 degrees Fahrenheit in 10 minutes, but their heat tends to last longer. Ceramic infrared saunas are more expensive to operate than carbon infrared saunas, but both are cheaper to operate than traditional electric saunas. Take note of possible features such as easy assembly, an audio system, backrests and towel hooks.

Outdoor Saunas Versus Indoor Saunas

An outdoor sauna on black levels on a stone patio.

Outdoor saunas are made with treated wood to withstand the elements. When choosing a location for an outdoor sauna, place the sauna where it can access an electric hookup. Also, for safety reasons, make sure outdoor saunas are placed on a flat surface. Indoor saunas should only be used inside the home, such as in a basement or bathroom.

How to Choose the Best Sauna for Homes

A person touching a control panel inside a wood sauna.

Before purchasing a home sauna, research the types of sauna available and consider your budget. In addition to different styles of sauna, there are also a variety of features you may want such as integrated sound systems, LED control panels, tinted glass, different seating options, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Saunas

Here are answers to some common questions homeowners have when buying a sauna.

Which type of sauna is better?

Each sauna type has its pros and cons. Read the guide above carefully to learn about each type of sauna.

Which is better, dry sauna or infrared?

Because infrared is a relatively new technology compared to traditional dry saunas, there's not enough data to prove that one is better than the other. Both infrared and dry saunas provide numerous health benefits.

What is a dry sauna called?

A dry sauna, also called a traditional sauna, heats the ambient air in the sauna to raise core body temperature. Infrared sauna uses infrared technology to directly heat the body.

Which type of sauna is better?

There isn't one type of sauna that is better than the other. Choosing the best sauna for you depends on your preferences. Infrared saunas typically heat up faster than other types of saunas. So, if a fast-heating sauna is important to you, choose an infrared option. If cost is the most important consideration, a wood-burning sauna is likely the most affordable option. Before choosing your sauna, consider which features are important to you and decide on your budget.

Are home saunas worth it?

If you plan on getting a good amount of use from a home sauna, it may be worth the cost  ̶̶  especially if you consider its health benefits. If you are planning on moving to a new home, you should wait to purchase a sauna until you know you'll be in the same location for a few years. Once installed, saunas are difficult, and costly, to transport to a new location.