Best electric sauna heaters

What the inspector will ask: UL 875 and ETL

Sellers word the listing differently: "c-UL-us listed, conforms to UL 875" for the KIP, "ETL listed, conforms to UL 875" for the other Harvia heaters. By the sellers' pages, all four Harvia models are listed to UL 875, and the dealer says the same for the Homecraft Revive, though I couldn't open the manufacturer's certificate. HUUM's heaters are listed by SGS to UL 60335-1, a general appliance standard, not UL 875. Saunum's page says "UL Rated, CE Rated, ETL Rated" without naming a standard, and I found no listing for the Finnleo Himalaya or the Scandia Ultra on the pages I checked.

I'm not in a position to tell you which listing your inspector will accept. Ask your local building department before you buy, and have a licensed electrician do the wiring.

The real price: heater, controller and stones

A dealer's heater price is often the heater alone. HUUM's 9 kW Hive Mini is $2,657 on its own; the UKU controller and the stones are sold separately. Homecraft includes its controller but charges $350 for rocks. The Harvia KIP and the Finnleo bundle are the exceptions with controls in the price. Compare heaters at the same completeness.

Dealer prices vary

The same heater can cost very different amounts at different dealers. Topture lists the Harvia KIP60B at $1,195. Prices here carry the dealer name and the date I checked, and Topture's return terms are strict: 30 days with written authorization, a restocking fee of at least 25%, and freight both ways at your cost (policy).

Heater size and wiring

Each heater is rated for a range of room volumes, so measure the room's length × width × height in feet first. The 6 kW heaters here are rated for 169–325 cu ft depending on the model; the 8–9 kW ones go up to 494 cu ft. Every heater with a stated voltage runs on 240 V, and several offer a 208 V option at lower output. Check with a licensed electrician; the wire gauge and breaker come from the manual, not from a dealer's summary.

Building the room yourself? Start with our DIY sauna guide and sauna kits. Want wood heat instead? See wood-burning sauna stoves.

Are saunas expensive to run?

Simple arithmetic: a heater at full power uses at most its rating per hour, so a 6 kW heater uses up to 6 kWh in an hour, less once the thermostat starts cycling. Multiply by your electric rate. Harvia and HUUM put heat-up at about an hour, which is when it runs flat out. More on running costs on what a home sauna costs.

Dry or wet: can you pour water on it?

Yes, on all 12: every heater here is rated for dry and wet use. The Finnleo Himalaya adds a built-in water tank for steam, and Homecraft says the Revive is designed for heavy water use on the stones.