Home saunas: how to choose between infrared, traditional, outdoor and portable

We track 179 home saunas, heaters and kits, from $72.99 steam tents to $43,990 outdoor cabins. Three questions decide it: where it will go, what power you have, and the budget.

By Kirill Gissa · Published
Find your sauna · 3 questions
Where will it go?
What power do you have?
Budget

Categories

11 groups · 173 models · prices checked Oct 8, 2026
Infrared saunas63 models · from $2,199Dry saunas17 models · from $4,172Outdoor saunas25 models · from $4,036.50Outdoor infrared11 models · from $5,339Portable saunas12 models · from $199.99Sauna blankets12 models · from $179Red light saunas10 models · from $959Sauna heaters12 models · from $1,195Wood stoves8 models · from $969Steam tents10 models · from $72.99Sauna kits8 models · from $3,990

Top pick in each category

The four kinds of home sauna

Infrared cabin63 models$2,199 to $10,50026 plug into a 15 A outlet
Traditional (dry), indoor15 models$4,172 to $17,195240 V where published
Outdoor: barrel, cabin, cube32 models$4,036.50 to $43,99025 need 240 V
Portable tent, dome or blanket16 models$399 to $699 (blankets)Regular outlet

The biggest practical difference is the air. Cleveland Clinic puts infrared saunas at about 110–135°F and traditional saunas at 150–195°F (source). Infrared panels warm you directly at a lower air temperature; a traditional stove heats the room and lets you pour water on the stones. Neither is shown to be healthier than the other: the long-term studies were done in traditional saunas, the infrared research mostly in patients.

Outdoor saunas are mostly barrels and cabins with an electric or wood stove; a few are infrared. Portable saunas and blankets cost a fraction of a cabin and fold away, but run cooler.

Guides

Indoor saunas: what fits a spare room, basement or garageBEST-OFFull-spectrum infrared saunas: near and far infrared by brandBEST-OFSaunas by size: 1 person, 2 people, 3 to 6 peopleBEST-OFOutdoor infrared saunas: which are built for outsideBEST-OFBarrel saunasBEST-OFHow much does a home sauna cost? Prices by typeGUIDEHow we research devicesMETHOD

Sauna brands we cover

54 brands, by number of models in our database. Some publish prices; others sell only through dealers or quote on request.

Sun Home 12Almost Heaven 11Clearlight 11Sunlighten 11Golden Designs 9Dundalk LeisureCraft 8JNH Lifestyles 8Finnleo 7Harvia 7Dynamic Saunas 6Medical Saunas 6Redwood Outdoors 5HUUM 4LifePro 4Radiant Health 4SaunaLife 4Therasage 4Aleko 3Finnmark Designs 3Health Mate 3Heavenly Heat 3Maxxus 3Auroom 2Bon Charge 2Durasage 2Heritage Sauna 2HigherDOSE 2Homecraft 2Kuuma 2SaunaBox 2SereneLife 2Sharper Image 2Smartmak 2Amerec 1Baltic Leisure 1Cedar Brook Sauna 1Cozy Heat 1Delta 1Finlandia Sauna 1Homedics 1Hooga 1MiHigh 1Mr. Steam 1Narvi 1PlatinumLED 1Relax Sauna 1SaunaSpace 1Saunum 1Scandia 1The Sauna Place 1ThermaSol 1Thermory 1X-Vcak 1Zonemel 1

Can you plug a sauna into a regular outlet?

Some. Of the 112 cabins in our database, 26 plug into a standard 120 V / 15 A outlet, almost all of them infrared cabins for one or two people. 26 more need a dedicated 120 V / 20 A circuit, and 45 need 240 V. Blankets, domes and tents run on a regular outlet.

Standard 120 V / 15 A outlet26 of 112
almost all infrared cabins for one or two people
Dedicated 120 V / 20 A circuit26 of 112
240 V45 of 112
every traditional stove sauna that publishes its supply

Even plug-in cabins usually ask for a dedicated outlet. Check with a licensed electrician before you order anything bigger than a blanket.

How big a sauna do you need?

Go by interior dimensions, not the number in the name. The Dynamic Saunas Barcelona 1–2 Person is sold as "1–2 person" with 36 inches of bench width, about a one-seater; Clearlight's own page says the Clearlight Sanctuary 5 Full Spectrum "fits up to 4 adults".

1 person2 people3 to 6 people

Is a home sauna worth it?

Do the arithmetic first: price, delivery and wiring against how often you'd really use it. On health, the strongest data are observational: in a Finnish cohort of 2,315 men followed for about 20 years, those who used a sauna four to seven times a week had lower rates of fatal heart disease than those who went once a week (Laukkanen, 2015). That's an association in traditional saunas, not proof that a home cabin does the same. What the studies show.

What is the downside of a sauna?

  • Alcohol and saunas don't mix: drinking raises the risk of low blood pressure, arrhythmia and sudden death (Hannuksela, 2001).
  • Blood-pressure medicines can cause dizziness when you stand up after a session (Kukkonen-Harjula, 2006).
  • High body temperature in early pregnancy is linked to neural tube defects (Moretti, 2005); MotherToBaby advises limiting sauna use in pregnancy (fact sheet).

See our medical disclaimer.

What a home sauna costs

Sauna blankets still sold$399 to $699
Indoor infrared cabins$2,199 to $10,500
Indoor traditional saunas$4,172 to $17,195
Outdoor saunas$4,036.50 to $43,990

On top of these prices come freight delivery to the curb, an electrician for 240 V models, and restocking fees of up to 30% if you return a cabin. The full breakdown, including heaters, kits and trailers, is on what a home sauna costs.

How much is the Costco sauna?

Costco sells Dynamic infrared cabins made by Golden Designs. On Oct 8, 2026 its listings showed these three, all out of stock, against the brand's own prices (Costco listing). Same cabins, same specs; see infrared saunas.

Barcelona 1–2 Person$1,699.99Costco · item 330719$3,499brand site
Santiago 2 Person Full Spectrum$2,699.99Costco · item 1916739$5,999brand site
Lugano 3 Person Elite$2,799.99Costco · item 1948823$6,999brand site

Guides

Indoor saunas: what fits a spare room, basement or garageBEST-OFFull-spectrum infrared saunas: near and far infrared by brandBEST-OFSaunas by size: 1 person, 2 people, 3 to 6 peopleBEST-OFOutdoor infrared saunas: which are built for outsideBEST-OFBarrel saunasBEST-OFHow much does a home sauna cost? Prices by typeGUIDEHow we research devicesMETHOD

Sauna brands we cover

54 brands, by number of models in our database. Some publish prices; others sell only through dealers or quote on request.

Sun Home 12Almost Heaven 11Clearlight 11Sunlighten 11Golden Designs 9Dundalk LeisureCraft 8JNH Lifestyles 8Finnleo 7Harvia 7Dynamic Saunas 6Medical Saunas 6Redwood Outdoors 5HUUM 4LifePro 4Radiant Health 4SaunaLife 4Therasage 4Aleko 3Finnmark Designs 3Health Mate 3Heavenly Heat 3Maxxus 3Auroom 2Bon Charge 2Durasage 2Heritage Sauna 2HigherDOSE 2Homecraft 2Kuuma 2SaunaBox 2SereneLife 2Sharper Image 2Smartmak 2Amerec 1Baltic Leisure 1Cedar Brook Sauna 1Cozy Heat 1Delta 1Finlandia Sauna 1Homedics 1Hooga 1MiHigh 1Mr. Steam 1Narvi 1PlatinumLED 1Relax Sauna 1SaunaSpace 1Saunum 1Scandia 1The Sauna Place 1ThermaSol 1Thermory 1X-Vcak 1Zonemel 1

Questions

Is it worth getting a sauna at home?

If you'd use it several times a week and have the space and power for it. The health evidence is mostly observational; the cost section above has the numbers.

Can you plug a sauna into a regular outlet?

Small infrared cabins, yes: 26 cabins here plug into a standard 15 A outlet. Traditional saunas need 240 V.

How much is the Costco sauna?

Costco has listed Dynamic infrared cabins at $1,699.99, $2,699.99, $2,799.99; all were out of stock when I checked.

What is the healthiest type of sauna?

No study compares them on health outcomes. The long-term Finnish data come from traditional saunas; infrared research is mostly in patients, under clinical protocols.

What is the downside of a sauna?

Dehydration, dizziness, and real risk when combined with alcohol; see the section above and our medical disclaimer.

Is there a sauna with a built-in shower?

Steam cabins with a shower are a different product. Steam saunas cover them.

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