How Much Does A Home Sauna Cost?

Saunas > Sauna Buyer’s Guide > How Much Does A Home Sauna Cost?

If you want to get right to the point, you likely want to know how much saunas cost and is it worth the investment? Simply put, it’s an affordable, one-time investment that will give you a long-term, 24/7, on-demand wellness retreat in your home. In this article, we’ll provide you with some basic sauna costs to help get you started. First, let’s kick off this pricing guide with sauna 101.

A Brief Drilldown into the Two Common Types of Saunas and the Many Options

In general, saunas are an intensely heated, enclosed, wood-lined room that gives bathers “a bath from the inside out,” helping facilitate detoxifying perspiration, relief from aches and pains, and deep relaxation.

The specific sauna experience and technology will be different depending on what sauna type you prefer – traditional saunas or infrared saunas. Here are the top-line distinctions between the two:

If you enjoy steam in the sauna, higher temperatures, and a more social environment, then a traditional sauna may be the best sauna for you.

These saunas can be indoor or outdoor. Here are some other quick facts about traditional saunas:

The median temperature is between 185-190 degrees Fahrenheit
Traditional saunas heat the air to heat the body
Heat and humidity: Very dry until water is sprinkled over hot rocks. Both temperature and humidity are adjustable (by adding water to rocks); you can also incorporate essential oils into the water for aromatherapy.
It requires 30-40 minutes to preheat rocks before use
Proper ventilation will be required
Bathers enjoy 10-15 minutes – optimal time for use

If you prefer lower temperatures but with body-penetrating heat, an infrared sauna may be your best sauna choice.

These saunas are designed for indoor use only. Here are some other quick facts about infrared saunas:

Optimum temperature is between 125-130 degrees Fahrenheit
Infrared saunas directly heat your body. The infrared energy penetrates the body and raises the core temperature – causing a more pronounced sweating. The EMR (electromagnetic radiation) and EF (electrical field) on some models that utilize certain types of technology are lower than the ambient in your home. The EMR and EF levels are far below even Sweden’s toughest radiation standards.
Heat and humidity: Relatively dry with average humidity. Temperature is controllable; humidity is not.
No pre-heat time required
Since water isn’t used with an infrared sauna, there’s no concern about ventilation. It’s a completely dry heat that maxes out at 150 degrees.
10-15 minutes is optimal time for use, but bathers often stay 25-30 minutes (due to lower temperatures).

If you’d like an even more in-depth explanation of how these saunas differ, check out our extensive side-by-side sauna comparison page.

The Options of Traditional and Infrared Saunas:

How much does a sauna cost for a traditional or infrared model? It depends. There are so many makes and models of saunas across both traditional sauna and infrared sauna categories that will impact sauna prices, including things like:

Sauna type (traditional saunas tend to be more expensive)
Sauna make and model
Sauna size (bigger models will cost more to make and be more expensive to buy)
Sauna option selection (from wood to doors, etc.)
Sauna placement (if you are looking to create an outdoor oasis and have the traditional sauna as part of an outside spa retreat, there may be additional costs outside of the sauna purchase you’ll be making)
Sauna accessories
Any kind of sauna customization

If helpful, you can start looking at specific dimensions of existing traditional and infrared sauna models to help you start narrowing your search of the right sauna for you – before you start thinking sauna price.

Sauna Cost: An Investment into Your Health

You can’t ask how much saunas are without looking at how many sauna benefits there are to enjoy! As a true investment into your health, here’s what regular sauna sessions can help with (and if you are a sauna owner, this can be part of your daily routine for the most health benefits):

Restorative stress escape
Powerful fitness ally and faster muscle recovery helper
Rewarding social oasis with friends and family
Boosted cardiovascular health
Sanctuary for improved mental health
Effective pain management

Powerful detoxification
Notable immunity booster
Helpful for goal weight maintenance
Better (and more youthful) skin
Improved and deeper sleep
Prevention/management of many health conditions and ailments

If you want to read more about these benefits (with some cool stats), check out our resources here:

General Cost Ranges: From Purchase to Ongoing Maintenance

While we will provide very general sauna price ranges here, you will need to work specifically with your local sauna dealer since your actual sauna price will be dependent on the many factors we touched on earlier.

General average home sauna cost range:

Traditional saunas range from $6,000 to $11,000+ depending on size and payment method.
Infrared saunas range from $4,400 to $9,000+.

Sauna Financing: Please discuss possible financing options directly with your local sauna dealer to see what can work best for you.

General sauna energy efficiency and operating costs range:

While this will depend on you (your sauna usage, the amp of your sauna heater, average costs for electricity in your area): here are some general estimates that should shed some light on sauna costs:

Traditional saunas: If you use your sauna 3 times per week, a 6kW heater will cost approximately $4 to $6 per month. On the other hand, a 2.1 kW heater would use less and cost approximately $2 per month.
Infrared saunas: These typically run at about $3 to $5 per month.

Fun fact: For most families, the cost to run an in-home sauna is less than the typical cost to run a washer and dryer!

Ready to Become A Sauna Owner?

At Mainely Tubs, we are here for you throughout the entire process – from initial consideration, to sauna comparisons, to delivery day. First, check out our helpful 10 key tips for buying a home sauna guide. Then, when you are ready, give us a call, email us, or pop by our showrooms in Scarborough, Maine or Rye, New Hampshire. We’re always happy to help you make the first steps to becoming a new sauna owner!