Infrared vs Traditional Sauna: Which Is Better for Your Home? (2026)
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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A home sauna is one of the most rewarding luxury wellness purchases, but the first decision trips up most buyers: infrared or traditional? Both make you sweat and both can become a cherished daily ritual. They work very differently, though, and that changes everything from the feel of a session to the wiring in your walls.
This guide answers one question: should you buy an infrared or a traditional sauna for your home? We drew on Cleveland Clinic and Northwestern Medicine explanations of how each type works, a 2025 controlled study in the American Journal of Physiology that compared them directly, installation cost data from Angi and the Charlotte Observer, and Better Homes & Gardens’ 2026 testing of 18 home saunas. We haven’t tested these saunas ourselves.
The short answer: choose traditional if you want real heat (around 150 to 195°F), the steam of water on hot stones and the ritual of a Finnish sauna, and you can run a 240V circuit. Choose infrared if you want a gentler, lower-temperature session, an indoor cabin that may plug into a dedicated 120V circuit, and lower running costs.
Infrared vs traditional at a glance
| Traditional (Finnish) | Infrared | |
|---|---|---|
| How it heats | Heats the air with an electric, wood or gas heater and stones | Panels emit infrared that warms your body more directly |
| Air temperature | About 150-195°F | About 110-150°F |
| Steam | Yes, by pouring water on the stones | No |
| Typical session | 10-20 minutes | 30-45 minutes |
| Preheat | About 30-60 minutes (varies by heater) | About 20-40 minutes |
| Typical wiring | 240V dedicated circuit, hardwired | Often 120V dedicated circuit for 1-2 person units; 240V for larger |
| Typical placement | Indoors or outdoors (barrels, cabins) | Mostly indoors |
| Running cost | Higher | Lower |
| Research base | Decades of Finnish population studies | Growing but smaller |
Temperatures from Cleveland Clinic and Northwestern Medicine; session, preheat and wiring ranges from Backyard Discovery’s comparison and installation guides. Check each model’s specifications.
How each type works
A traditional sauna heats a room. An electric, wood-burning or gas heater warms a bed of stones, the stones heat the air, and the hot air heats you. Ladle water on the stones and you get a burst of steam, called löyly in Finnish. Cleveland Clinic puts traditional sauna temperatures at 150 to 195°F.
An infrared sauna uses carbon or ceramic panels that emit infrared energy. Northwestern Medicine compares it to how sunlight warms your skin on a cool day, without the ultraviolet. Because the panels warm you more than the air, the cabin stays cooler, usually around 120 to 140°F according to Northwestern. Many people find that easier to tolerate for longer.
The differences that matter
The experience
This is the biggest difference and the hardest to judge from a spec sheet. A traditional sauna feels intense: a wall of hot air, a sting of steam, a short session followed by a cool-down, often repeated several times. Infrared feels like lying in strong sun. It’s a slow, deep warmth that builds over 30 to 45 minutes, with no steam. If you’ve loved saunas at a spa or gym, they were almost certainly traditional. Try both before you buy if you can.
What the research says
Traditional saunas have the longer research record, including decades of Finnish population studies. A 2025 controlled study in the American Journal of Physiology compared hot-water immersion, a traditional sauna (three 10-minute rounds at 80°C, or 176°F) and a far-infrared sauna (45 minutes at 45-65°C) in 20 healthy young adults. The traditional sauna raised core temperature more than the infrared sauna. Infrared produced the smallest rise in core temperature of the three. Both saunas raised heart output by similar amounts, and hot-water immersion produced the strongest responses overall.
That doesn’t make infrared pointless. Many people use it for relaxation and routine, and its gentler heat makes longer, more frequent sessions easier. But if your goal is the strongest heat stress, the evidence favors traditional heat. Anyone with heart conditions, low blood pressure or who is pregnant should talk to a doctor first.
Installation and wiring
Traditional electric heaters usually need a dedicated 240V circuit and proper ventilation, and in practice that means an electrician. The Charlotte Observer, citing Angi data, puts electrician work at roughly $400 to $800, a new circuit with trenching at $500 to $1,500, and $1,000 to $2,500 for a panel upgrade in older homes with 100-amp service. Many 1-2 person infrared units run on 120V. Some plug into a standard 15-amp outlet, like the Dynamic Saunas Andora that BHG tested, while others, like the Sunlighten mPulse, need a dedicated 20-amp circuit. Larger infrared cabins may need 240V. Always check the model’s requirements before you buy.
Running costs
Infrared is cheaper to run. Peak Primal estimates a traditional 6 kW heater costs about $1.44 a session, or roughly $23 a month at four sessions a week at $0.16/kWh (about $36 at $0.25/kWh). Infrared runs roughly $2 to $8 a month. Your local rate, heater size, insulation and how often you use the sauna will move these numbers.
Indoor or outdoor
Traditional saunas are at home outdoors. Barrel and cabin saunas are designed for backyards and can burn wood off-grid. Infrared cabins are mainly indoor products, though outdoor-rated infrared models exist, like the Sun Home Luminar that BHG named its best outdoor sauna.
The best saunas of each type
1. Clearlight Sanctuary 5: best infrared overall
Best for: primary suites and wellness rooms where design matters as much as heat.
BHG’s 2026 best overall home sauna. In BHG’s testing it reached about 135°F in roughly 30 minutes and comfortably fit three people.
Pros
- Top pick in BHG’s 18-sauna test
- Reasonable heat-up time
- Fits three
Cons
- Premium price (check current price)
- Infrared heat, no steam
2. Sun Home Equinox: best two-person infrared
Best for: couples who want a sleek cabin for daily sessions.
BHG’s best two-person pick, listed at $6,799. BHG found it reached 120°F in about 30 minutes and 140°F in about 45, but never hit its advertised 170°F maximum. It needs to be wired by an electrician.
Pros
- Sized for two
- Top two-person pick in BHG’s testing
Cons
- Slow to heat
- Didn’t reach its advertised maximum in BHG’s testing
3. Dynamic Saunas Andora: best value infrared
Best for: anyone who wants infrared without electrical work.
BHG’s best budget sauna, about $2,400 in its listing, plugs into a standard 15-amp, 120V outlet. BHG found it tops out at 140°F and takes about an hour to come to temperature.
Pros
- No electrical work
- Lowest price of our picks
Cons
- Slow to heat
- Lower maximum temperature
4. Almost Heaven Audra: best traditional barrel
Best for: traditionalists who want high heat and steam, indoors or out.
BHG’s best barrel sauna, listed at about $6,300, is a rounded cedar traditional sauna that reached up to 195°F. BHG found it reached its maximum in five to eight minutes and it fits four people. You’ll need an electrician to wire the heater, and BHG noted the bench slats flex a bit.
Pros
- Real high heat and steam
- Fast heat-up in BHG’s testing
- Fits four
Cons
- Requires electrician
- Bench flexes
5. Backyard Discovery Lennon: best traditional outdoor cube
Best for: backyards where you want a cabin look.
BHG’s second outdoor favorite, listed at $3,999, is a traditional cube sauna that reached about 150°F in 10 to 15 minutes. BHG’s tester noted the roof leaked slightly, and it must be hardwired by an electrician.
Pros
- Quick heat-up
- Lower price than the barrel
Cons
- Slight roof leak in BHG’s testing
- Needs hardwiring
6. Sunlighten mPulse: best smart infrared
Best for: tech lovers who want programs and red light therapy.
BHG’s best smart sauna adds red light to infrared heating and runs on a 120V, 20A dedicated circuit. For more infrared options, see our infrared sauna guide.
Pros
- Red light feature
- 120V circuit, not 240V
Cons
- Needs a dedicated 20A circuit
- Premium price
Which should you choose?
| If you… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Love the heat and steam of spa saunas | Traditional |
| Find high heat hard to tolerate | Infrared |
| Want an outdoor backyard sauna | Traditional (or an outdoor-rated infrared) |
| Want to avoid an electrician | A plug-in infrared model |
| Want the lowest running cost | Infrared |
| Want the most researched experience | Traditional |
| Plan to share it with three or four people | A four-person traditional barrel or cabin |
What each type costs to buy and install
Purchase prices overlap more than you might expect. The Charlotte Observer, citing Angi data, says a plug-in infrared cabin typically runs $1,500 to $4,000 all-in, most home saunas land between $2,500 and $7,000 once installation is included, and custom built-in rooms start around $10,000. Backyard Discovery’s own lineup lists traditional models at roughly $3,499 to $4,999 against $1,999 to $3,999 for infrared.
The hidden costs sit around the sauna: electrical work, a pad for outdoor units, ventilation for traditional rooms (the Observer cites $100 to $600) and permits. A plug-in infrared cabin avoids most of these, so it’s usually the cheapest overall. A traditional sauna that needs a new 240V circuit, plus trenching to the backyard, can add $1,000 or more before the first session. Get an electrician’s quote before you choose.
Placement tips
- Indoors, a basement, spare bedroom, large bathroom or garage with a solid, moisture-tolerant floor works well.
- Traditional saunas need ventilation. Follow the heater maker’s guidance.
- Outdoors, put the sauna on a level gravel or concrete pad. The Charlotte Observer cites $300 to $800 for a gravel or concrete pad.
- Pull a permit where required. The Charlotte Observer cites $100 to $500 in most US cities.
- Plan a cool-down: a shower, outdoor rinse or even a cold plunge nearby.
How we researched this guide
We don’t test saunas in-house. This guide draws on Cleveland Clinic and Northwestern Medicine, a 2025 study in the American Journal of Physiology, installation and cost data from Angi, the Charlotte Observer and Peak Primal, and Better Homes & Gardens’ 2026 testing of 18 home saunas. Prices are from BHG’s listings and change often.
FAQ
Which is healthier, infrared or traditional sauna?
Traditional saunas have more long-term research behind them, and a 2025 controlled study found a traditional sauna raised core temperature more than an infrared one. Infrared is gentler and many people find it easier to use regularly.
Is an infrared sauna hot enough?
It runs cooler, usually around 120 to 140°F, but warms your body directly, so you still sweat. Sessions are longer, about 30 to 45 minutes.
Can I plug a sauna into a regular outlet?
Some small infrared saunas can, like the Dynamic Saunas Andora. Most traditional saunas need a 240V circuit installed by an electrician.
Which costs more to run?
Traditional. Estimates run roughly $23 to $36 a month for a traditional 6 kW heater used four times a week, against a few dollars a month for infrared.
Can you use steam in an infrared sauna?
No. Steam requires a traditional sauna with heated stones.
