Infrared vs Traditional Sauna: Cost, Heat and Power Compared

Infrared vs Traditional Sauna

By Marcus Ellery. Prices checked November 11, 2026.

The short version

Infrared saunas heat your body directly at lower air temperatures and often plug into a wall outlet. Traditional saunas heat the air with a stone heater, get much hotter, make steam and usually need 240V. Indoors, traditional rooms we checked cost $4,172 to $6,739 and infrared cabins $4,799 to $10,950.

Side by side

Infrared versus traditional sauna

	Infrared	Traditional
How it heats	Panels warm you directly	Heater warms stones, stones warm air
Air temperature	Lower; one maker lists a 165°F maximum	Higher than infrared
Steam	No	Yes
Warm-up	Shorter	About 40 to 60 minutes
Indoor price we found	$4,799 to $10,950	$4,172 to $6,739
Wiring	120V outlet for the 1 and 2 person models we checked	Usually 240V
Power draw	1.8 to 2.85 kW	4.5 to 6 kW (example heater sizes)
Cost per hour at full power	$0.33 to $0.52	$0.82 to $1.09

Cost over five years

A worked example, three one hour sessions a week:

Five year cost example

	2 person infrared	2 to 3 person traditional
Sauna	$5,799 (Clearlight Premier 2)	$4,515 (Almost Heaven Madison)
Electrician	$0 to $1,500	$300 to $1,500
Electricity, 5 years	$291	$1,278

Electricity assumes 2.05 kW for 1 hour (infrared) and a 6 kW heater for 1.5 hours including warm-up (traditional), full power, 18.2 cents per kWh, 156 sessions a year. Real use is lower because heaters cycle.

The purchase price dominates either way. Choose on the kind of heat you want, then on what your wiring allows.

Choose infrared if

You want to plug into an existing outlet.
You prefer milder air you can sit in longer.
You want the lowest running cost.

Choose traditional if

You want high heat and steam from water on stones.
You already have, or will pay for, a 240V circuit.
The sauna is going outdoors, where barrel and cabin kits are the lower cost option.

Questions people ask

Is infrared cheaper to run than a traditional sauna?

Yes. A 2 person infrared cabin costs about $0.37 per hour at full power. A 6 kW traditional heater costs about $1.09 per hour and takes longer to warm up.

Does an infrared sauna get as hot as a traditional one?

No. Infrared cabins run at lower air temperatures. They warm your body directly, so you still sweat.

Can I pour water in an infrared sauna?

No. Infrared heaters are not made for water. Only traditional heaters with stones are.