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Portable Saunas: Types, Prices and Trade-offs
By Marcus Ellery. Prices checked .
A portable sauna is any sauna you can fold, roll or carry away after use. The main types are infrared blankets ($399 to $699), lie-down domes (the Sunlighten Solo was $2,099), and pop-up tents with a small steam or infrared heater. All plug into a standard outlet.
Types of portable sauna
| Type | How you use it | Price we found | Stores in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infrared blanket | Lie inside, head out | $399 to $699 | A closet shelf |
| Infrared dome | Lie under two curved shells, head out | $2,099 | A corner; shells nest together |
| Pop-up tent, infrared | Sit on a chair inside, head out or in | Varies by brand | A bag |
| Pop-up tent, steam | Sit inside; a small boiler pipes in steam | Varies by brand | A bag |
Prices we verified
| Brand | Product | Type | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MiHIGH | Infrared Sauna Blanket | Blanket | $399 | Visit website |
| HigherDOSE | Infrared Sauna Blanket | Blanket | $699 | Visit website |
| Sunlighten | Solo System | Dome | $2,099 | Visit website |
Tent prices vary widely by seller and change often, so we do not list a range we have not verified.
Portable versus a cabin
- Cost: a portable unit is a few hundred to about two thousand dollars. A cabin starts at $4,799.
- Heat: cabins surround your whole body and hold heat better.
- Convenience: a cabin is always ready. A portable unit has to be set up and wiped down.
- Space: portable wins if you have no spare corner.
Who should buy portable
Renters, people in small apartments, and anyone who wants to try regular heat sessions before spending thousands. If you already know you will use it most days and have the floor space, a 1 person cabin is the better long-term buy.
Questions people ask
Do portable saunas really work?
They heat you and make you sweat. They hold less heat than a cabin and take setup each time, which is the trade for the lower price.
What is the cheapest portable sauna?
Among the products we verified, a sauna blanket at a $399 list price. Pop-up tents can cost less, but we have not verified those prices.
Can I use a portable sauna in an apartment?
Yes. Blankets, domes and tents run on a standard outlet and need no installation. Protect the floor from sweat and let the unit dry before storing it.