How much does a sauna cost to run?
Less than most people expect for infrared, more than most expect for traditional. Here's the actual arithmetic, using the US average electricity price of about 17 cents per kilowatt-hour, so you can plug in your own rate.
The quick answer
| Sauna | Power draw | Typical session | Energy used | Cost per session | Per year at 4x/week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauna blanket | 0.5 kW | 45 min | 0.4 kWh | $0.07 | $14 |
| 2-person infrared cabin (120V) | 1.6 kW | 15 min warm-up + 40 min | 1.5 kWh | $0.25 | $52 |
| 3-4 person infrared cabin (240V) | 2.8 kW | 20 min warm-up + 40 min | 2.5 kWh | $0.43 | $89 |
| Traditional, 6 kW heater (2-3 person) | 6 kW | 40 min warm-up + 45 min | 6 kWh | $1.02 | $212 |
| Traditional, 9 kW heater (4-6 person) | 9 kW | 45 min warm-up + 45 min | 9 kWh | $1.53 | $318 |
| Wood-fired barrel or tent | n/a | 45 min warm-up + 45 min | about 6-10 lb firewood | $1-$3 in wood | $200-$600 |
Assumes the heater runs at full power during warm-up and about 50-60% of the time once at temperature (thermostats cycle). Real figures vary with insulation, outdoor temperature and how hot you run it.
Why infrared is cheaper to run
An infrared cabin heats you rather than the air, so it uses a smaller heater (1.5-3 kW) and is ready in 10-20 minutes. A traditional sauna has to heat 50-100 pounds of stones and a roomful of air to 180°F, which takes a 6-9 kW heater running for most of an hour. That's roughly four to six times the energy per session.
What changes the number
- Your electricity rate. The national average is about 17¢/kWh, but it runs from under 11¢ in parts of the South and Northwest to over 30¢ in California, New England and Hawaii. Multiply the kWh column by your rate.
- Outdoor temperature. An outdoor traditional sauna in January can take twice as long to heat as in July. Insulated cubes and cabins do better than thin-walled barrels.
- Session length and temperature. Running a traditional sauna at 195°F instead of 170°F costs noticeably more; the heater cycles on far more often.
- Pre-heating habits. Turning on a traditional sauna an hour early "just in case" roughly doubles the cost. Smart controls (Harvia Xenio, HUUM UKU) let you start it from your phone so it's ready when you are.
- Standby draw. Control panels and Wi-Fi modules draw a watt or two around the clock. Call it $2-$4 a year.
Other running costs
- Wood care: a can of sauna oil or exterior stain every year or two for outdoor saunas, $20-$60.
- Stones: traditional sauna stones crumble over time; replace every 1-3 years, $40-$100.
- Heater elements: electric heater elements last 5-10 years with normal use; a replacement set is $100-$300.
- Infrared emitters: rated for 20,000-50,000+ hours; most owners never replace them.
- Insurance: some home insurers want to know about an outdoor sauna, especially wood-fired. Usually no premium change, but ask.
Bottom line
A daily infrared habit costs about the same as a cup of coffee a week. A daily traditional sauna costs more like a streaming subscription. Neither is the expensive part of owning a sauna; the purchase, the electrician and the pad are. See how to buy a sauna for the full cost picture.