To learn about what users need in a home sauna, and some of the factors to consider when choosing one for home use, we spoke to Dr. Tom Ingegno, DACM LAC, doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine at Charm City Integrative Health in Baltimore, Maryland, a clinic that offers sauna services as part of its holistic treatments. “There are so many options out there for home saunas,” says Dr. Ingegno. “The most significant considerations are budget, the amount of space you have for a sauna, and the type of sauna you are interested in. The whole point is to sweat, so as long as the system you choose can get hot enough to get you doing that, you are already going in the right direction.” Having researched an array of the best home saunas on the market, and considering factors such as each sauna’s size, style, capacity, and price, we’ve selected the BOTARO Maxxus Saunas MX-J206-01 Seattle Carbon FAR Infrared Sauna as our top pick for the best home sauna. This sauna can be put together in around an hour, heats up fast, and retains heat. Plus, it even has speakers so you can listen to music while you steam. Here’s our full list of the best home saunas. Keep in Mind: It’s not suitable for outside use, even if it’s in a covered area. Two people can fit in this sauna (which can also help save further energy), and, as an added bonus, there’s also a foot heater. The sauna distributes soft heat smoothly and evenly, and, while ceramic heaters may need their panels replaced every so often, the energy-efficient carbon heating panels in this sauna are made for life. Setup is simple, with the unit only taking around an hour to fully construct. The heat is just the right temperature, allowing users to sit in the sauna for the maximum allowed period of around 40–60 minutes. There’s a soft-touch control panel with a clear LED display that shows the temperature, time, and settings. What’s more, you can even play music while you sweat away as there are built-in MP3 aux-connecting speakers. Price at time of publish: $2,165 Product Details: Dimensions: 41.3 x 47.2 x 74.8 inches | Suggested Number of People: Two | Sauna Style: Infrared Keep in Mind: Your head won’t be in the sauna. This mini sauna comes with its own foldable chair that you sit on inside the portable unit, and there are two holes for your hands if you’d like to read a book, or get your inbox in order on your phone while you steam—something you are not able to do with a conventional sauna. You can even watch TV since your whole head is outside of the actual sauna. There’s also a foot heating pad to make sure you’re nice and toasty enough to get a good sweat. You can adjust the temperature on this single-person sauna to your liking up to 140°F, and use it for up to 60 minutes at a time. The unit is available to buy in either black, gray, or white, however, once you’ve finished using it, you can compactly fold it up and store it away out of sight. It’s the best home sauna for anyone on a budget as it offers many benefits without breaking the bank. Price at time of publish: $212 Product Details: Dimensions: 27.6 x 31.5 x 37.8 inches | Suggested Number of People: One | Sauna Style: Infrared Keep in Mind: It’s large and doesn’t have speakers. There are three roomy benches in the sauna, enough for six people to sit comfortably. There’s a tempered glass door with a large handle and soft lighting that creates a relaxing ambiance. Since it’s rather on the large side, it does need around 45–60 minutes of prep to reach optimal temperature. With its rust- and corrosion-resistant electric heater, the sauna can reach a maximum temperature of 190°F. Made of rot-resistant cedar wood that comes in pre-fabricated tongue-and-groove sections, this antimicrobial sauna is fairly easy to put together, although it will take several hours due to its size. If you’re not feeling too confident about building it yourself, you might want to bring in some professional help. The only complaint is that speakers aren’t included, so you can’t play relaxing music while you sweat. Price at time of publish: $11,805 Product Details: Dimensions: 63 x 86 x 78 inches | Suggested Number of People: Six | Sauna Style: Traditional steam Keep in Mind: It needs to be placed on a sturdy and even surface. This barrel-shaped sauna that’s made from solid cedar wood, can accommodate up to four people, and has a maximum heat of 195°F. The construction material is weather resistant, but it’s also mildew, rot, corrosion, water, and rust resistant. This antimicrobial sauna is also suitable for indoor use, so it’s worth noting if you have the space for it. There’s a large full-length tempered glass door, and you can opt to have a vista window added at the back for a better view of your outdoor area. There are two benches on the inside, as well as two smaller ones on the outside if you need to take a break. It also features soft LED lighting, a fresh air vent, and a timer. It comes with full setup instructions, but it’s a two-person job to assemble. If you’re after the best home sauna for outdoor use, then you’ll want to add this model to your cart. Price at time of publish: $6,939 Product Details: Dimensions: 77 x 72 x 72 inches | Suggested Number of People: Four | Sauna Style: Traditional steam Keep in Mind: It won’t reach maximum heat capacity if placed in a cold room with an ambient temperature lower than 68°F. This aesthetically pleasing sauna unit includes an easy-to-navigate control panel, a fresh-air vent, and a handheld control to operate it remotely. This unit comes with a floor so you don’t have to rely on your basement, garage, or spa room flooring. There are six heaters and an adjustable temperature that goes up to a maximum of 140°F. Soft LED lighting makes the whole experience even more atmospheric, and there’s also a Bluetooth-compatible MP3 player auxiliary output so you can further set a relaxing mood. To assemble the sauna, you’ll need a screwdriver and ladder, and maybe an extra set (or two) of hands. The model comes with a reasonable five-year limited warranty for any defects and is recommended for indoor use only. Keep in mind that if the sauna is placed in a cool room, like a garage or basement with an ambient temperature lower than 68°F, it will have difficulty reaching the maximum heat. Price at time of publish: $1,999 Product Details: Dimensions: 36 x 39 x 75 inches | Suggested Number of People: One |Sauna Style: FAR infrared Keep in Mind: You’ll need a minimum of five inches of clearance between the sauna and any wall for the wood to properly acclimate. With the purchase, you’ll also get an ergonomic solid cedar wood portable backrest for better comfort. There are nine low-EMF carbon heaters that provide even warmth of up to 140°F, as well as full-spectrum color therapy technology. The sauna comes with a USB port so you can plug in your phone or any MP3 player to listen to music, audiobooks, or podcasts while you relax. This is a large unit so you’ll need two or more people to help set it up. You’ll also need to keep it five inches away from a wall to allow the wood to acclimate, meaning you need to properly measure your space before purchasing. The manufacturer provides a good seven-year limited warranty on the construction, with five years for the heating and electronics, and a one-year warranty on the radio. Price at time of publish: $4,823 Product Details: Dimensions: 58.25 x 58.25 x 76 inches | Suggested Number of People: Five | Sauna Style: Carbon FAR infrared Keep in Mind: The packages are delivered curbside so you have to make your own arrangements to bring them indoors. This home sauna has its own floor, both indoor and outdoor recessed lighting for a more relaxing ambiance, and adjustable roof vents. There are also two LED control panels—one on the inside, and one on the outside—for you to easily adjust the heat, timer, and lighting settings wherever you are. The tempered glass door on this solid hemlock wood sauna is bronze-tinted, adding yet another soothing element to this sauna for two. A few extra perks the sauna offers are its built-in magazine rack, towel hooks, and cup holders, and it even comes with two ergonomic backrests for user comfort. It’s easy to assemble as all parts come labeled for easy identification, although the delivery person will only leave the package on your curb, meaning you might need some help bringing it in. Price at time of publish: $2,801 Product Details: Dimensions: 49 x 39 x 75 inches | Suggested Number of People: Two | Sauna Style: Infrared Keep in Mind: It has higher EMF levels than more professional-grade saunas. There are two sauna options to choose from—infrared or steam—and the steam version is available in black with a blue zipper, or gray with a black zipper. All models come with their own foldable chair so you can sit comfortably inside. Plus, the temperature goes up to an impressive 122°F for the steam model or 140°F for the portable infrared sauna. It has an adjustable time setting for up to 60 minutes at a time, and it comes with a remote control. The sauna works with a four-liter, energy-efficient heating mechanism that connects to the sauna “room”, and there are two windows to let in the light so you don’t have to sit in complete darkness. If you don’t find the included chair useful (it might not be comfortable for larger users), you can always replace it with a wooden stool or a larger folding lawn chair. Once you’re finished using it, you can simply fold it and store it away until your next sweat session or spa night. Price at time of publish: $252 Product Details: Dimensions: 35.4 x 35.4 x 70.9 inches | Suggested Number of People: One | Sauna Style: Infrared
What to Know About Home Saunas Before Shopping
Sauna Style
There are a few types of sauna styles you should know about—traditional steam saunas, infrared saunas, and dry saunas. To help, Dr. Ingegno shared the differences between the main types of home saunas. Traditional saunas, sometimes called Finnish saunas, tend to run the hottest, with maximum temperatures over 200°F. Usually, the sessions are shorter, lasting for 15-20 minutes at most. These units often have heated rocks that a small amount of water can be splashed on to create a little bit of steam. This type of sauna is still relatively dry, other than your sweat. Steam saunas, like the tiled steam rooms at some gyms, have quite a bit of steam. They tend to run at lower temperatures, between 110–120°F, yet some people prefer moist rather than dry heat. These units require some plumbing and are usually made of tile, so this raises costs. Many must be custom-built into the space and require cleaning to keep mold away. Infrared saunas use infrared heat to warm the body from the inside out. It may take longer to start sweating, but the heat may be more tolerable for some people. These temperatures range from 120-140°F, and sessions usually last for 30-60 minutes. Many of these units ship flat and can be assembled quickly since the heating panels are flat.
Size
If you are installing a home sauna, there are various sizes and shapes available to buy to fit into whatever space you choose. Full-size options typically range from 60-70 inches in height, and 35-85 inches in width, depending on how many people it has capacity for. Depths usually vary between around 35-70 inches. “If you choose a larger sauna, be aware that it will take longer to reach optimal temperature,” Dr. Ingegno says.
Capacity
In relation to capacity, some home saunas have a capacity of one to two people, while others can hold up to around six people. The suggested number of people is clearly stated on each sauna, and this should be adhered to for safety and optimal benefits. If you’re planning on solo use, portable saunas are available which are much smaller and more economical than full-sized versions. Portable saunas are made for the user to sit down in, and some only come up to the neck. Most portable units can fold relatively flat to fit under a bed or in a closet for convenient storage.
Your Questions, Answered
How much should I expect to spend?
When it comes to the best home saunas, you can expect to spend anywhere from $200 for a compact style to upwards of $10,000 for a more advanced pick. The price is mainly impacted by the size, material, and additional features the home sauna offers, like multiple settings or speakers to play music. Regardless of which type you choose, it will require electricity to run it, which makes for an additional cost. For some larger styles, you may also have to account for an additional assembly fee.
Which is better—a steam or a dry sauna?
Most of the research today is done with Finnish or infrared saunas. Steam saunas do have benefits, but fewer studies include them. “If you prefer moist heat, steam saunas may be better for you,” Dr. Ingegno says. “If you are looking for more options regarding sizes and shapes, infrared will be your best option.”
Are home saunas worth it?
Home saunas are an investment but depending on your needs and usage, it may be worth considering the splurge. “If you are going to use them regularly, yes, they’re worth it,” Dr. Ingegno says. “With options for portable units under $200, you could end up spending more per month on a gym membership.”
Who We Are
This article was written by Kat de Naoum, who has over ten years of commerce writing experience. Kat is also the commerce editor-at-large at Thomas-Xometry, the leading U.S. online platform for supplier discovery and product sourcing. For this article, Kat reviewed multiple saunas, researching factors such as each sauna’s dimensions, style, and capacity. She also spoke to Dr. Tom Ingegno, DACM LAC, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at Charm City Integrative Health in Baltimore, Maryland, which offers sauna services as part of its holistic treatments.
