Dark wooden barrel sauna with a glass door and chimney on a wooden deck in a green field

How Much Does a Sauna Cost? Real Price Ranges by Type

A home sauna can cost as little as about $65 for a portable steam tent or more than $75,000 for a high-end outdoor cabin. Most people land in the middle: a one- or two-person infrared cabin in our catalog runs about $1,216 to $5,199, and an indoor traditional sauna with an electric heater starts around $4,999.

The ranges below come from the products we actually carry, not guesses. After the table, we cover the costs that aren't on the price tag: wiring, installation, delivery and electricity.

Sauna prices by type

These figures are from the SaunaMoose catalog as of October 2026. Prices change, so check the product page for the current price.

Type Products Price range Median
Portable steam sauna (tent with steamer) 27 $65 – $570 $202
Portable infrared sauna box 6 $270 – $281 $275
Infrared sauna blanket 2 $629 – $729 –
Wood-fired tent sauna packages (tent + stove) 14 $1,353 – $8,600 $2,427
1-person infrared sauna 13 $1,216 – $2,799 $2,078
2-person infrared sauna 33 $1,675 – $5,199 $3,295
3–4 person infrared sauna 10 $2,534 – $16,999 $4,099
Indoor traditional sauna (electric stove) 9 $4,999 – $20,580 $6,999
Outdoor sauna (all styles) 27 $1,387 – $75,028 $13,999
Outdoor barrel sauna 4 $6,999 – $16,360 –
Electric sauna heater only (2–9 kW) 7 $133 – $242 $157
Wood-burning tent stove only 3 $599 – $949 $749

Prices are rounded to the nearest dollar. "Median" is the middle starting price in each group, which is a better guide to a typical price than the average when a few very expensive models are in the mix.

What drives the price

Size

Bigger rooms cost more to build and need more heating power. In our infrared range, the median starting price goes from about $2,078 for one person to $3,295 for two and $4,099 for three or four.

Heat source

Infrared cabins use heating panels and usually plug into household power. Traditional saunas use a stove and stones, which means a bigger heater, more insulation and usually a 240V circuit. That's a big part of why traditional rooms start higher than infrared ones of a similar size.

Indoor vs. outdoor

Outdoor saunas need weatherproof roofs, thicker walls and finishes that handle rain and sun. Our outdoor range has the widest spread, from a $1,387 single-person cabin to premium models above $30,000. Some outdoor models are hybrids that can run either a traditional stove or infrared panels.

Wood and finish

Wood species, glass fronts, lighting and controls all add cost. Our catalog has 37 hemlock and 15 cedar saunas; browse the cedar saunas collection to see how wood choice changes the price.

Costs that aren't on the price tag

Electrical work

This is the biggest hidden cost for traditional saunas.

  • Infrared: of the infrared saunas in our catalog that state their electrical needs, most call for a standard 120V circuit at 15 or 20 amps. A few larger units need 220–240V. Stated power draw on our infrared listings ranges from about 1,020 to 3,180 watts.
  • Traditional: home electric stoves typically run at 240V. As one example from our catalog, a 6-person indoor traditional sauna with an 8 kW stove lists 240V/40A for the stove plus a separate 120V/15A circuit for lights and audio. One heater maker's US installation manual (HUUM) says the controller must be permanently connected without plugs, that electrical work must be done by a certified electrician, and recommends 10 AWG cable for 4.5–6 kW heaters and 8 AWG for 7.5–9 kW heaters.

The cost of running a new 240V circuit depends on your panel's spare capacity, the distance to the sauna and local permit rules. Get a quote from a licensed electrician before you buy.

Heater sizing

If you are building a room or buying a heater on its own, size it properly. Harvia's guidance is about 1 kW of heater power per cubic meter of room (about 35 cubic feet), with extra allowance for glass, stone or uninsulated walls. An undersized heater has to work harder and longer, which Harvia says shortens its life. Our sauna heater size calculator does the math for you.

Delivery and assembly

Most orders ship within 1–4 business days. Transit time varies by product, and large saunas ship by freight. Check each listing for assembly details, and for outdoor saunas, the base or site requirements, before you order.

Accessories

Traditional saunas need stones, a bucket and a ladle. In our catalog, sauna stones run $60–$100, sauna robes $29–$60 and sauna hats $40–$50.

What a sauna costs to run

Running cost is mostly electricity. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports an average residential price of 18.19 cents per kWh for January to August 2026 (preliminary). Your local rate may be higher or lower.

The table shows the cost of one hour at full power. Real costs are usually lower once the room is hot, because the thermostat cycles the heater on and off, but you also pay for warm-up time.

Heater Energy per hour at full power Cost per hour at 18.19¢/kWh
1.5 kW infrared cabin 1.5 kWh about $0.27
2.2 kW infrared cabin 2.2 kWh about $0.40
6 kW traditional stove 6 kWh about $1.09
9 kW traditional stove 9 kWh about $1.64

To estimate your own cost, multiply the heater's kW rating by the hours it runs and by your electricity rate. Wood-fired tent and outdoor stoves skip the electric bill but use firewood instead.

Choosing a budget

  • Under $600: portable steam saunas and infrared sauna boxes. Easy to store, no wiring. See portable steam saunas.
  • $1,200 to $5,200: one- and two-person infrared cabins, usually on household power. See infrared saunas.
  • $1,350 to $8,600: wood-fired tent saunas for camping or the backyard.
  • $5,000 and up: traditional indoor rooms, barrel saunas and outdoor cabins. Budget for an electrician on top.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to get a sauna at home?

A portable steam sauna is the lowest-cost option. In our catalog they start at $65, with a median around $202. Portable infrared sauna boxes run about $270 to $281. Neither needs special wiring.

Is an infrared sauna cheaper to run than a traditional sauna?

Usually, because the heaters are smaller. Infrared listings in our catalog state about 1,020 to 3,180 watts, while traditional home stoves are commonly 4.5 to 9 kW. At the 2026 US average of 18.19 cents per kWh, an hour at full power is roughly $0.27 to $0.40 for a typical infrared cabin and $1.09 to $1.64 for a 6 to 9 kW stove.

Do I need an electrician to install a sauna?

For a traditional electric sauna, yes. Stoves typically need a dedicated 240V circuit, and one heater maker's US manual says electrical work must be done by a certified electrician. Many infrared cabins plug into a standard 120V outlet, but check the circuit rating on the listing; some need a dedicated 15 or 20 amp circuit.

Does the price include the heater?

For complete saunas, usually yes. Infrared cabins come with their panels, and traditional rooms generally list the stove they include. Tent saunas are sold either as tent only or as packages with a stove, so check the listing.

Sources

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