Modern wooden sauna with tiered benches, warm accent lighting and a stone-filled heater

Infrared Sauna vs Traditional Sauna: Heat, Power, Cost and Fit

A traditional sauna uses a stove to heat the air and a pile of stones to roughly 150–195°F, while an infrared sauna uses panels that warm your body more directly at a cooler 110–135°F. Traditional gives you steam and intense heat; infrared is milder, usually runs on household power and is simpler to install.

Neither one is "better" across the board. The right choice depends on the heat you like, the space you have and the wiring you can get. Here is how they compare.

Side-by-side comparison

Traditional sauna Infrared sauna
Heat source Electric or wood stove with stones Infrared heating panels
How it heats you Heats the air, which heats you Warms your body more directly
Typical temperature 150–195°F (66–91°C) 110–135°F (43–57°C)
Steam (löyly) Yes No
Typical session About 5–20 minutes per round About 20–30 minutes
Heater power Home stoves commonly 4.5–9 kW About 1,020–3,180 W on our listings
Electrical Usually 240V, hardwired Most of our listings: 120V, 15 or 20 amp
Price in our catalog Indoor rooms $4,999–$20,580 Cabins $1,216–$16,999 (1 to 4 people)

Temperatures are from Cleveland Clinic; session times from the 2018 Mayo Clinic Proceedings review and Cleveland Clinic. Power and prices are from the SaunaMoose catalog as of October 2026.

How each one heats

Traditional sauna

A traditional sauna heats the air with a wood-burning, gas or electric heater, as Cleveland Clinic describes it. The heater holds a load of stones. Throw water on them and you get löyly, the burst of steam that defines a Finnish sauna. Relative humidity normally sits around 10–20%, according to the 2018 Mayo Clinic Proceedings review, and rises briefly with each ladle of water.

Infrared sauna

Mayo Clinic describes an infrared sauna as one that "uses light to make heat." It warms your body directly without heating all the air around you, which is why it feels comfortable at a lower temperature. Many cabins are sold as far infrared, where "far" refers to where the waves fall on the light spectrum. Full-spectrum models combine several infrared wavelengths. You can compare them in our full-spectrum infrared saunas collection.

Temperature and how it feels

This is the biggest everyday difference. A traditional sauna is hot, enveloping and changes with every ladle of water. Sessions are usually short rounds with cool-down breaks in between. An infrared sauna feels gentler. The air is warm rather than hot, and you sweat from the panel heat over a longer, steadier session.

If you grew up with Finnish sauna, infrared may feel too mild. If very hot air makes you uncomfortable, infrared may be the one you actually use. Mayo Clinic notes that because infrared saunas work at lower temperatures, they may be an option for people who can't tolerate a regular sauna.

Power and installation

Infrared

Most infrared cabins are the easier install. Of the infrared saunas in our catalog that list electrical requirements, most specify a 120V circuit at 15 or 20 amps, and a few larger models need 220–240V. Check the circuit rating on the listing; some call for a dedicated circuit.

Traditional

Electric stoves need more power. As an example from our catalog, a 6-person indoor traditional sauna with an 8 kW stove lists 240V/40A for the stove plus 120V/15A for lights and audio. One heater maker's US installation manual (HUUM) says the controller must be permanently connected without plugs and the work done by a certified electrician. Heater size matters too: Harvia's rule of thumb is about 1 kW per cubic meter of room, with extra for glass or uninsulated walls. Our sauna heater size calculator helps you pick the right kW.

A wood-burning stove avoids the wiring entirely but needs a chimney, clearances and firewood. That's the usual route for tents and off-grid outdoor cabins.

Running cost

Because infrared heaters draw less power, they usually cost less per hour. At the US average residential electricity price of 18.19 cents per kWh (January–August 2026, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration), a 1.5 kW infrared cabin uses about $0.27 of electricity per hour at full power. A 6 kW traditional stove uses about $1.09 per hour at full power. Thermostats cycle the heater once the room is hot, so real costs are usually lower, though warm-up time adds to the total.

What the research says, and doesn't

Be careful with health claims in sauna marketing. Most of the well-known research is on traditional Finnish saunas. The 2018 Mayo Clinic Proceedings review focused only on traditional Finnish sauna evidence. It reported that, in observational studies, frequent sauna use was associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease, but noted these associations don't prove cause and effect and that more research is needed.

For infrared, Mayo Clinic says studies have found some evidence that saunas may help with certain long-term conditions, but that larger and more exact studies are needed, and that some of those studies used regular saunas rather than infrared. In short, there is no solid evidence that one type is healthier than the other. Choose the experience you will enjoy and use.

The same safety basics apply to both. Harvard Health Publishing advises people with uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart disease to check with a doctor first and to avoid alcohol. Cleveland Clinic, citing the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, advises against sauna use in pregnancy without talking to your doctor.

Which suits whom

  • Choose traditional if you want real heat and steam, enjoy short rounds with cold breaks, have space for a heater and can run a 240V circuit. Browse indoor saunas or our electric sauna heaters if you are building your own room.
  • Choose infrared if you prefer milder heat and longer sessions, want a plug-in install, or are working with an apartment, spare room or limited electrical capacity. Start with our infrared saunas.
  • Can't decide? Our catalog has six outdoor hybrid models, priced $6,999 to $18,999, that can run either a traditional stove or full-spectrum infrared panels.

FAQ

Is an infrared sauna a real sauna?

It depends who you ask. In Finland, a sauna traditionally means a hot room with a stove and stones for löyly, which infrared doesn't have. Infrared cabins are still widely sold as saunas. They make you sweat at lower air temperatures, about 110 to 135°F according to Cleveland Clinic.

Which is cheaper, infrared or traditional?

Infrared is usually cheaper to buy and run. In our catalog, one- and two-person infrared cabins start at $1,216, while indoor traditional rooms start at $4,999. Infrared heaters also draw less power, and many plug into a 120V circuit instead of needing a new 240V line.

Can you put water on an infrared sauna?

No. Infrared cabins have electric panels and no stones, so there is nothing to throw water on. If you want steam, you need a traditional sauna with a stove and stones.

Which is better for a small space?

Infrared is usually easier in a small space. One-person infrared cabins are compact, and most of ours run on household power. A traditional sauna can be small too, but you still need room for the heater, safety clearances and a 240V circuit.

Sources

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