The 5 Best Home Saunas to Make Your Space a Spa, Tested & Reviewed

What to Keep in Mind

Type of Sauna 

There are three different types of sauna: Traditional or dry, steam, and infrared (we’ve only included the latter two in this article). “Each sauna variety has a number of different benefits for both mind and body relaxation; a lot of it comes down to personal preference as to whether you enjoy a dry heat or an environment with a higher humidity,” explains Andrea Trillo, the Barcelona-based global marketing director of Aire Ancient Baths. 

The dry type is what most people think of when imagining a sauna — a room filled with still, hot, dry air lined with wooden benches. Trillo says that they emit very high temperatures (anywhere from 176° to 230 F) and feature humidity levels of five to 25 percent. This can do great things for the body. “The warm temperatures help to slow the heart rate, relax the nervous system, and promote relaxation,” says Trillo. “These environments also help to boost circulation throughout the body, aiding with muscle repair and recovery.” A 2015 study even shows that using a dry sauna can significantly reduce your risk of cardiac death and heart disease.

Steam saunas are what you’ll find at many spas. Largely recognizable as a traditional sauna, these watertight rooms are powered by a stove or hot rocks up to 115 F (usually), and tend to feature a tiered seating structure — there’s a reason for this. “Those who want a more intense experience can sit higher up where there is a higher concentration of steam,” Trillo says, but if you're looking for a slightly cooler effect, just sprawl out across one of the lower levels. Trillo adds that steam rooms promote skin purification (after all, they make you very sweaty!), while board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ariel Ostad notes that they’re also great for people managing respiratory problems.

Infrared saunas are the newest form of technology on the sauna scene, and they use (you guessed it) infrared heat, a form of energy that emits radiant heat at a deep wavelength. This means that instead of circulating hot air to create high ambient temperatures, saunas that use infrared heat directly warm the body with lower temperatures, which most people find more comfortable; expect average settings to be typically between 109 F and 150 F. For this reason, those with sensitive skin may do best with infrared saunas, says Dr. Ostad.

But don’t assume they’re not as powerful because they don’t get as hot: “Infrared rays are absorbed deeper into the body tissue and can cause two to three times more perspiration, as the infrared heat penetrates the skin and deep into the muscles,” says Trillo. This deeper detox makes an infrared-powered sauna especially helpful for post-workout recovery or those with chronic pain issues, says Dr. Ostad. To take your wellness journey one step further, Trillo recommends finishing a session with a cold shower or plunge, as a sharp temperature contrast is known to prevent post-workout swelling and tightness.

Regardless of which sauna you pick, they offer heaps of health and wellness benefits, including improved blood circulation, skin hydration, anti-aging benefits, and reduced stress levels (which cuts back on inflammation), says Dr. Ostad. “Sitting in a sauna for about 30 minutes can also increase heat shock proteins,” he adds. “Heat shock proteins provide protection against cellular stress, which prevent protein disorder by repairing proteins that have been damaged, providing protection against chronic diseases.”

Saunas can be found both indoors and outdoors, and many even opt for a more hidden alcove, like the basement or garage, says David Hansen, founder of David Hansen Carpentry (although placement ultimately depends on power sources and the structure's foundation). For the most part, you can build your home sauna anywhere you'd like within your house.

Size

When determining which sauna to buy, how much space you have is one of the most important factors to consider. “Saunas can vary greatly in size, from portable folding and collapsible soft-sided units to free-standing, outdoor, multi-person occupancy saunas,” says Hansen. You really need to know how much room yours will take up both during the setup process and once it’s ready to use. For example, you may receive three huge boxes on your doorstep to take apart and build (and temporarily take over your entire apartment).

Also keep in mind any bulky items your sauna might come with, like a heater or power source. All of the saunas on this list have heaters that are directly within the device itself, but some may have external heaters, such as gas- or wood-powered stoves, usually within outdoor-use saunas, but take up extra space nonetheless. If your sauna requires proper airflow, add that to your list of requirements, too. “Most saunas don't need to be vented, but refer to install instructions before choosing a location, as it is possible that a gas sauna may need to be vented,” says Hansen.

And, perhaps obviously, if you want more than one person to fit in your sauna, you’ll need even more room for it. (Interestingly enough, though, multi-person saunas won’t take longer to heat up: “If the sauna is sized appropriately, it is fully heated within 20 minutes at its set temperature, regardless of the number of people or the sauna's structure,” says Trillo.)

But if you live in a small apartment, you likely won’t want to take up valuable real estate with a full-sized sauna or even a tent-style product, a sauna sleeping bag hits the spot.

Materials

Most of the saunas on this list are portable and made with fabric; if this is the type of product you’re looking for, make sure you’re buying something made of high-quality, heat-resistant, and waterproof fabric. Common materials are thick and bulky, like bonded mylar and nylon, polyamide, and polyurethane, since cheaper fabrics have a shorter lifespan and more importantly, don't retain the heat as well.

Heavier-duty box-like saunas are typically wood structures, and options range from cottage-core cedar, to fancy-feeling eucalyptus, and tropical woods — they're all beauties, and of course, design taste and preferences will vary from person to person. “Cedar and hemlock have nice aromatic qualities and good rot resistance,” says Hansen. “However, they are softwoods, which tend to show marks and scratches.” If scratches bug you, try tropical wood like abachi, or eucalyptus, which is a hardwood and will give off that signature spa scent. 

However, if you opt for a spa-like steam sauna, a marble structure is your best bet. “This material is not impacted by excessive water exposure,” says Trillo.

Installation

The difficulty level of installing an at-home sauna is really a choose your own adventure-type deal. “Install and usage can be simple with portable units, or complex, needing a builder to pour a cement slab to build outdoors,” says Hansen.

If you want an easy, breezy setup, a blanket or tent-style sauna are pretty much foolproof with minor (if any) assembly. If you’re going for something sturdier, though, prepare to commit a little time and effort — and possibly more money to hire a handyman, particularly if the sauna has high tech features or heating systems. Although not to brag...but two people without a hint of construction experience were able to build the most intricate option on this list in one hour (the manual estimated two), which our partner still brags about.

You’ll also need to consider the placement, says Hansen. “You would need to find a location that will tolerate moisture if you choose a steam sauna, such as a tile or concrete floor,” he explains. Remember to also consider your power source, whether that’s a dedicated electric circuit or gas. “Access to a gas source should be researched before deciding on installation location,” Hansen advises.

Your Questions, Answered

Do home saunas use a lot of electricity?

For the most part, no! The amount of electricity a home sauna can use ranges anywhere from that of a hair dryer to your kitchen’s oven. Most saunas can be plugged directly into your wall and even share the power source. Larger units may require a dedicated outlet, though.

How much does a home sauna cost?

This varies wildly depending on the type of sauna you purchase. Blanket- and tent-style saunas tend to cost a few hundred dollars, but more complicated, immovable saunas can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

If your product is simple, installation will cost you nothing, though more complex ones may need the help of professionals, so be sure to account for this when budgeting for your at-home sauna.

Overall, maintenance tends to be fairly cheap, unless you need to make repairs, such as replacing lights or fixing any damage to your device (be sure to check your warranty!). Other aspects that may cost money over time include any aromatherapy refills or cleansing supplies. 

Then, there’s your electricity bill. To figure out how much your sauna will hike up your electricity bill, figure out how many watts it uses per hour. Use that number and multiply it by your local electricity rate. Blanket and tent saunas use anywhere from 500 to 1,500 watts. If you used your sauna for an hour a day for a month, this would cost you around $3.50 a month. Larger units use more watts (the ones on this list range from 1,000 to about 2,200); daily use for a month will cost $7 on average.

Is a wet or dry home sauna better?

That comes down to personal preference. “Wet saunas, like steam, have benefits not just for the muscles and joints, but also for the respiratory system, and the incorporation of essential oils into the vapor really allows guests a space to breathe deeply and find a place of calm,” she says.

If you prefer dry heat, though, a traditional sauna is best for you; people who can’t handle very high temperatures should try infrared.

Are home saunas high maintenance? 

While testing the saunas for this story, we found that they were pretty low key. Light cleaning with baking soda, water, and/or a home cleaning product as well as proper ventilation was all that it took to keep things tidy and sanitary. Fabric products may not be as durable as large structures as wood tends to be hardier.

Ultimately, if you treat your sauna well, it’ll be good to you. “With routine maintenance, testing, and cleaning, saunas should last years with proper care,” says Trillo.

Why Shop With Us

Emily Orofino is a beauty writer, editor, and consultant with more than a decade of experience in the industry. She has always been tempted by the thought of owning an at-home sauna and, while working on this piece, decided to invest in one. To learn more about them for this article, she interviewed Andrea Trillo, the Barcelona-based global marketing director of Aire Ancient Baths, New York City board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ariel Ostad, and David Hansen, founder of David Hansen Carpentry in Madison, Connecticut.