Infrared saunas: buying one, and how it differs from a traditional sauna
An infrared sauna heats your body directly with radiant panels rather than heating the air, so it runs cooler, plugs into an ordinary outlet more often, and costs less to run than a traditional sauna. Those are real differences, and they also make it a genuinely different experience that not everyone who wants a sauna is actually after.
- median printed from-price,
- $1,999
- retailers with a verified printed price
- 8
- types with measured demand
- 4
Figures on this page come from the price index on this site: 8 US retailers checked against their own pages, each figure quoted and dated.
- 8 retailer product pages verifiedevery figure matched verbatim to the retailer's page
- Quoted and dated, never estimatedlast verification pass 2026-09-10
- 4 types coveredeach with measured search demand behind it
Starting prices, checked
| Retailer | From price | Up to | Heat source | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cold Plunge Store | $1,099/unit | thecoldplungestore.com | September 2026 | ||
| Sauna Place | $1,195/unit | saunaplace.com | September 2026 | ||
| Sun Home Saunas | $1,500/unit | sunhomesaunas.com | September 2026 | ||
| SaunaKits | $1,999/unit | saunakits.com | September 2026 | ||
| Select Saunas | $1,999/unit | selectsaunas.com | September 2026 | ||
| Superior Saunas | $2,790/unit | superiorsaunas.com | September 2026 | ||
| Redwood Outdoors | $2,999/unit | redwoodoutdoors.com | September 2026 | ||
| Almost Heaven Saunas | $6,418/unit | almostheaven.com | September 2026 |
How to choose
- Decide infrared versus traditional first. Infrared runs at 120 to 150 Fahrenheit and heats you directly; a traditional sauna runs at 160 to 200 and heats the air and can take steam. They are different experiences, and the cheaper running cost of infrared is not the whole decision.
- Check the power requirement. Many one and two person infrared cabins run on a standard 120-volt outlet, which is a real advantage indoors; larger cabins and some full-spectrum units need 240 volts. Confirm it before you assume no electrician is needed.
- Look at the emitter type. Far-infrared carbon or ceramic panels are the common, lower-cost choice; full-spectrum units add near and mid infrared and cost more. Decide whether the extra spectrum matters to you before paying for it.
- Match the size to the room. An infrared cabin is lighter and smaller than a traditional sauna and often goes in a spare room or a corner of a basement, so measure the space and the doorway before choosing the model.
How infrared heat is different
A traditional sauna heats the air to 160-200 Fahrenheit and you feel the heat of the room; an infrared sauna emits radiant heat that warms your body directly while the air stays at 120-150. The practical consequences are that infrared reaches usable temperature faster, feels less intense to some people, cannot produce the steam of a wet sauna, and uses less electricity. Which is better is a matter of the experience you want, not of quality, and it is worth trying both before deciding if you can.
Far infrared versus full spectrum
Most infrared saunas use far-infrared panels made of carbon or ceramic, which are proven, reliable and the lower-cost option. Full-spectrum units add near and mid infrared wavelengths and cost more, and the marketing around the extra wavelengths runs well ahead of the settled evidence. If a retailer prices a full-spectrum unit well above a far-infrared one, ask what the difference buys you in plain terms before paying for it.
The running-cost advantage is real
Because it heats you rather than the room, an infrared sauna draws less power than a traditional electric sauna of the same size and often runs on a normal household outlet. Over a year of regular use that is a meaningful difference in the electricity bill, and it is the strongest practical argument for infrared for a buyer who wants frequent, low-friction sessions rather than the traditional high-heat experience.
Common questions
- Is an infrared sauna cheaper to run than a traditional one?
- Yes. It heats your body rather than the air, draws less power, and often runs on a standard 120-volt outlet, so both the installation and the electricity cost less than an equivalent traditional electric sauna.
- Does an infrared sauna need special wiring?
- Many one and two person cabins run on an ordinary household outlet, which is one of infrared's advantages. Larger cabins and some full-spectrum units need a 240-volt circuit, so check the model's requirement before assuming no electrician is needed.
- Is full spectrum worth the extra cost?
- Far-infrared is the proven, lower-cost standard. Full-spectrum adds near and mid infrared at a higher price, and the evidence for the extra wavelengths is thinner than the marketing. Decide whether it matters to you before paying the premium.
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Cite or embed this figure
The a printed starting price from the retailer's own page in the US home sauna and cold plunge market was $1,999 in September 2026, across 8 verified retailer product pages recorded in Sauna Cold Plunge Compare Home Sauna and Cold Plunge Price Index.
Cite as: "Sauna Cold Plunge Compare Home Sauna and Cold Plunge Price Index", updated 2026-09-10, https://saunacoldplungecompare.com/infrared-sauna/.