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How Much Does an Infrared Sauna Cost?
A good, entry level, affordable, infrared sauna kit will cost approximately $1100 for a 1-person sauna and approximately $2500 for a 4-person sauna. Some popular brands selling saunas in this price range are JNH Lifestyles, Dynamic Saunas, and Radiant Saunas.
A higher end infrared sauna will cost about $3500 for a 1-Person sauna and approximately $7000 for a 4-person sauna. Some popular high-end brands are Therasauna, Clearlight and Sunlighten.
The cost to run an infrared sauna is marginal.
What accounts for the difference in prices between less expensive and more expensive infrared saunas?
The two major factors accounting for the price difference among infrared saunas are the build quality and the amount of EMF produced by the infrared heating panels.
Expensive Infrared Saunas Will Typically Have a Superior Build Quality
With the less expensive models, you will typically find that the wood panels are thinner and less sturdy. The thin wall and ceiling panels provide less insulation and the sauna will take longer to heat.
Consider for example, the 2 person sauna from the Joyous line by JNH Lifestyles weighs just 250 pounds. The 2 person sauna from the Ensi line is more expensive and weighs 462 pounds.
Another difference in the build quality can be seen in the detail of the design. For example, you will find that on most of the less expensive models, the infrared heating panels will simply attach to the flat wall of the sauna. Whereas, more expensive models will have built in recesses in the walls which the heating panels will fit in.
Expensive Infrared Saunas Typically Have More Infrared Heating Panels
Infrared saunas use a number of infrared heating panels spaced to heat the sauna. A less expensive sauna might have 6 or 7 heating panels, while a more expensive sauna might have 8 or 9.
The notion that more panels is better, is a bit of an oversimplification. The size and quality of the panels vary from sauna to sauna. Ideally, the heating panels will be spaced throughout the sauna so that the sauna heats your body completely and evenly.
Expensive Infrared Saunas Will Typically Produce Lower Amounts of EMF
Many people are concerned about being exposed to the EMF produced by an infrared sauna. EMF simply stands for Electromagnetic Fields.
And while that sounds scary, the reality is that everything that uses electricity, from your cell phone to your toaster oven, produces an electromagnetic field. There is not a consensus as to the effects of EMF. Some experts claim that exposure is bad for you, while others claim it is harmless.
Saunas that produce lower than average EMF are typically more expensive than saunas that produce higher amounts of EMF. It is important to know that no sauna manufacturer or retailer markets a “high EMF” sauna.
Instead, saunas which produce higher amounts of EMF will market themselves as “low EMF,” while saunas which produce lower amounts of EMF will market themselves as “extremely low” or “ultra low” or even as “Zero EMF.”
How Much Does an Outdoor Infrared Sauna Cost?
The lowest priced outdoor infrared saunas will run you about $3300. And a higher end outdoor sauna can easily cost $8000. Some popular brands making outdoor infrared saunas are MCP Cedar Sauna and Clearlight.
A properly constructed outdoor sauna will need to be much sturdier and better insulated than their indoor counterparts. A good outdoor infrared sauna will have thick insulated walls and a roof that is designed to handle rain and snow.
How Much Does an Indoor Traditional Sauna Cost?
A small 1-2 Person Traditional Sauna kit will cost about $2500 on the lower end and about $4000 on the higher end. A 3-4 Person Traditional Sauna kit will cost about $3000 on the low end and $4500 on the higher end. A 6 Person Traditional kit will cost about $3500 on the low end and $6500 on the higher end.
Some popular brands to consider include Almost Heaven Saunas, Aleko, and MCP Sauna.
What to Consider When Buying an Indoor Traditional Sauna.
The major factors affecting the price of a traditional sauna are the build quality and the type of wood used in the sauna. Some types of wood are better than others.
Another major consideration in a traditional sauna is the sauna heater. Most traditional sauna kits sold by online retailers and big box stores come with an electric sauna heater included. So the cost of the sauna heater is built into the prices discussed above.
If you are in the market for a stand alone sauna heater, the prices vary by size. A standard electric sauna heater will cost between $700 and $1400, depending on the size.
Sauna heaters use more electricity than infrared saunas, making them more expensive to run.
How Much Does an Outdoor Traditional Sauna Cost?
A small 1-2 Person Traditional Sauna kit will cost about $2500 on the lower end and about $4000 on the higher end. A 3-4 Person Traditional Sauna kit will cost about $3000 on the low end and $4500 on the higher end. A 6 Person Traditional kit will cost about $3500 on the low end and $6500 on the higher end.
Some popular brands making outdoor traditional saunas include Aleko, MCP Sauna and SDI Factory Direct.
As with any type of sauna, you should expect to pay more for an outdoor sauna, since it will need to be sturdier, better insulated and have a roof that can withstand the elements. Be careful with saunas that are merely labeled for outdoor use. Oftentimes, these saunas are mislabeled.
If you are expecting an outdoor sauna to hold up in rain and snow, look for the attributes that you would expect to find in a house, cabin or shed–Like a pitched roof, shingles, thick boards.
BZB Cabins builds, perhaps, the strongest saunas on the market. And while they can cost from 7 to 10 thousand dollars, they are the perfect choice for someone looking for a permanent sauna that can hold up in winter conditions.
How Much Does a Barrel Sauna Cost?
You can expect to pay between $3000 to $6000 for a barrel sauna. Barrel saunas are made for indoor and outdoor use, with the outdoor variety typically requiring the purchase of a 300-500 cover.
Aleko and Almost Heaven Saunas both manufacture barrel sauna kits.
Barrel saunas are shaped like barrels, but they function the same as any traditional sauna, using a sauna heater to heat the air of the sauna. Barrel saunas hold between 4 to 8 people depending on the sauna. There are very few small 1 to 2 person barrel saunas.
How Much Do Portable Saunas and Sauna Blankets Cost?
The health benefits, as well as many of the relaxation benefits, of using the sauna come as a result of exposing your body to the heat. Anything that raises your core body temperature will provide these benefits.
Portable saunas and sauna blankets can provide these benefits at a fraction of the cost.
How Much Does a Portable Sauna Cost?
Portable Saunas come in two varieties: Infrared and Steam. Both Portable Infrared Saunas and Portable Steam saunas typically cost between $100 and $300, with some higher end models costing much more than that.
Some popular brands that make portable saunas are Durasage, Durherm, Radiant Saunas and SereneLife.
Most Portable Saunas are small tent-like structures with an opening in the top for your head to stick out of. They might look a little silly, but they are effective at raising core body temperature.
For some, the ability to keep your head outside of the sauna could be seen as a major benefit. For starters, you can watch the TV. But also, many people find that their head is particularly sensitive to the heat of the sauna. If you are one of these people, you may well prefer this type of sauna. And it may allow for longer sessions.
On the other hand, if you’d prefer a portable sauna which you can fit your entire body inside of, SereneLife makes them in both infrared and steam models. You can check them out here.
How Much Does a Sauna Blanket Cost?
Sauna blankets, for personal use, cost between $100 and $200. Higher-end models can be purchased in the $450 range. Some popular brands are Gizmo, TTLife, and Uttiny.
Sauna blankets provide the same benefits (health, portability, low price…) as portable saunas, but offer a slightly different experience.
To use a sauna blanket, you lie down in it, similar to sleeping blanket, so that it covers you on both sides. The sauna blanket has infrared heating panels spaced throughout to heat your body.
