Best Home Saunas for You

As you look for the best home saunas, think about what size you want. The size of a sauna describes the number of people who can fit in it and how many it is equipped to heat.

Consider how many people will want to use the sauna at the same time. Most home saunas are made to fit one to five people. Larger options are also available.

Infrared saunas usually have a smaller square footage and weigh less than traditional saunas. They’re a good choice for indoor use. A room should have enough space to accommodate the sauna you select.

Indoor infrared saunas should be placed on a level spot with a tile, stone, concrete, laminate or wood floor. Some infrared saunas can be set up on carpeted floors. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines for specific information.

Most saunas are at least seven feet tall. Typically, they have at least one wooden bench. Saunas with benches of different heights allow the user to choose the temperature level they find most comfortable. Because heat rises, lower benches offer slightly lower temperatures.

How much does a sauna cost to run? The costs vary, depending on the size of your sauna and how often you use it.

When buying a sauna for the home, you can save money by getting a smaller one. Saunas for only one or two people are less costly and save energy. The bigger a sauna is, the more it costs to operate.

Prefabricated sauna kits have made home saunas more common. With these kits, you don’t need to hire a carpenter to build a full sauna at your house.

Infrared home saunas use ceramic or carbon heaters. As you shop, you may hear the terms carbon far infrared saunas or ceramic far infrared saunas. Far infrared refers to the wavelength of the infrared light used in some saunas. This light warms up the skin directly. In traditional saunas, wood fires or electric heaters are used to raise the temperature of the air, which then transfers heat to the body.

Ceramic infrared heaters produce heat across smaller surfaces most efficiently. While they are often the hottest heaters, they are available in smaller sizes.

Ceramic infrared heaters:

• Have lower upfront costs
• Heat up faster than carbon heaters
• Produce heat that is concentrated in the spots closest to the heaters

Carbon infrared heaters are larger than ceramic infrared heaters. They don’t produce temperatures as high or as quickly. However, they heat a larger surface area.

Carbon infrared heaters:

• Offer even heat distribution throughout whole sauna, not just near heaters
• Heat up more slowly than ceramic heaters
• Are slightly more durable and energy efficient than ceramic heaters

Available features and sauna accessories can enhance your at-home spa treatment.

Windows: If you dislike small spaces, a window in your sauna may keep it from feeling so confined. Look for energy-saving windows that prevent heat from leaking out. A leaky sauna window can raise your electric bill.

Porches: Some saunas come with attached porches or exterior benches. This extension of the sauna space offers a place to rest before or after you enjoy your at-home spa treatment. It can also add seating space if the number of guests you have exceeds your home sauna’s interior capacity.

Barrel-Shaped Saunas: Due to their curved walls, barrel-shaped saunas allow for heat to flow constantly. The shape offers maximum capacity, while cutting down on the total cubic feet, which means a barrel-shaped sauna can heat up quickly. Many of these saunas can be placed indoors or outdoors. Supports keep the bottom of these eye-catching round saunas from touching the floor or ground directly. Some barrel-shaped saunas come with glass doors or with wooden doors that have glass windows.

Plug-in operation: Most infrared saunas are 110V. They can be plugged into an existing home outlet. Because these saunas are not hardwired, you won’t have to call an electrician for assistance during installation.

Depending on its size, an electric home sauna may require a dedicated power source. You may need to hire an electrician to install special wiring before the sauna can be used.

Heating Time: Infrared saunas offer only a dry heat, but get hot faster than electric saunas. Users can sit in an infrared sauna as it heats up, though they can also wait until the space has reached a higher temperature to enter. An electric sauna needs time to heat up before use. Electric saunas may include the option of creating a moist heat by pouring water on hot rocks to make steam.

Wood Saunas: Different types of wood can be used to make saunas. Cedar saunas have an appealing reddish tone and may retain the wood’s distinctive scent. This type of wood serves as an excellent insulator and holds in heat. Hemlock saunas provide insulation and resist scratching.

People who are allergic to certain types of wood or wood dust should see how they react to wood saunas before buying one.

Wood Accessories: Some saunas come with wooden accessories that provide small but significant improvements to your sauna. These include back rests, leg lifts, drink shelves, magazine racks and robe hooks.

Touchscreen controls: With an easy-to-use touchscreen, you can adjust the temperature of each heater with no trouble.

Music players: Some saunas feature a built-in radio or other music players. Listening to music can be a great way to enrich effects of a sauna.

Chromotherapy: Like music, therapeutic lights, known as chromotherapy, can add another dimension to a sauna experience.