Infrared vs Traditional Sauna: Which Should You Buy?
Infrared vs traditional sauna, side by side: heat, power, space, price and running cost for two 2-person cabins we sell, plus what the research does and doesn't show.
The infrared vs traditional sauna choice comes down to one difference. A traditional sauna heats the air, while an infrared sauna warms your skin directly. Choose traditional if you want hot air and can add a 240V circuit. Choose infrared if you want gentler heat and don't want to add a circuit.
We sell both traditional saunas and infrared saunas. Our customers usually buy infrared because it's easier to set up.
Traditional saunas usually run at 150 to 195 °F, and the infrared kind at 110 to 135 °F. The traditional cabins we compare need 240V, while the infrared ones use 120V. Of our two main cabins, the infrared one costs less, weighs less and takes less floor space.
Key takeaways
- The main heart research we cite is on Finnish men who used saunas. It shows a link, not proof.
- Talk to your doctor first if you're pregnant, have certain heart conditions or take medication.
- Infrared cabin: 120V, smaller and lighter. Traditional cabin: hotter, needs 240V.
Infrared vs traditional sauna: what each one is
How a traditional sauna heats
A traditional sauna uses a stove to heat the air in the room. Cleveland Clinic puts the usual range at 150 to 195 °F, and most run at low humidity, under about 20%.
So the whole room is hot, not just the spot facing a heater. You sit in air that can top 180 °F.
Stoves can be electric or wood-burning. For wood, read our guide on how to build a wood-burning sauna.
Our traditional example is the Golden Designs Sundsvall. It has a 6 kW stove, an ideal range of 170 to 185 °F, and a 194 °F maximum.
How an infrared sauna heats
An infrared sauna uses heating panels instead of a stove. Cleveland Clinic says the lamps "focus a penetrating warmth directly on your skin." Infrared usually runs cooler, 110 to 135 °F.
Our infrared example is the Maxxus Seattle. It uses far infrared and heats to a 140 °F maximum.
This post focuses on far infrared. You'll also see "full-spectrum" cabins. Dynamic's full-spectrum Cordoba adds near-infrared heaters to the far-infrared panels.
Where hybrids fit
A hybrid puts a stove and infrared panels in one cabin. The Golden Designs Visby is one: a 3-person outdoor sauna with a stove plus full-spectrum infrared. It needs a 240V / 40 amp circuit and costs $16,999 (October 2026).
Key differences at a glance
Here are two 2-person indoor cabins we sell, with specs and prices from our listings.
| Feature | Traditional: Sundsvall | Infrared: Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Usual heat (Cleveland Clinic) | 150-195 °F | 110-135 °F |
| This model's max | 194 °F | 140 °F |
| Power | 240V / 30A, plus 120V / 15A | 120V / 15A |
| Footprint | 60 × 46 in | 48 × 42 in |
| Weight, assembled | 475 lb | 275 lb |
| Assembly | 2 people, 2 hours | 2 people, 1 hour |
| Price (Oct 2026) | $5,999 | $2,299-$2,699 |
| Warranty | 5-year product, 1-year wood | 5-year heaters, 1-year wood and glass |
The traditional cabin runs much hotter, while the infrared cabin is smaller, lighter, cheaper and runs on 120V.
Heat-up time isn't on either listing. We found no trusted source for heat-up times, so check the manufacturer's manual.
Power, install and space
Power is the biggest practical difference.
Traditional: plan for a 240V circuit
Plan on a 240V / 30 amp circuit for the Sundsvall's stove. Its lights and music need a separate 120V / 15 amp circuit.
Bigger cabins need more. The 3-person Golden Designs Copenhagen has an 8 kW stove on a 240V / 40 amp circuit. Its listing says to consult a certified electrician. No 240V circuit where the sauna will go? You will likely need an electrician to add one and check your panel.
Infrared: 120V, but read the fine print
The Seattle runs on 120V / 15 amp service, so there's no 240V circuit to add.
Still, each model asks for something different. The far-infrared Dynamic Cordoba wants a 120V / 15 amp outlet that is not GFCI. It has a 9 ft cord. Golden Designs asks for a 120V / 15 amp dedicated circuit (one used only by the sauna) for the Reserve Edition. An electrician can tell you what that means for your panel.
For the Seattle, the listing doesn't say whether the circuit must be dedicated. Check the manual before picking a room.
Weight, assembly and space
Assembled, the Sundsvall weighs 475 lb and stands 83 in tall. At 275 lb and 75 in tall, the Seattle is lighter and shorter. It clasps together, and the maker rates assembly at 2 people and 1 hour.
The Seattle ships by LTL freight, with 2 to 5 days in transit. Measure doorways, stairs and ceiling height first. We don't list box sizes here, so ask before you order.
Planning a garage, backyard or other unheated space? Check the listing's indoor or outdoor rating first. Every cabin above except the Visby is indoor-rated.
What it costs to buy and to run
Purchase price
As of October 2026, the Sundsvall is $5,999 with a Harvia 6 kW heater and built-in controls. You can get the Seattle for $2,299 (Low EMF version) or $2,699 (Near-Zero EMF version).
If the traditional cabin needs a new 240V circuit, add an electrician's quote.
Running cost, with the math
Your power bill charges by the kilowatt-hour (kWh). For the math, say your rate is 15 cents per kWh. Swap in the rate on your bill.
- Traditional: With a 6 kW stove, the Sundsvall uses at most 6 kWh in one hour at full power, for the stove alone. That's up to 90 cents.
- Infrared: The Seattle's wattage isn't on its listing. A 120V / 15 amp circuit can supply at most 1,800 watts (120 × 15). That's the circuit's limit, not the heater's rating. So one hour uses no more than 1.8 kWh, or up to 27 cents.
These are ceilings, meaning the maximum each could use, not measurements. Your real cost depends on your rate, your temperature setting and how long the heat stays on.
For a sense of scale, take a 30-minute session at the ceiling, not counting warm-up. That's up to 45 cents for the traditional cabin (3 kWh) and about 14 cents for the infrared one (0.9 kWh).
Who should pick a traditional sauna
A traditional sauna fits you if:
- You want hot air in the 150 to 195 °F range.
- You already have a 240V circuit, or you're fine paying to add one.
- You have floor space for a 60 × 46 in cabin and a helper for the 2-person build.
Cleveland Clinic suggests sessions of about 15 to 20 minutes, starting with 5 if you're new. Our guide on how long to stay in a sauna has more.
Cost, weight and wiring are the downsides. At $5,999, the Sundsvall costs over twice as much as the $2,299 Seattle.
Golden Designs Sundsvall 2 Person Traditional Indoor Sauna
2-person traditional indoor sauna · 6 kW stove · 60 × 46 × 83 in footprint
For a 2-person indoor room with a 240V / 30 amp circuit: 6 kW stove, 194 °F max, 60 × 46 in footprint.
Who should pick an infrared sauna
An infrared sauna fits you if:
- You want 120V power and a lighter cabin.
- You live in a small home, apartment or rental. The Seattle needs 48 × 42 in and runs on 120V. If you rent, check your lease first.
- You want gentler heat. A Cleveland Clinic doctor says infrared "can definitely be much more comfortable for people."
For infrared, Cleveland Clinic suggests starting at about 110 °F for 5 to 10 minutes. Even experienced users should keep sessions under 30 minutes.
Heat is the downside. At 140 °F max, the Seattle won't feel like a 180 °F traditional room.
What about EMF? EMF means electromagnetic fields, measured here in milligauss (mG). You can get the Seattle in two versions. Our listing's options read Low (6 to 10 mG) and Near-Zero (under 2 mG), with no measuring distance given.
Our Reserve Edition listing says it measures under 2 mG at 2 to 3 inches from the panels. These are the figures on our listings, not our own tests.
Maxxus Seattle 2 Person Far Infrared Sauna
2-person indoor far infrared sauna: 140 °F max, 48 × 42 × 75 in, 120V / 15 amp
For a first sauna in a small indoor space: 120V / 15 amp, 48 × 42 in footprint, 275 lb.
What the research says
One large heart study comes from Finland.
Finnish sauna use: a link in one group of men
A Finnish study followed 2,315 men, aged 42 to 60, for a median of 20.7 years. Men who used a sauna 4 to 7 times a week had about 63% lower risk of sudden cardiac death than men who used one once a week. The range was 25% to 82% lower.
For 2 to 3 times a week, the result was not clearly different from once a week.
This was a cohort study, meaning researchers followed a group of men over many years. It shows a link, not cause and effect. It included only men. The abstract looks at how often and how long men used saunas, not at sauna type. So it can't tell you whether infrared works the same way.
Infrared saunas: limited evidence
A 2009 review of far-infrared sauna studies found only "limited" evidence from the stronger types of study. Some of the studies were small. It found no evidence that infrared saunas lower cholesterol.
It reported no adverse effects, but the studies were small, short and from one research group, so this isn't proof of safety.
EMF: what WHO says
WHO notes that the cancer agency IARC classed low-frequency magnetic fields from electricity as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." That label means the evidence is limited. WHO says the evidence linking them to childhood leukemia is "not strong enough to be considered causal."
WHO's page doesn't mention saunas. If EMF worries you, pick a model with a published figure and ask for the test data.
Frequently asked questions
Is an infrared sauna better than a steam sauna?
They're different things. A steam room uses humidity, while an infrared sauna warms your skin directly. Cleveland Clinic says there's "no clear indication" that dry or wet heat is better.
Is a regular or conventional sauna the same as a traditional sauna?
Product names vary, so look at the heat source instead. A stove heats the air, which Cleveland Clinic calls a traditional sauna. Infrared panels warm you directly.
Which is cheaper to run?
Likely infrared, based on maximum power, not measured use. See the running cost section above for a 30-minute example.
So, which should you buy?
When you weigh infrared vs traditional sauna options, ask two things: how hot do you want it, and what wiring do you have? If you want 150 to 195 °F air and can run a 240V circuit, buy traditional. If you want gentler heat and an easier setup, buy infrared, as our customers usually do.
Not sure yet? In our comparison, infrared is the cheaper way in. Want both? A hybrid like the Visby does it, for more money.
Sources
- Infrared Saunas: What They Do and 6 Health Benefits (Cleveland Clinic)
- Get Your Sweat On: The Benefits of a Sauna (Cleveland Clinic)
- Far-infrared saunas: summary of published evidence (Canadian Family Physician, 2009, via NIH PMC)
- Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events (Laukkanen et al., JAMA Intern Med, 2015)
- Electromagnetic fields and public health: exposure to extremely low frequency fields (WHO)
