Infrared vs Traditional Sauna: Which Should You Buy?
Infrared saunas use heating panels and, by makers' figures, run at lower air temperatures. Traditional saunas heat the air with a stove heater and stones. The right one depends on your space, your power setup and the kind of heat you like.
How each one heats
An infrared sauna has heating panels on the walls, and sometimes by the bench or floor. A traditional sauna has a stove heater topped with stones that warms the room air. In a traditional sauna you can pour water on the stones to make steam, if the heater manual allows it.
Air temperature and warm-up time
Makers and a sauna society give these figures. They don't all agree, so use them as a rough guide and check the listing for your model.
| Who says it | Traditional | Infrared |
|---|---|---|
| Finnleo, a sauna maker | Many people enjoy 150–175°F; 30–60 minutes to fully heat | Many people enjoy 120–130°F |
| Clearlight, an infrared maker | Compares traditional at 170–200°F with a 30–45 minute heat-up (the same page also says 180–220°F) | Its cabins typically reach 115–125°F; preheat 10–15 minutes |
| Sunlighten, an infrared maker | — | Allow 45–60 minutes to warm up |
| Harvia, a heater maker | Heater runs at full power for the first 30–40 minutes | — |
| North American Sauna Society | A sauna is a room heated to about 150–195°F | — |
Sources checked 2026-10-17. Infrared makers disagree on warm-up: Clearlight says 10–15 minutes and Sunlighten says 45–60. Check the listed warm-up time for your model.
Space and installation
The infrared cabins in our picks range from a 1–2 person cabin about 39 x 36 in to a 4-person cabin about 70 x 42 in. Golden Designs lists its infrared cabins as indoor only. A traditional cabin needs room for the heater and the clearances its manual gives.
Power: 120V and 240V
The infrared cabins we picked are listed at 120V, and the 4-person one needs its own circuit. The traditional cabins we picked are rated 220V or 220–240V. Read 120V vs 240V requirements. Check the listing and the manual for power requirements; consult a licensed electrician.
How it feels
Infrared feels like dry warmth from the panels, with cooler air around you. A traditional sauna feels hotter, and a ladle of water on the stones adds a burst of steam. Either can be a warm, quiet place at home to relax.
Choosing a traditional cabin
Our traditional cabin picks are on the home saunas page under Premium / full-size. Before you buy, check:
- the heater's kW and voltage on the listing
- that the room volume falls within the heater's listed range
- the ventilation the manual asks for
- whether the heater manual allows water on the stones
Choosing an infrared cabin
See 1–2 person infrared cabins and the 4-person cabin under Premium / full-size. Check the listed outside size, the power needs, and whether the maker says it is for indoor use only.
Portable tents
A portable steam tent uses a separate steamer instead of panels or a stove. See portable steam tents and the sauna size guide for footprints.
Which suits you?
- Small space, and you'd rather not add 240V: look at infrared cabins listed at 120V, or a portable tent.
- You want hotter air and steam from stones, and can plan 220–240V wiring: look at a traditional cabin.
- Still unsure: try the Sauna Finder, and compare running costs with how much electricity a sauna uses.
FAQ
What's the difference between an infrared and a traditional sauna?
An infrared sauna uses heating panels in a cabin. A traditional sauna uses a stove heater with stones that warms the air, and you can add steam by pouring water on the stones if the manual allows it.
Which heats up faster, an infrared or a traditional sauna?
It varies by model, and makers disagree. Clearlight says to preheat its infrared cabins for 10–15 minutes, Sunlighten says to allow 45–60 minutes for infrared, and Finnleo says a traditional sauna takes 30–60 minutes. Check the listed warm-up time.
Which uses more electricity, infrared or traditional?
It depends on each heater's listed kW and how long it runs: kW × hours = kWh. Compare the listed kW of the models you like, and use the cost-to-run calculator with your own rate.
Which takes less space?
Compare the listed outside sizes. Our smallest infrared pick is about 39 x 36 in for one or two people. A traditional cabin also needs room for the heater and the clearances in its manual.
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