What are the Prices of Home Saunas?

Just like with most things, the prices of home saunas vary depending on the quality of the units.  You can find very basic ones for around $1,000 to $1,500, and top of the line multi-person saunas for $5,000 to $10,000 and up.  It's a matter of figuring out what your budget is and taking it from there.

A small infrared sauna that fits in a corner or spare room will be far more affordable than a custom-built traditional sauna with stone heaters, thick cedar walls, and built-in mood lighting.

Also, keep in mind that if you’re hiring a professional to install or wire your sauna, you'll have to factor in roughly $500–$2,000 in labor and electrical costs as well.

Let's jump in and look at all of the costs of various saunas.

What Factors Into a Sauna Cost?

There are a number of different factors that come into play when it comes to the cost of a sauna. Below is a closer look at what drives pricing — and where it makes sense to invest a little more.

Wood

One important  factor to consider is the wood.  Lower cost saunas, whether they are the popular infrared variety, or an outdoor barrel sauna, will typically use softer or thinner wood, such as hemlock or spruce. These are fine for light use but may warp or fade faster over time than a more rugged variety.

Higher-end saunas typically use Canadian red cedar, Nordic spruce, or aspen, known for their durability, resistance to humidity, and pleasant aroma. The difference can easily add $500–$1,500 to the price tag or more, but it pays off as these saunas will last much longer.

Thicker panels and solid construction also add to the price. A well-insulated, tightly fitted sauna holds heat better — meaning lower operating costs over the long run.

Size and Capacity

Another factor of course is the size of the sauna. For obvious reasons, a 1-2 person sauna will not be as expensive as a 5-6 person unit, assuming all other factors are equal. Why? Because there is more wood, more heating panels/larger capacity heating unit, additional benches and other consideration for larger units.

A 1–2 person sauna may start around $1,000–$2,500, while a 5–6 person model can range from $4,000 to $10,000 or more, especially if it’s designed for outdoor use.

Heating Systems

Speaking of heating, that is a big factor when it comes to sauna cost as well.  There are many different heating options, from wood burning to electric to gas to infrared panels. Within each category there is a wide range of quality as well.

Infrared

If you're buying a ready-made sauna or a kit, entry-level portable or 1-person infrared saunas can start around $1,000–$1,500 (or even less for very basic models).

Mid-range 2- to 4-person infrared cabins often run $3,000–$7,000.

Premium/full-spectrum or custom-built infrared units can reach $8,000–$15,000 or more, particularly when adding upgrades like high-end woods, low-EMF heating panels, glass doors, chromotherapy, sound systems, etc.

If you're building the sauna yourself, infrared sauna panels are typically a couple hundred dollars each.

You might notice that there are a lot of infrared sauna options out there today, but it's important to recognize the fact that not all of their heating panels are of the same quality.  

They are largely unregulated, so you really don't know what you are getting unless you deal with a reliable manufacturer like Sunlighten or another company that has third party research available that speaks to the quality of their heaters.

It's a little more cut and dried with an electric heater where you can see the output and other specs right on the manual itself.  You know what you're getting.  Unfortunately this is not true with infrared saunas...you're kind of flying blind in that regard.

Electric (Traditional Sauna Heater)

A typical electric sauna heater for a home installation might cost anywhere from $700–$4,000+ depending on kW size, features, brand, and installation needs.

When you factor in the full sauna room build (wood, insulation, benches), the overall cost for a mid-to-large electric sauna installation often falls in the $4,000–$10,000+ range (or higher with premium materials).

Note that electric heaters require dedicated 240-V circuits, proper wiring, and ventilation and as such installation labor can significantly add to your cost. Heat retention and insulation quality matter: a cheaper build may cost more in energy and maintenance over time.

Wood-Burning Heaters

Wood-burning sauna setups tend to be more expensive due to the need for appropriate ventilation, chimney or flue, clearance, and fire-safety considerations. Heater units alone can run in the $800-$3,000+ range. 

For a full home sauna using wood‐burning heaters (especially if they outdoor or semi-outdoor), total costs can easily reach $5,000–$15,000+ depending on size, materials, and setup. (Some DIY builds exceed this significantly.)

Note that wood fuel cost, chimney maintenance, and structural clearances add to both upfront and ongoing costs. These saunas are definitely best suited to outdoor saunas or spaces with existing ventilation infrastructure; doing it in a basement may require substantial modification (which increases cost).

Gas Heaters

These are definitely less common in home saunas but still an option for larger installations. The cost for the heater and installation can be $800–$4,600+ just for the unit (heating system) alone, based on heater cost tables.

Full gas-sauna installations (sauna room + ventilation + gas line + controls) may run significantly more once you factor in plumbing, regulatory requirements, and specialized installation.

Construction Quality

Besides the wood, the size and the heating unit, you also have other factors that go into sauna pricing. The construction itself is one of those factors.  It's great to start out with high quality components, but how are those components put together?  

There is a lot that goes into the building process, and unless you are building it yourself from scratch, you can't be too sure that the proper care was taken to put your sauna together.  The adhesives used, the way the woods are aligned, ventilation considerations...these all need to be done the right way to avoid issues like mold, allergic reactions and toxicity.

Wiring & Installation

Another factor affecting the sauna cost are the wiring or piping, depending on what type of sauna you end up going with.  Obviously, there is wiring and or/piping involved with an electric or gas heater.  If you're going with the more traditional wood sauna heater, then you have the costs of the wood and the need for a chimney for ventilation.

Infrared saunas plug directly into a wall outlet, but traditional saunas require dedicated 240V wiring or even plumbing for water-based heaters.

Here's what you can expect:

• Infrared: Minimal setup, sometimes DIY.
• Electric or gas: $500–$2,000 for electrical or gas line work.
• Wood-burning: Chimney or flue installation can cost $800–$1,500.

So depending on whether you go with an indoor or outdoor sauna, and whether it is wood, electric, gas or infrared heat, you have the added consideration of the requirements for the type of heat you have chosen.  Infrared will be the least expensive as you just need an electrical outlet, and no extensive wiring, pipes or chimney are needed.

Does Anything Else Add to the Sauna Price?

Besides the wood, the heater, the construction and the costs involved in getting your sauna to work, the only additional costs besides daily operation are any extras that you choose to have.

You can often customize your sauna with additional benches, windows, door options and configurations. You can add Bluetooth music, chromotherapy, LED lights, smartphone controls, charging stations.  There are endless possibilities for customization, especially with some of the better brands and companies.

You can save yourself a good deal of money if you are able to build your own sauna from scratch, but most people opt for a prebuilt unit as there are a lot of considerations when it comes to DIY, and it's not a project to take lightly.  Although you may end up saving a thousand dollars in the long run, you don't want to risk releasing toxic fumes, mold development or some other issue.

We would definitely recommend going with one of the top sauna brands that we discuss on this site.  Although they are more expensive than the cheaper companies, you definitely get what you pay for.

The cheap saunas made in China and elsewhere may save you a few bucks, but the quality simply isn't there.  You're not getting the same benefits, and you may be putting yourself at risk, especially if you have any allergies or are otherwise sensitive to certain woods or adhesives.

A sauna is a long term investment, and as such it makes sense to get something that is high quality and can offer you the true benefits of sauna.  You just can't achieve this with poor quality units with inferior woods, shoddy construction and low grade heating units.