The Best Home Saunas To Turn Your Home Into a Relaxing Spa
It’s time to put yourself first. Shop the best outdoor, indoor and portable saunas for your home.
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You don’t have to leave home to enjoy a perfectly relaxing spa day, just get a home sauna.
At-home sweat lodges can come in handy when you need to relax after a long day or an intense workout. If the idea of buying a home sauna feels intimidating or overwhelming, it’s not as daunting as you may believe. In fact, you don’t need a ton of space to fit one comfortably in your home and there are several options on sale throughout the web.
What is the best home sauna overall? The Sun Home Saunas Equinox is our best overall pick because of its mix of heating types, premium design, chromotherapy lighting, EMF/ELF blocking technology and range of features for beginners and experienced users alike. We also like its competitive price.
See below for more information on possible benefits of home saunas and brands that we recommend.
Here’s What Makes Home Saunas Worth It
Getting in a sauna for your home means that you’re putting health and wellness first. Aside from stress and pain relief, saunas may offer a range of possible health benefits. Sauna use has been studied for potential cardiovascular, circulation, relaxation, and recovery-related benefits, though results can vary by sauna type and individual health factors. A home sauna should not be treated as a weight-loss treatment, anti-aging cure, or substitute for medical care.
“A home sauna gives your heart a workout without moving a muscle,” says Dr. Tania Elliott, MD to Billboard. “Dilates your blood vessels increasing blood flow to your heart and brain. Reduces risk of heart attack and stroke. It also improves skin texture by increasing blood flow to your skin, hello sauna glow.”
People who are pregnant, have heart or blood pressure concerns, are sensitive to heat, or take medications that may affect hydration, sweating, dizziness, or heat tolerance should consult a clinician before using a sauna regularly.”
And you can use them indoors or outdoors, including in the backyard, basement, home gym or a large bathroom. Not all saunas are created equally, though, so while you might find some for under $500 such as this lightweight steam sauna on Amazon, they won’t be as sturdy and don’t look as good as wooden saunas from retailers, such as Sun Home Saunas, Amazon, Wayfair and others.
BEST OVERALL
Sun Home Saunas Equinox
Best for: Two-person infrared use
Capacity: 2 people
Max temperature: 120°F
Heat type: FAR-Infrared, Full-spectrum
Best placement: Indoor
Why we chose it: Premium design, six heaters, chromotherapy lighting, and EMF/ELF blocking technology
The sauna has a 4.8 out of 5 star shopper reviews, while it’s one of the models that appeals to most people. Meanwhile, the sauna reaches up to 120-degrees, while it’s made from solid wood (like all Sun Home Saunas). Equinox boasts a sleek, two-toned design with an integrated full-spectrum infrared heating system at home instead of the spa.
“At home you have more control of the settings,” continues Dr. Elliott on the possible benefits home saunas. “you can go ‘au naturale,’ so don’t have to worry about hygiene and sweating in synthetic clothing. You don’t need to sit in someone else’s sweat or rely on a facilities cleaning practices.”
The indoor sauna features six heaters, including four FAR-infrared heaters, as well as two full-spectrum infrared heaters. Additional features include chromotherapy LED lighting to promote rejuvenation and low-EMF/ELF design intended to reduce electromagnetic-field exposure
“Traditional saunas have dry heat that heats the circulating air and goes through your core body temperature. Think of it like a convection oven,” Dr. Elliott describes. “Infrared sauna directly heats the skin.”
BEST FOR OUTDOORS
Sun Home Saunas Luminar
Best for: Two-person infrared use and smartphone connectivity
Capacity: 2 people
Max temperature: 170°F
Heat type: FAR-Infrared, Full-spectrum
Best placement: Indoor, Outdoor
Why we chose it: Premium design, 15 heaters and chromotherapy lighting, smartphone connectivity
If you’re looking to enjoy a beautiful view of the outdoors while relaxing in a state-of-the art, smart sauna — the Sun Home Saunas Luminar is a great choice. The smart sauna brings the outdoors inside, by way of a double-pane, glass exterior. It’s made from other premium materials, including aerospace-grade aluminum and red cedar wood for durability and stability with chromotherapy lighting. It features 15 heaters — 10 full spectrum heaters and five FAR-infrared heaters – that are placed all over the sauna to heat from every direction for a better sweat for deeper relaxation.
But, the biggest selling point is its built-in smartphone connectivity with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. In fact, you can control the temperature and settings with its mobile app. It even includes premium Bluetooth speakers with premium surround sound to sync your smartphone for streaming your favorite music and podcasts from various music apps — which can give you a “calming, relaxing effect,” says Dr. Elliott.
BEST FOR GROUPS
Redwood Barrel Sauna
Best for: Six-person steam use
Capacity: 6 people
Max temperature: 195°F
Heat type: Steam
Best placement: Outdoor
Why we chose it: Classic design, electric Harvia KIP heaters, Wi-Fi controls
What is the best outdoor sauna for groups? The Redwood Barrel Sauna is our pick best home sauna for groups because of its sturdy and durable barrel-shaped design that features Finnish-made Harvia’s electric Harvia KIP heater for intense heat and steam. It raises temperatures slowly and steadily to create a deep and calming atmosphere for better relaxation when getting a good sweat, especially for groups up to six people.
The sauna achieves this with its premium materials, including heat-treated Hemlock wood heater guards and tempered glass. It also comes with sauna rocks, a water bucket, ladle and plenty of seating, while the Redwood Outdoors sauna heats up to 195-degrees. The sauna requires 240-volts of dedicated power in your home.
The barrel sauna features digital Wi-Fi and manual heating controls, which you can preheat up to eight hours in advance. The exterior of the sauna measures about six feet high and six feet wide, while it weighs around 900 pounds, while it’s surprisingly easy to assemble with its included sauna kit. The Redwood Barrel Sauna is a standout in design, as a centerpiece in a backyard, or apartment building rooftop.
BEST ENTRY-LEVEL PICK
Dynamic Saunas Barcelona
Best for: Two-person EMF FAR infrared sauna use
Capacity: 2 people
Max temperature: 130°F
Heat type: Full-spectrum infrared and FAR infrared
Best placement: Indoor
Why we chose it: Premium design, six heaters, chromotherapy lighting, and ultra-low EMF FAR technology
What is the best affordable home sauna? The Dynamic Saunas Barcelona is our pick for best affordable home sauna because it’s a model that comfortably fits two people at once, boasts low EMF FAR infrared sauna with red light therapy and it’s at a great affordable price. Made from strong natural Canadian hemlock wood with six dynamic low EMF carbon PureTech infrared panels. It also uses red light therapy for calming and soothing chromotherapy lighting, while the sauna heats up impressively fast with temperatures up to 130 degree Fahrenheit, while it has energy consumption setting to save you some power usage and money.
The sauna features LED controls for temperature settings and Bluetooth connectivity for smartphones and tablets. It even has direct an MP3-aux input to plug in your smartphone directly to listen to music through the saunas built-in speakers with pre-amp for deeper and richer audio.
For less than $1,900, the Dynamic Saunas Barcelona is a fantastic pick for first-time buyers, thanks to its wide range of features, easy-to-use heat settings and affordable wallet-friendly price.
BEST HYBRID
Plunge Sauna
Best for: Five-person outdoor and indoor use
Capacity: 5 people
Max temperature: 230°F
Heat type: Full-spectrum infrared and FAR infrared
Best placement: Indoor
Why we chose it: Premium design, steam-friendly HUUM heater,
Can home saunas be used indoors and outdoors? Yes. Our pick for the best home sauna for indoor and outdoor use is the Plunge Sauna, which is designed for possible relaxation and recovery. It has a module design, which means it can go from indoor to outdoor with just a few slide panels, while it can also be upgraded for additional accessories and supplies. It’s a fantastic hybrid option.
The sauna, which is made with a blend of hemlock and incense cedar to retain and maintain heat more efficiently, increases the heat with a max temperature setting of up to 230 degrees Fahrenheit, as it includes a steam-friendly heater that can hold up to 132 pounds of sauna stones for bursts of steam when water is poured on top of it.
The space is plenty versatile with flip-up benches with a slanted backrest for a relaxed or short sessions, alike, for up to five people. The sauna even has Wi-Fi controls via its mobile app for timed heating, customizable accent lighting and scheduled settings.
BEST FOR TRAVELING
HeatPod Sauna Blanket 2
Best for: One-person infrared use
Capacity: 1 person
Max temperature: 185°F
Heat type: FAR infrared
Best placement: Indoor
Why we chose it: Premium and portable design, heat therapy
If you’re traveling, you may not have a lot of time to find a spa or sauna on the road. You may also still want the possible benefits of a sauna. But, the HeatPod Sauna Blanket 2 may be just thing you’re looking for to decompress when traveling. It gives you a sauna experience on-the-go, while HeatPod brings the spa with you.
The sauna blanket provides you with equally-distributed heat therapy for the entire body and it features a max temperature of 185 degrees. Just climb in like a sleeping bag, increase the heat to your liking and enjoy a travel-friendly sauna session on the floor or on a bed. There are options to equip it with towel and pillow inserts for extra comfort. After use, wipe it down with a paper towel and store for another session.
It even comes with a handy tote, so you can easily bring the sauna blanket with you in the trunk of a car, stored in the overhead on a train or as a carry-on (or checked bag) on a flight.
BEST SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN
Redwood Duo
Best for: Two-person steam use
Capacity: 2 people
Max temperature: 195°F
Heat type: Steam
Best placement: Outdoor
Why we chose it: Classic design, Harvia KIP heater
With a unique minimalist look and feel, and durable and tough construction, the Redwood Duo is our pick for Scandinavian-designed saunas with Harvia KIP heaters. Some of the benefits of such a design is its ability to quickly heat up and retain heat through out a session, while its eye-catching build quality that screams premium quality.
Plus, the saunas narrow design is ideal for most backyards in the suburbs, while it can reach temperatures up to 195 degrees Fahrenheit. It requires dedicated power of 240-volts with a number of heat distribution options for traditional or modern appearances, as well as power or performance. And according to the brand, installation and assembly are easy to follow with a few tools and step-by-step guides.
It comes with a doormat, shingles, backrest, bulkhead light, sauna rocks and a traditional felt sauna hat for scalp protection and heat retention. The Redwood Duo is a standout with its traditional design and overall build quality.
BEST FOR FOOT REFLEXOLOGY
Dynamic San Marino
Best for: Two-person infrared use
Capacity: 2 people
Max temperature: 140°F
Heat type: FAR infrared
Best placement: Indoor
Why we chose it: Premium design, multiple heaters, chromotherapy lighting, and ultra-low EMF FAR technology
The Dynamic San Marino is an affordable sauna option, while it includes two adjustable chromotherapy LED lighting that promotes healing and restoration. Additionally, the sauna features six energy-efficient ultra low EMF FAR infrared heaters for temperatures up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit with chromotherapy lighting. You get the heat, but at a lower emission rate. The floor features foot reflexology heaters that improves the heat flow and heat distribution throughout, while providing targeted pressure to your feet for more possible health benefits, including potential stress reduction, likely blood circulation improvements, and others.
It even comes with two reading lights to add an even more relaxing activity when getting a good sweat.
The Dynamic San Marino is an affordable sauna option, while it includes two adjustable chromotherapy LED lighting that promotes healing and restoration. Additionally, the sauna features six energy-efficient ultra low EMF FAR infrared heaters for temperatures up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit with chromotherapy lighting. You get the heat, but at a lower emission rate. The floor features foot reflexology heaters that improves the heat flow and heat distribution throughout, while providing targeted pressure to your feet for more possible health benefits, including potential stress reduction, likely blood circulation improvements, and others.
It even comes with two reading lights to add an even more relaxing activity when getting a good sweat.
Methodology
We’ve broken down the best home saunas for indoor and outdoor use, while considering size, materials, heat, price, additional features and overall value.
When it comes to size, home saunas come in all sorts of shapes and sizes to suit use. But, shoppers are going to get the possible benefits for a model that fits one person, as a model that fits five or six people. It really depends on how many people you plan to have inside at one-time, but most importantly, if you have the physical space in your home needed to accommodate a home sauna.
Materials are just as important too, so the home saunas in consideration are made from wood, which does the best work at retaining a steady heat. For outdoor home saunas, consider looking for something that comes with a protective tarp or weatherproofed coating or shields to protect it from harsh weather conditions.
We also considered product documentation, customer feedback, electrical requirements, indoor/outdoor suitability, warranty information, current pricing, and whether each model clearly fits a common buyer need, such as small spaces, outdoor use, group use, portability, or first-time sauna ownership.
Safety Considerations
When using a home sauna, there are a few safety and wellness considerations to know. First there’s proper use. Staying hydrated before and after sessions is key to getting the most out of a home sauna. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water (about two-four glasses) before and after every use.
How long should you stay in a home sauna? As far as session length, home saunas may be used multiple times throughout the week, but for only roughly 10-20 minutes at a time.
“Try to get up to four-five times a week if you can,” explains Dr. Elliott. “Start with about 10-20 minute sessions, with max benefits seen at a little over 20 minutes, but slowly build up. It’s hot! You may only be able to do a few minutes at a time when you are first getting acclimated.”
You should be caution to use a home sauna, if you’re pregnant, have cardiovascular conditions, use of medications that may cause dizziness or fatigue, no alcohol use, age under 13 and if you have a heat sensitivity. You should consult a clinician, if you have heart problems or high blood pressure.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Here are a few questions to ask when picking a new sauna for your home.
Are Infrared Saunas Better Than Traditional Saunas?
Traditional saunas heat up the air with a stove or steam to heat you up. It’s a wet heat, by contrast, infrared saunas can provide a dry heat with a series of internal lights, EMF heaters, and chromotherapy lighting. Infrared saunas don’t heat up the air, they heat you up directly.
Additionally, infrared saunas are quicker to heat up for a faster and more enjoyable sweat, while they don’t get as hot as traditional saunas — up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit vs. up to 210 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively.
What are the Electrical Requirements for a Home Sauna?
It’s important that your home is up to building code before purchasing a home sauna. It’s better to discover problems with your electrical work before installing a home sauna than afterward. Once you know that your home is safe and operates properly, you’ll need up to 240-volts depending on the type of home sauna you purchase.
For example: Smaller indoor infrared saunas require 120-volts, while larger traditional saunas typically take 240-volts of power. Consult an electrician and your sauna retailer for the exact amount power required for your home and home sauna model.
Where Can I Install a Home Sauna on My Property?
Although you may have a lot of space in your home, you just can’t place a home sauna anywhere. You have to consider proper ventilation for airflow, level flooring, access to power and local property and zoning laws.
For an indoor sauna, places in your home that may be adequate, include basements, bathrooms, garages or even a spare room. For outdoor saunas, backyards, patios or decks.
How Much Space Do I Need in My Home for a Sauna?
Having more than enough space in your home is key to owning a home sauna. It’s recommended that you have at least between 16-50 square feet of free space available. This is so you’ll have enough space for installation, electrical work and to move freely and comfortably in-and-out of your home sauna. If you’re considering an indoor sauna, you’d have to also think about clearance space from room-to-room upon delivery.
For models that are made for two people, go with between 16-25 square feet, while models that are designed for five persons, go with 30-50 square feet.
How Much Should I Spend on a Home Sauna?
It really depends on your budget. For a high quality, home sauna, you’d typically want to spend between $2,500-$7,000, depending on model and brand. However, premium and luxury home saunas can go upwards of $20,000-$50,000. On the low end, sauna blankets are priced around $500-$700, and sometimes even cheaper.
Some sauna retailers advertise HSA/FSA eligibility, but shoppers should not assume every home sauna qualifies. Eligibility can depend on the plan, documentation, and whether the purchase is considered a qualified medical expense, so confirm with your HSA/FSA administrator before buying.
