How does each type create heat?
Traditional (Finnish) saunas use an electric or wood-fired stove topped with stones. The stove heats the air, the air heats you, and ladling water onto the stones releases a wave of steam the Finns call löyly. Humidity rises and falls with each ladle, so you control the intensity.
Infrared saunas use carbon or ceramic panels that emit infrared heat, which warms your skin and body directly, a little like standing in sunshine on a cool day. The air around you stays much cooler, and the cabin stays dry.
Side-by-side comparison
| Traditional | Infrared | |
|---|---|---|
| Air temperature | About 70 to 90°C, higher for some | About 40 to 60°C |
| Steam | Yes, from water on the stones | No, dry heat |
| Warm-up time | Typically 30 to 60 minutes | Typically 10 to 20 minutes |
| Power | Most electric heaters need a dedicated hardwired circuit | Many 1 to 2 person models plug into a 10 amp outlet |
| Feel | Intense, enveloping, social | Gentle, longer sessions, quieter |
| Best placed | Outdoors or a well-ventilated indoor room | Indoors, spare rooms, apartments |
| EMF | Heater sits further from you | Panels close to the body, so ask for test reports |
Which suits your home?
- Apartment or spare room, no electrician: a 1 to 2 person infrared cabin that runs from a standard outlet.
- Backyard, you love steam: an outdoor traditional cabin or barrel sauna with an electric or wood-fired heater.
- Want both, budget allows: a hybrid cabin, or a traditional sauna paired with a cold plunge.
Not sure yet? Try both at a venue near you before you buy. Use the sauna finder to see which venues offer traditional, infrared or both.
Questions people ask
Is infrared or traditional sauna hotter?
Traditional saunas run much hotter air, usually around 70 to 90°C. Infrared saunas keep the air around 40 to 60°C and warm your body directly instead.
Can you pour water in an infrared sauna?
No. Infrared panels are not designed for water, and the steam ritual (löyly) only works on a traditional stove with stones.
Which is cheaper to run?
Infrared usually uses less power per session because the heaters are smaller and warm up faster. A traditional heater uses more but you get steam and higher heat. Running cost is roughly heater kW multiplied by hours used and your electricity price.
Do you need an electrician for a sauna?
Most traditional electric heaters need a licensed electrician to install a dedicated circuit. Many smaller infrared saunas plug into a standard 10 amp outlet, but check the model's rating.