Sauna operating cost calculator
- 149 saunas, 11 brandsEvery spec linked to its source
- True cost, upfrontInstall and running costs
- Fit and wiring checkedCheck your space
A sauna's running cost comes down to three numbers: its rated power, how long the heater runs and what you pay for electricity. Pick a sauna, or type a wattage, and see a low, typical and high month.
Default rate: U.S. average residential price, 18.34¢ per kWh in June 2026, from the EIA Electric Power Monthly, table 5.3. Use the rate on your own bill for a better estimate.
How the scenarios work
The three scenarios are example usage patterns, not measurements. Low is 2 sessions a week, typical is 4 and high is 7. Each session's heater time includes warm-up: 30, 45 or 60 minutes for infrared, and 60, 75 or 90 minutes for traditional, which take longer to heat. Change the inputs to match how you'd actually use it.
Rated power vs actual draw
The rated wattage is the most the heater draws. Once a sauna reaches temperature, its thermostat cycles the heater on and off, so the actual average draw is lower. Makers don't publish how much lower, so we start at 100%, which gives a conservative upper estimate. If you know your sauna's real draw from a meter or your bill, lower the "share of time at full power" field.
Every sauna with published wattage
Typical use, at the default rate and full rated power. 41 of the 140 saunas we list don't publish wattage, so we can't estimate them. Choose "Another sauna" above and type a figure from the manual.
| Sauna | Type | Rated power | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SunRay Sedona 1-2 Person Infrared (HL100K) | Infrared | 1,290 W | $3 | $37 |
| Finnmark FD-1 Full Spectrum 1-Person | Infrared | 1,450 W | $3 | $41 |
| SunRay Sierra 2-Person Infrared (HL200K) | Infrared | 1,665 W | $4 | $48 |
| SunRay Evansport 2-Person Infrared (HL200K2) | Infrared | 1,665 W | $4 | $48 |
| Finnmark FD-7 Infrared Barrel | Infrared | 1,750 W | $4 | $50 |
| Finnmark FD-6 Infrared Barrel, Cedar | Infrared | 1,750 W | $4 | $50 |
| Finnmark FD-2 Full Spectrum | Infrared | 1,750 W | $4 | $50 |
| SunRay Burlington 2-Person Outdoor Infrared (200D3) | Infrared | 1,900 W | $5 | $54 |
| SunRay Savannah 3-Person Infrared (HL300K) | Infrared | 1,965 W | $5 | $56 |
| SunRay Aspen 3-Person Infrared (HL300K2) | Infrared | 1,965 W | $5 | $56 |
| SunRay Grandby 3-Person Outdoor Infrared (300D3) | Infrared | 2,100 W | $5 | $60 |
| SunRay Sequoia 4-Person Infrared (HL400K) | Infrared | 2,100 W | $5 | $60 |
| SunRay Roslyn 4-Person Infrared (HL400KS) | Infrared | 2,100 W | $5 | $60 |
| SunRay Bristol Bay 4-Person Corner Infrared (HL400KC) | Infrared | 2,100 W | $5 | $60 |
| SunRay Cayenne 4-Person Outdoor Infrared (400D3) | Infrared | 2,400 W | $6 | $69 |
| SunRay Logan 2-Person Outdoor Infrared (200D6) | Infrared | 2,800 W | $7 | $80 |
| Finnmark FD-3 Full Spectrum 4-Person | Infrared | 3,150 W | $8 | $90 |
| Finnmark FD-4 Trinity 2-Person Hybrid | Hybrid | 1,900 W | $8 | $91 |
| SunRay Baldwin HL200SN Indoor 2-Person | Traditional | 3,500 W | $14 | $167 |
| Auroom Cala Glass Mini 1-Person | Traditional | 3,500 W | $14 | $167 |
| SaunaLife CL3G 2-Person Outdoor Cube Kit | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| Finnmark FD-5 Trinity XL 4-Person Hybrid | Hybrid | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| Kohler C1 Indoor Sauna Kit, Scandinavian Spruce (2-Person) | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| Kohler C1 Indoor Sauna Kit, Graphite Grey (2-Person) | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Nook Indoor 2-Person | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| SunRay Aston 200TN Indoor 2-Person | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| SunRay Hampton 300TN Indoor 3-Person | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| SunRay Southport 300SN Indoor 3-Person | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| SunRay Westlake 300LX Indoor 3-Person | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| SunRay Rockledge 200LX Indoor 2-Person | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| SunRay Waverly 300D2 Outdoor 3-Person | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| SunRay Freeport 300D1 Outdoor 3-Person | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| SunRay Bristow 200D2 Outdoor 2-Person | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| SunRay Eagle 200D1 Outdoor 2-Person | Traditional | 4,500 W | $18 | $215 |
| SaunaLife E6 Ergo 3-Person Barrel Kit | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| SaunaLife E7 Ergo 4-Person Barrel Kit | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Golden Designs Soria 3-Person Hybrid (Indoor) | Hybrid | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Golden Designs Carinthia 3-Person Outdoor Hybrid | Hybrid | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Golden Designs Hanko 2-Person Traditional (Indoor) | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Golden Designs St. Moritz 2-Person Barrel | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| SaunaLife X2 2-Person Indoor Kit | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Loft Indoor 3-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Studio Indoor 4-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Granby Cabin 3-Person (CTC66W) | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Harmony Barrel 4-Person (CTC22W) | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| SunRay Aurora 300SH Barrel 4-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| SunRay Oasis 300SC Canopy Barrel 4-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| SunRay Galley 400SH Barrel 4-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| SunRay Charleston 400TN Indoor 4-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Auroom Cala Glass 2-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Auroom Mira S Outdoor Cabin 2-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Auroom Baia Indoor 2-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Golden Designs Sundsvall 2-Person Traditional (GDI-7289-02) | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| SunRay Denali 400D5 Outdoor 4-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Auroom Vulcana Indoor 2-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Auroom Baia Glass Indoor 2-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| SunRay Tiburon HL400SN Indoor 4-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| SunRay Seneca 300D5 Outdoor 3-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| SunRay Galaxie HL400LX Indoor 4-Person | Traditional | 6,000 W | $24 | $286 |
| Auroom Aura Outdoor 2-Person | Traditional | 7,500 W | $30 | $358 |
| Golden Designs Forssa 3-Person Traditional (Indoor) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Golden Designs Kuusamo 6-Person Traditional (Indoor) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Golden Designs Klosters 6-Person Barrel | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| SaunaLife G2 4-Person Outdoor Kit | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Georgian Cabin 6-Person (CTC88W) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Georgian Cabin with Changeroom (CTC88CW) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| True North 5-Person Outdoor Cabin | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Georgian Cabin with Porch (CTC88PW) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| SaunaLife EE8G 6-Person Glass-Front Barrel | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| SaunaLife CL5G Cube 4-Person | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| SaunaLife CL4G Cube 3-Person | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| SaunaLife GL4 4-Person Outdoor Kit | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| SaunaLife E8 Ergo Barrel 6-Person | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Elation Barrel 4-Person (CTC2424W) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| SaunaLife EE6G Glass-Front Barrel 4-Person | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Luna 4-Person (CTC22LU) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft MiniPOD 4-Person (CTC77MW) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Tranquility MP Barrel 6-Person (CTC2345MP) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Serenity MP Barrel 4-Person (CTC2245MP) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Tranquility Barrel 5-Person (CTC2345W) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Dundalk LeisureCraft Serenity Barrel 4-Person (CTC2245W) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| True North Quattro 5-Person Cedar Cabin | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| True North Schooner Barrel, 6 ft (4-Person) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| True North Large Pod 8 ft (8-Person) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| True North 8 ft Barrel (6-Person) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| True North 6 ft Barrel (4-Person) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| True North 10 ft Barrel (8-Person) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| True North 9 ft Barrel (8-Person) | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| SaunaLife G3 6-Person Outdoor Pod | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Auroom Libera Glass 2-Person | Traditional | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| Golden Designs Gargellen 5-Person Outdoor Hybrid (GDI-8025-01) | Hybrid | 8,000 W | $32 | $381 |
| SaunaLife GL6 6-Person Outdoor Kit | Traditional | 9,000 W | $36 | $429 |
| Kohler C2 Outdoor Sauna Kit, Douglas Fir (3-Person) | Traditional | 9,000 W | $36 | $429 |
| SaunaLife G11 8-Person with Changing Room | Traditional | 9,000 W | $36 | $429 |
| Kohler C2 Outdoor Sauna Kit, Weathered Grey Spruce (3-Person) | Traditional | 9,000 W | $36 | $429 |
| SaunaLife CL7G Cube 6-Person | Traditional | 10,500 W | $42 | $501 |
| SaunaLife G6 5-Person Outdoor Cabin (pre-assembled) | Traditional | 10,500 W | $42 | $501 |
| SaunaLife CL12GCP Cube 8-Person with Changeroom | Traditional | 10,500 W | $42 | $501 |
| Auroom Mira L Outdoor Cabin 5-Person | Traditional | 10,600 W | $42 | $505 |
Running cost is one part of the total. Our installation cost guide covers the setup, and our infrared vs traditional comparison explains why traditional saunas use more power. For the circuit each model needs, see our electrical guide. Low-wattage options are in our plug-in guide, and the best value by category is in our value guide.
See the five-year cost of ownership
True Cost combines the verified price, installation estimates and running cost for up to four saunas side by side.
Questions buyers ask
How much electricity does a sauna use?
As much as its rated wattage per hour at full power. The saunas we list publish ratings from 1,290 W to 10,600 W. A 6,000 W stove at full power uses 6 kWh an hour.
How much does it cost to run a sauna?
It depends on the sauna and your rate. At 18.34¢ per kWh and four sessions a week at full rated power, the saunas in our table run from $3 to $42 a month. Real costs should be lower because heaters cycle.
Do infrared saunas cost less to run?
Usually. Infrared saunas in our catalog are rated at a fraction of the power of traditional stoves, and need less warm-up time.
Why is my bill lower than the calculator?
Because heaters cycle off once the sauna is hot. The calculator starts at full rated power the whole time, which is a conservative upper estimate.
Related guides
Independent by design. We order saunas with our published method. Cedar Scout may earn a commission when you buy through affiliate links on this page. Commissions never change which saunas appear, their scores or their order. How we earn money.