How Much Does an Infrared Sauna Cost Per Session?

An infrared sauna session usually costs about 25 to 48 cents in electricity. Most 30 to 60 minute sessions draw roughly 1.5 to 2.4 kWh, and at the US average rate near 17 cents per kWh that lands well under fifty cents per use. Your wattage, session length, and local power price set the exact figure.

The short answer

To find the cost of an infrared sauna per session, you only need three numbers: the sauna's rated power in kilowatts, how long you run it in hours, and your electricity rate per kWh. Multiply them together. A common home cabin draws about 1.6 to 2.0 kW, a typical session runs 30 to 45 minutes, and the US average residential electricity rate is around 17 cents per kWh. That math produces roughly 25 to 48 cents for most sessions, and often less for a small one or two person unit on a moderate setting. Because infrared heats your body directly rather than warming the entire room, it uses far less energy than a traditional sauna and needs little preheating. Over a month of three to five sessions a week, most owners spend only single-digit dollars on electricity.

The formula, with a worked example

Cost per session equals sauna kilowatts times hours times your rate. Here is a real example: a 1.8 kW infrared cabin, run for 0.75 hours (45 minutes), at 17 cents per kWh.

1.8 kW x 0.75 h = 1.35 kWh. 1.35 kWh x $0.17 = about 23 cents per session.

Run that same cabin a full hour and you reach about 31 cents. Push the power to 2.4 kW for an hour and you are near 41 cents. None of these are large numbers, which is why running cost rarely changes a buying decision. The upfront price and the room you have matter far more. For that bigger picture, see our deeper breakdown of whether an infrared sauna is expensive to own and our monthly infrared sauna running cost guide.

Cost per session at different rates

Electricity prices vary widely by state, so the same sauna costs different amounts depending on where you live. The table below assumes a 1.8 kW cabin run for 45 minutes (1.35 kWh per session).

Electricity rate	Cost per 45-minute session	Roughly per month (4x/week)
$0.13 / kWh (low)	about $0.18	about $3
$0.17 / kWh (US average)	about $0.23	about $4
$0.25 / kWh (high)	about $0.34	about $6

These are estimates for planning, not exact figures. Check your latest utility bill for your own rate. The US Energy Information Administration publishes average state rates if you want a reference point.

Why infrared is so cheap to run

Infrared saunas convert electricity straight into radiant heat that warms you, not the air. They draw about 1 to 3 kWh per hour and reach a comfortable temperature quickly, so there is little wasted preheat. A traditional electric sauna heater often pulls 6 to 9 kWh per hour and needs a longer warmup to heat the whole room to 180 degrees or more. Per session, infrared commonly uses around 75 percent less electricity than a traditional room. If you are comparing formats on cost, browsing our infrared saunas alongside our traditional saunas shows the trade-offs in person.

What changes your per-session cost

• Rated wattage. Bigger cabins with more heaters draw more power. A one or two person unit costs less than a four person unit.
• Session length and temperature. Longer and hotter sessions use more kWh.
• Your electricity rate. This is the single biggest swing, since rates range from roughly 11 cents to over 30 cents per kWh across the country.
• Preheat habits. Infrared preheats fast, but leaving it running between sessions wastes energy.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run an infrared sauna per session? A 30 to 60 minute session draws about 1.5 to 2.4 kWh, which is roughly 25 to 48 cents at the US average rate near 17 cents per kWh. Smaller cabins on moderate settings cost less.

Is an infrared sauna cheaper to run than a traditional sauna? Yes. Infrared draws about 1 to 3 kWh per hour versus 6 to 9 kWh for a traditional electric heater, and it skips the long preheat, so per session it is far cheaper.

What uses the most electricity in an infrared sauna session? The heating elements during active use. Multiply the sauna's rated wattage by run time to get nearly the whole cost. Lights and fans are negligible.

Low running cost is one of the reasons a home infrared sauna pays off over years of use. When you are ready to compare sizes and power draw, explore our home infrared saunas. As an authorized retailer we offer free US shipping, financing, and HSA and FSA eligible options, and our team can help you pick a unit that fits your space and budget.