Infrared vs Traditional vs Steam Sauna: Full Comparison

There are three main types of saunas: infrared, traditional dry, and steam. They differ in how they heat you, how hot they run, what they cost to buy and operate, and how a session feels. This comparison breaks down all three so you can pick the right type the first time.

Infrared saunas heat your body directly with infrared panels at 120 to 140F air temperature, plug into normal outlets, and cost the least to buy and run. Traditional saunas heat the air to 150 to 195F with an electric or wood fired heater and sauna stones, deliver the classic intense heat and loyly steam when water hits the stones, and need 240V wiring. Steam rooms run cooler at 110 to 120F but at near 100 percent humidity, require plumbing and a sealed enclosure, and cost the most to build and maintain. For most US homes the practical choice is infrared for easy install and longer gentler sessions, traditional for authentic high heat, or a hybrid cabin that switches between both. Steam makes sense mainly in custom bathroom builds.

How each sauna type works

Infrared saunas use carbon or ceramic panels that emit far infrared light, warming your body directly rather than the air. You sweat hard at a much lower air temperature, sessions run 30 to 40 minutes, and the cabin is ready in 10 to 15 minutes.

Traditional saunas use an electric heater or wood stove topped with sauna stones to heat the air itself. Ladling water over the stones produces the burst of humid heat Finns call loyly. Sessions are shorter and more intense, typically 10 to 15 minutes, with heat up around 30 to 45 minutes.

Steam rooms use a steam generator to fill a sealed, tiled enclosure with vapor at near total humidity. The air reads cooler, but the moisture makes it feel heavy and hot. They require plumbing, a floor drain, and professional construction.

Infrared vs traditional vs steam: comparison table

Which type of sauna should you buy?

Choose infrared if you want the lowest cost of entry, an easy DIY install, longer comfortable sessions, or apartment friendly power needs. Browse infrared saunas for sale to see the range from one person cabins to family rooms.

Choose traditional if you want authentic Finnish heat, the steam burst from stones, and outdoor formats like barrel cabins. Our traditional sauna collection covers electric and wood fired options.

Choose steam if you love wet heat and are already doing a custom bathroom renovation with plumbing in the walls. For a freestanding alternative without construction, see steam sauna options.

Cannot decide between infrared and traditional? A hybrid cabin contains both heater systems in one room, so you can run a gentle infrared evening session and a hot traditional weekend session. Shop hybrid saunas or read the full hybrid vs infrared vs traditional comparison.

Do the health benefits differ by sauna type?

The strongest research base, including the long running Finnish cohort studies reviewed in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, was built on traditional saunas, and it links regular use to cardiovascular and stress benefits. Infrared research is younger but points the same direction, and the shared mechanism is simple: regular passive heat exposure that raises core temperature and heart rate. Pick the type you will use 3 or more times a week; consistency drives the benefit, not the heater technology. People with cardiovascular conditions should check with a clinician before starting any sauna practice.

FAQ

What are the three main types of saunas? Infrared saunas that heat the body directly at 120 to 140F, traditional dry saunas that heat the air to 150 to 195F with a stone topped heater, and steam rooms that run near 100 percent humidity at 110 to 120F.

Which type of sauna is cheapest to run? Infrared. Its lower operating temperature and direct body heating typically cost half to a third as much per session as a traditional electric heater, and far less than a steam generator.

Is a steam room or sauna better for your skin? Both increase circulation and sweating. Steam adds surface hydration during the session, while sauna heat drives a deeper sweat. Neither is clearly superior; comfort and consistency matter more.

Start with the type that fits your space and power, then size the cabin with our sauna buying guide. Every sauna ships free in the US from an authorized retailer with financing and HSA/FSA options available.