Forget the wellness debate for a minute. The practical differences are heat, wiring, running cost and price, and they're easy to compare.
Traditional if you want very hot air and steam, and you can add a 240V circuit. Infrared if you want to plug it in, pay less to run it, and you're fine with gentler, drier heat. If you want traditional without rewiring, the Finnleo Hallmark HM44 is the one plug-in option we found.
From $5,299
6 kW Harvia heater included
Real high heat (up to 185°F) and steam, with a 6 kW heater included. Needs a 240V circuit.
Check price at Almost Heaven ↗$2,599 on sale (list $5,199)
Plugs into a standard outlet. About $0.21 a session to run, against up to $1.45 for a 6 kW traditional heater.
Check price at JNH Lifestyles ↗Buttons go to the seller's own page. We don't earn from them yet.
| Traditional | Infrared | |
|---|---|---|
| Air temperature | Up to 185°F (Almost Heaven Hillsboro) | 140–170°F where stated |
| Steam | Yes, pour water on the stones | No |
| Wiring | Usually 240V hardwired ($250–$900 electrician); Finnleo HM44 is the 120V exception | Mostly a 120V outlet, often a dedicated 20A one; some bigger 3–4 person cabins need 240V |
| Warm-up | 45–60 minutes (Almost Heaven, for its KIP heater) | Shorter; brands rarely state it. We assume about 15 minutes |
| Electricity per session | Up to about $1.45 (6 kW, incl. warm-up) | About $0.14–$0.33 (1–2.4 kW) |
| Price range we found (indoor) | $4,172–$9,999 | $999–$10,950, plus three on request |
| EMF claims | Not a talking point | Most brands make one; we report them as the brand's words, not tested |
Traditional saunas use an electric (or wood) heater with stones. The heater warms the air, and you can ladle water on the stones for a burst of steam. The 6 kW Harvia heaters on most of the saunas we compared need 240V and a 30A breaker.
Infrared saunas use panels that warm you more directly, so the air stays cooler. Brands sell "far", "near" and "full spectrum" panels. The 2-person cabins we compared draw 1.5–2.4 kW, which is why they can run on a 120V outlet.
At the US average of 18.16¢ per kWh (EIA, August 2026), here's the upper bound per session:
| Sauna | Heater | Electricity |
|---|---|---|
| Almost Heaven Hillsboro 2 Traditional, indoor | Harvia KIP 6 kW electric (included) | up to $1.45 a session about $226.64 a year at 3 a week |
| Finnleo Hallmark HM44 Traditional, indoor | Finnleo Piccolo Mini 1.7 kW electric (15A model; 20A model too) | up to $0.41 a session about $64.21 a year at 3 a week |
| JNH Lifestyles Tosi 2 (cedar) Infrared, indoor | Full spectrum (7 far/mid + 5 near infrared) | up to $0.21 a session about $32.72 a year at 3 a week |
| Sun Home Solstice 2 Infrared, indoor | Far infrared only (9 wall heaters, no floor heater) | up to $0.27 a session about $42.62 a year at 3 a week |
| Sunlighten mPulse Believe Infrared, indoor | Full spectrum (far, mid and near infrared + red LED) | up to $0.33 a session about $50.99 a year at 3 a week |
| SaunaSpace FireLight (Classic) Infrared, indoor | Near infrared (4 incandescent bulbs) in a canvas enclosure | up to $0.14 a session about $21.25 a year at 3 a week |
Rated watts × 1.33 h for traditional (60 min warm-up + 20 min use) or 0.75 h for infrared (15 min warm-up, our assumption, + 30 min use). Real costs are lower because heaters cycle off once at temperature. HomeGuide's own estimate is $0.25–$0.50 for a 20-minute indoor session.
We don't cover them. Brands make plenty, especially about infrared and EMF. We list each brand's EMF claim in its own words on the infrared page, but we haven't measured anything. If you have a health condition, ask your doctor before using any sauna.
Neither is better overall. Traditional saunas heat the air hot (up to 185°F on the Almost Heaven Hillsboro) and let you pour water for steam, but most need a 240V circuit. Infrared saunas run cooler (140–170°F where stated), mostly plug into a 120V outlet and cost less to run.
Infrared. A 2 kW infrared cabin costs about $0.27 a session at the US average electricity price; a 6 kW traditional heater up to about $1.45 including warm-up.
Usually no more than a dedicated 120V outlet. Some run on a standard 15A outlet, many 2-person cabins need a 20A outlet with a NEMA 5-20 plug, and three of the larger cabins we compared (Clearlight Sanctuary C, Peak Matterhorn, Sun Home Solstice 4) need 240V.
Rarely. The Finnleo Hallmark HM44 is the one we found: it uses a 1.7 kW heater on a 120V plug. Full-size traditional heaters (4.5–8 kW) need a hardwired 240V circuit.
Each opened on 2 November 2026. Prices change often, especially around sales.