Steam & Ice

How Much Does a Sauna Cost to Buy and Run?

A home sauna costs from about $4,500 for a 2-person outdoor barrel with a heater to $15,000 for a large outdoor infrared unit. On top of that you pay for a 240V circuit and a base, then electricity each time you use it.

By John Voll · Updated Oct 27, 2026 · We may earn a commission from links

Felt sauna hats hanging on hooks on a wooden wall
Photo: Al Butler on Unsplash

Buying the sauna

Prices on the makers' own stores on the day I checked:

  • 2-person outdoor barrel with a 6 kW heater: from $4,485 (Almost Heaven Salem).
  • 4-person outdoor barrel with heater: from about $6,060 on sale.
  • 6-person outdoor barrel with an 8 kW heater: from $8,932.
  • 2-person indoor infrared, 120V: from $6,199 (Sun Home Solstice 2).
  • 5-person outdoor infrared: $14,499.

Check what the price includes. Some makers sell the cabin and the heater separately. A Harvia KIP 6 kW heater package from Redwood Outdoors is $1,195 on its own, so a cabin that looks $1,000 cheaper may not be. The heater size calculator tells you which heater you need.

Costs that are not on the price tag

  • The circuit: a 240V run by an electrician. The price depends mostly on distance from the panel and permits, so get a quote before you buy. See the electrical guide.
  • The base: pavers on gravel, a concrete pad, or a deck that can take the weight. Free if you already have one.
  • Floor and accessories: a floor kit for a barrel starts around $459 at Almost Heaven. Accessories like a bucket and a thermometer are extra.
  • Assembly: your weekend, or a hired installer.
  • Freight: check at checkout; some makers include it and some do not.

Running costs

Electricity is the main running cost: heater kilowatts times hours on times your rate. A traditional sauna has to heat the room first. Almost Heaven says its 6-person barrel takes about an hour to reach 180°F on an 8 kW heater, so a 20-minute session can mean more than an hour of heater time.

Running cost calculator

Minutes = warm-up plus your session. Use the rate from your own electric bill; 17 cents is only a starting value.

Up to $1.28 a session, about $22 a month.

This is a ceiling: it assumes the heater draws full power the whole time. Once the room is hot, a thermostat cycles the heater off and on, so the real number is lower.

Infrared costs less per hour because the heater is smaller: the Solstice 2 is 2,006 watts against 6,000 for a typical traditional heater. A large outdoor infrared unit closes the gap; the 5-person Luminar is 7,200 watts.

For a backyard barrel, budget the sauna plus an electrician's quote and the base. Get the electrician's number first; it is the cost people most often underestimate.

Common questions

How much does a sauna cost?

On the makers' own stores in October 2026, a 2-person outdoor barrel with a 6 kW heater started at $4,485, a 4-person barrel at about $6,060 on sale, a 6-person barrel with an 8 kW heater at $8,932, and a 2-person indoor infrared cabin at $6,199. Add the electrician and the base.

How much does it cost to run a sauna?

Multiply the heater's kilowatts by the hours it is on and your electric rate. A 6 kW heater on for 75 minutes at 17 cents per kWh costs up to about $1.28 a session. That is a ceiling, because the thermostat cycles the heater once the room is hot.

Sources

  1. Almost Heaven, Salem 2 Person Barrel Sauna ($4,485 with 6 kW heater)
  2. Sun Home, Solstice 2-Person Infrared Sauna ($6,199, 120V, 2,006 W)
  3. Sun Home, Luminar 5-Person Outdoor Infrared Sauna (7,200 W)
  4. Redwood Outdoors, Harvia KIP 6kW Heater Package ($1,195)
  5. Almost Heaven, Barrel Sauna Floor Kit
  6. Almost Heaven, Princeton 6 Person Barrel Sauna (heat-up time)

Prices and specs are from each maker's own product page on the date shown next to them. Prices change; the store is always right and we may be out of date.

Related guides

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Costco sauna buying guide: what to check on any Costco sauna listing (heater, 240V circuit, base, returns) and what the same money buys direct.

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The best home saunas by budget, space and power: outdoor barrel, cabin, indoor and infrared picks, with maker prices and specs checked Oct 2026.

Infrared vs traditional

Infrared vs traditional sauna: temperature, wiring (120V vs 240V), steam and warm-up compared from maker specs, and which to buy for your room.

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Barrel sauna vs cabin vs cube: price, heat-up, floor and foundation for each outdoor sauna type, and which one to buy first.

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Sauna heater size calculator: enter room dimensions and glass to get the right kW, using Harvia's published room-volume ratings.

Sauna electrical

Sauna electrical requirements: 120V vs 240V, breaker and wire size for 6 and 8 kW heaters, and when a plug-in infrared sauna is enough.