Sauna Heater Guide: Electric vs Wood-Burning, With Prices
For most home saunas the right sauna heater is a 6 kW electric heater such as the Harvia KIP, about $1,200 to $1,300, on a 240V, 30-amp circuit. Bigger rooms need 8 kW or more, and wood-burning heaters suit off-grid or traditional builds.
By John Voll · Updated Oct 27, 2026 · We may earn a commission from links
Electric or wood-burning
Electric heaters are what most home saunas use. They heat on a timer or an app, need no chimney, and cost about $1,200 and up. They need a 240V circuit run by an electrician. Wood-burning heaters need no electricity, but they need a chimney and firewood, and in most places the building department will want to see the install. I'd buy electric unless the sauna is off-grid or you specifically want a wood fire.
Harvia electric heaters
Harvia makes the heaters most barrel and cabin makers ship with. The KIP is the basic wall-mounted model with dials on the heater. The Cilindro is a floor-standing column that holds more stones. The Virta adds app control through Harvia's Fenix controller.
| Model | Price | What the price buys | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvia KIP with dials (Almost Heaven) | $1,214 | 4.5 kW; 6 kW $1,254, 8 kW $1,317 | View |
| Harvia KIP 6 kW heater package (Redwood Outdoors) | $1,195 | Power: 240V, 30A breaker, #10 copper wire | View |
| Harvia KIP 8 kW heater package (Redwood Outdoors) | $1,495 | Power: 240V, 40A breaker, #8 copper wire | View |
| Harvia Cilindro (Almost Heaven) | $1,722 | 6 kW; 8 kW $1,814, 9 kW $1,920 | View |
| Harvia Virta smart heater kit (Almost Heaven) | $3,371 | 6 kW with Fenix control; up to $4,538 for 10.5 kW | View |
Lowest listed configuration on each maker's store, checked Oct 27, 2026.
Harvia rates the KIP60 (6 kW) for rooms of 177 to 283 cubic feet. To match a heater to your room, including extra for glass, use the heater size calculator.
Breaker and wire size
The bigger the heater, the bigger the circuit. From the makers' package listings: 6 kW needs a 30-amp breaker and #10 wire, 8 kW needs 40 amps and #8 wire, and 9 to 10.5 kW heaters need 50 amps. That jump can cost more than the heater price difference. The electrical guide covers the rest.
Homecraft H-Series 9 kW package (Redwood Outdoors)
$2,695
- Power
- 240V, 50A breaker, #8 copper wire, hard-wired
Harvia Virta Wi-Fi 10.5 kW package (Redwood Outdoors)
$3,495
- Power
- 240V, 50A breaker, #6 copper wire, hard-wired
Wood-burning heaters
Harvia's wood heaters are rated by room size like electric ones. The Legend 150 is rated for 211 to 459 cubic feet and holds up to 265 pounds of stones; the Pro 20 is rated for 282 to 706 cubic feet with 88 pounds of stones. Price the chimney kit with the heater. The M3 is $1,093 alone and $3,513 with its chimney kit.
| Model | Price | What the price buys | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvia M3 wood-burning heater (Almost Heaven) | $1,093 | heater only; $3,513 with chimney kit | View |
| Harvia Pro 20 kit with chimney (Almost Heaven) | $4,612 | Type: wood-burning | View |
| Harvia Legend 150 kit with chimney (Almost Heaven) | $5,308 | Type: wood-burning | View |
Lowest listed configuration on each maker's store, checked Oct 27, 2026.
Common questions
What size breaker does an electric sauna heater need?
Per the makers' package listings: a Harvia KIP 6 kW needs a 30-amp breaker and #10 copper wire, a KIP 8 kW needs 40 amps and #8 wire, and 9 to 10.5 kW heaters such as the Homecraft H-Series 9 kW or Harvia Virta 10.5 kW need a 50-amp breaker. All are 240V and hard-wired.
Sources
- Almost Heaven, Harvia KIP Heater w/ Dials (4.5, 6, 8 kW prices)
- Almost Heaven, Harvia Cilindro
- Almost Heaven, Harvia Virta Smart Heater Kit + Fenix
- Almost Heaven, Harvia M3 wood-burning heater
- Almost Heaven, Harvia Legend 150 Kit (211 to 459 ft³)
- Almost Heaven, Harvia Pro 20 Kit (282 to 706 ft³)
- Redwood Outdoors, Harvia KIP 6kW package (240V, 30A, #10)
- Redwood Outdoors, Harvia KIP 8kW package (240V, 40A, #8)
- Redwood Outdoors, Homecraft H-Series 9kW package (50A, #8)
- Redwood Outdoors, Harvia Virta Wi-Fi 10.5kW package (50A, #6)
- Harvia, KIP60 recommended room volume (177 to 283 ft³)
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.
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