How to Choose a Home Sauna: Power, Space, Heat and Total Cost

Last updated October 2026 by the Forward Furniture team

Most sauna buying guides start with wood types and heater brands. For a home in Canada, three plain questions decide it faster: what power you have, where the sauna will stand, and how hot you want it. Get those right and the rest is taste.

This guide uses the real specs of the three saunas we sell, from the maker's data on each product page, so every number below is one you can check. Prices start at $1,899.99 for the 1 person Haven Heat infrared sauna and run to $7,499.99 for the 8 person Aurora Panorama barrel. You can see the full range in our sauna collection.

In this guide

• What should you look for in a home sauna?
• Infrared or traditional?
• What power does a home sauna need?
• How much space does a home sauna need?
• Can a sauna go outside in winter?
• What does a home sauna cost in total?
• What does the research say?
• Which home sauna is right for you?
• Questions

What Should You Look for in a Home Sauna?

Run through this list before you look at a single photo. Each point rules some saunas out, and it is cheaper to find that out now than after delivery.

1. Power: a standard 110V outlet, a dedicated circuit, or a 240V line from an electrician.
2. Location: indoors, a covered patio, or open yard. This decides the sauna type.
3. Footprint and height: floor area plus room for the door to swing, and ceiling height for indoor models.
4. Heat style: gentle infrared warmth or hot, steamy traditional heat.
5. Seats: how many people will use it at once, not how many live in the house.
6. Total cost: price, delivery, electrical work and a base if it goes outside.
7. Warranty and support: what is covered, for how long, and who you call.

Infrared or Traditional: What Is the Best Type of Sauna for Home Use?

An infrared sauna warms your body with heat panels, so the air stays cooler and the cabin heats quickly. A traditional sauna heats the air with an electric stove and rocks. You can pour water on the rocks for a burst of steam, called löyly in Finnish.

Neither is better for everyone. Infrared suits small indoor spaces and daily 20 minute sessions. Traditional suits people who want real heat and steam, and who have a yard and a 240V line. Here is how the saunas we sell compare.

Specs from the maker's data on each product page, prices from our catalogue, both read October 1, 2026. The 240V line is our electrical note for a 6 kW heater (see the power section), not a maker figure.

If you are torn, power usually settles it: with no way to run a 240V line, choose infrared. Our Haven Heat infrared sauna page has the full spec sheet.

What Power Does a Home Sauna Need?

Power is the first thing to check, because it can rule a sauna out before anything else. A typical Canadian household circuit is 15 amps at about 120 volts, which tops out near 1,800 watts. That is enough for a small infrared sauna and nowhere near enough for a traditional heater.

• Haven Heat 1 and 2 person: plug into a standard 110V household outlet. No electrician needed. Use an outlet with nothing else heavy on the same circuit.
• Haven Heat 3 person: best on a dedicated 20 amp circuit, per our product page.
• Barrel saunas with a 6 kW heater: 6,000 watts at 120 volts would need 50 amps, which no household outlet supplies. At 240 volts it is 25 amps. Plan on a licensed electrician running a 240V line and hardwiring the heater.

Ask your electrician for a quote before you order a barrel sauna. The distance from your panel to the sauna, and whether your panel has room for a new breaker, drive that cost far more than the sauna does.

Running cost is simple math: heater kilowatts times hours times your power rate. A 6 kW heater at full power uses at most 6 kWh in an hour, so at an example rate of 12 cents per kWh that is about 72 cents. It uses less once it reaches temperature and the thermostat cycles.

A plug-in infrared sauna can never draw more than its 1,800 watt circuit allows. For a similar breakdown on another appliance, see how much electricity a massage chair uses.

How Much Space Does a Home Sauna Need?

Measure the floor, the ceiling and the path in. Every Haven Heat size is 75 inches tall, so a standard 8 foot ceiling leaves plenty of room. The barrels need open yard space plus a couple of feet on the door side for the glass door to swing.

Footprints from the maker's dimensions on each product page. Floor area is our own math. Add door swing and walking room on top.

An indoor sauna arrives as flat panels that you put together where it will stand, so you never need to carry a finished cabin through a door. Still, check that the longest panel will turn the corners on your stairs. A level, hard floor is best. Avoid thick carpet under the base.

If you are fitting a sauna into a room that already holds other wellness gear, the planning is similar to a big recliner. Our guide on where to put a massage chair in your house covers outlets, clearance and floor protection.

Can You Put a Sauna Outside in a Canadian Winter?

Yes, if it is built for it. Our barrel saunas are outdoor saunas with an asphalt shingle roof, a covered front porch and stainless steel hoops that hold the barrel tight, and the maker describes them as built for Canadian winters. The barrel shape also means less air to heat.

• Set the barrel on a level, well drained base such as a concrete pad, pavers or compacted gravel.
• Keep a clear path to the door that you can shovel.
• Plan the power line from the house before the ground freezes.
• Check local bylaws and setbacks for outdoor structures before you order.

An infrared sauna is a different story. The Haven Heat is made for indoor use. You can set it up in a covered outdoor space, but our product page notes it will not get as hot there, so we recommend a room inside the house, a finished basement or a heated garage.

How Much Does a Home Sauna Cost in Total?

The sticker price is only part of it. Add delivery, any electrical work and, for an outdoor sauna, a base. Here is the delivered price for each sauna we carry, before tax and before an electrician.

Prices from our catalogue, read October 1, 2026. Haven Heat delivery has no charge to Canadian addresses; other items ship for $49 to $249 depending on your order total. Electrical and base costs vary by home: get local quotes.

Financing can spread the cost. We offer 0% interest financing online, so a sauna can be paid over 12 months instead of all at once (see financing). Every sauna also comes with our 3-year warranty, and the Haven Heat warranty covers the heaters and the electrical parts. Our claims and warranty page explains how to make a claim.

What Does the Research Say About Regular Sauna Use?

The best known study followed 2,315 middle-aged men in eastern Finland for a median of 20.7 years. Men who used a sauna 4 to 7 times a week had a lower rate of fatal heart disease and death from any cause than men who went once a week (Laukkanen et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2015).

Two cautions keep this honest. It was an observational study, so it shows a link, not proof that saunas cause the benefit. And it studied traditional Finnish saunas, not infrared cabins. What it does suggest is that frequency matters, so choose a sauna you will actually use several times a week.

Talk to your doctor first if you are pregnant, have a heart condition or low blood pressure, or take medication that affects how you handle heat. Drink water, start with short sessions, and get out if you feel dizzy.

A sauna is one part of recovering at home. Browse our wellness and recovery picks, or read about the health benefits of a massage chair if muscle tension is your main reason to buy.

The Home Saunas We Carry

Prices are read from our catalogue on the day this guide was updated.

Haven Heat Infrared Sauna, 1 Person
1 Person $1,899.99

Plugs into a 110V outlet. 35 x 35 in, about 15 minutes to heat.

Haven Heat Infrared Sauna, 2 Person
2 Person $2,699.99

Plugs into a 110V outlet. 47 x 41 in, room for two side by side.

Nordic Porch Barrel Sauna
$4,999.99

Outdoor, 4 to 6 people. 6 kW heater with rocks, covered porch.

Aurora Panorama Barrel Sauna
$7,499.99

Outdoor, 6 to 8 people. Full glass end wall for the view.

Which Home Sauna Is Right for You?

• Condo, apartment or rental: the Haven Heat 1 Person at $1,899.99. It plugs in and needs no new wiring.
• A couple who want daily sessions indoors: the Haven Heat 2 Person at $2,699.99. It still runs on a standard outlet.
• A family, indoors: the Haven Heat 3 Person at $3,699.99, on a dedicated 20 amp circuit.
• A yard and a love of real heat and steam: the Nordic Porch Barrel Sauna at $4,999.99, for 4 to 6 people.
• Hosting, or a view worth framing: the Aurora Panorama Barrel Sauna at $7,499.99, for 6 to 8 people.

Home Sauna Buying: Common Questions

What is the best type of sauna to buy for home use?

For most homes, a plug-in infrared sauna is the easiest: it runs on a 110V outlet, fits indoors and heats in about 15 minutes. If you have a yard and want hot, steamy heat, a traditional barrel sauna is the better pick, but it needs a 240V line.

What is the 200 rule in a sauna?

It is a rule of thumb for traditional saunas: the temperature in Fahrenheit plus the relative humidity in percent should add up to about 200. At 180°F you would aim for about 20% humidity. It does not apply to infrared saunas, which run drier and cooler.

Can I plug a sauna into a regular outlet?

Some, yes. The Haven Heat 1 and 2 person plug into a standard 110V household outlet. The 3 person is best on a dedicated 20 amp circuit. A sauna with a 6 kW heater cannot run on a household outlet and needs a 240V line from an electrician.

How long does a home sauna take to heat up?

The Haven Heat infrared sauna takes about 15 minutes to reach 110 to 150°F. A traditional barrel sauna takes longer because it heats all the air in the cabin, so plan to switch it on before you get changed.

How long should a home sauna session be?

Our Haven Heat product page suggests sessions of 15 to 30 minutes. Start at the short end, drink water, and leave the sauna if you feel dizzy or unwell.

Find the Home Sauna That Fits Your Space