The best home saunas can provide a brief escape from everyday life and can make any staycation feel more indulgent. Having your own sauna lets you skip the trip to the spa, and your physical health may even get a boost. And there’s science behind that: According to the Mayo Clinic, studies have found benefits for people with high blood pressure, headaches, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions. But beware the inevitable pseudoscience that gets connected with saunas; for example, the claim that you’ll “sweat out toxins” is not just unproven, it’s a myth.
With eight far-infrared heaters and an ergonomic bench, the Sunlighten Signature I brings a luxury ... [+] sauna feel into your home.
To get the comfort of a sauna at home, you certainly don’t need to build a custom steam sauna. As Michael Clarke, founder of online home management platform Pulled, explains, store-bought infrared saunas are more versatile and affordable. Whereas “traditional steam saunas... need plumbing, drainage, ventilation and electrical connections,” says Clarke, “infrared saunas can be installed almost anywhere inside your home or outside under shelter.”
And if you want to invest in an infrared sauna, Clarke says that you have options when it comes to wood type (like basswood or cedar), heater type (carbon is better than ceramic, but pricier) and extra features. Add-ons can range from roof vents to Bluetooth.
Features that Clarke recommends prioritizing include choosing models with non-toxic materials, tempered safety glass, an auto shutdown mechanism and electrical certification. But be wary of pseudoscientific claims that have no bearing on quality or benefits. For example, many sauna product pages talk about EMF (electromagnetic field) and ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) radiation. The WHO states no evidence exists that low-level EMF is harmful, and OSHA notes the health effects of ELF are “very controversial.”)
We compiled our list of the best home saunas by considering construction, capacity, safety features and extras. Here are the best home saunas available right now.
Clarke’s top recommendation is the Signature I from Sunlighten, which he says is ideal for small spaces and features a premium sound system. “Not only is it lightweight and compact, but also durable and sustainable,” says Clarke.
Sunlighten offers two choices of wood for this sauna: eucalyptus and basswood. “Basswood makes a great choice for those who have allergies or sensitivities to other types of wood, and it’s free of odors, which helps to create a more pleasant sauna environment,” says Clarke. “Cedar has a strong scent, especially when heated, and an elegant finish, but it can be more expensive.” The company’s basswood is FSC-certified, which means that it comes from responsibly managed forests.
The outer dimensions are 37.8 x 39.8 x 77.7 inches, with a 28-inch door opening. The ergonomic bench, which has a rounded edge for comfort, measures 32.1 by 20.2 inches and stands 19.5 inches off the floor. The sauna is amply powered by eight FIR (far infrared) carbon heaters and has a programmable 24-hour timer that will have your sauna ready for you whenever you like.
While most saunas have either carbon (Clarke’s preference) or ceramic heaters, the Maxxus Lifesauna Aspen 2-Person Infrared Sauna has both. Especially welcome are the under-bench and feet heaters.
Made from Canadian hemlock wood and tempered safety glass, the sauna is designed to be easy to assemble—and customers confirm this is the case. It has a roof vent for fresh air, and its tech specs include two Bluetooth speakers for access to your favorite music or podcasts, a digital timer, interior and exterior touchscreen controls, an MP3 player aux connection (a blast from the past), and what Maxxus describes as a “mood lighting system.”
Maxxus offers a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty for this sauna model. The sauna has earned an impressive 4.9 rating from reviews, and one customer shared, “I couldn't be happier with this unit. It is roomy enough for two people—my husband and I have used it several times together, all heaters work perfectly, the chromotherapy [multicolor light therapy] is nice. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this sauna to anyone.”
The Majestic Hemlock Fir Wood 3-Person Sauna combines several features for extra comfort. The interior of the sauna boasts built-in recessed interior reading lights (no wrinkled pages in a steam-less sauna), extra deep benches with ample room for three people, comfort-fit backrests, towel hooks, eight-color lighting and vents in the ceiling and floor to boost air circulation.
Other features include interior and exterior LED control pads, exterior accent lights and a two-speaker sound system with FM radio, a CD player, and MP3 player aux connection.
Measuring 60 x 60 x 75 inches, the sauna is designed to conveniently fit into a corner of a room. It’s made with Grade A Hemlock wood with tongue and groove joints and tempered safety glass. Majestic says that its carbon heating panels emit very low EMF levels (though the actual value of that specification is questionable).
Majestic includes a respectable 7-year warranty on the wood structure, a 5-year warranty on the heating elements and electrical, and a 1-year warranty on the radio.
Customer reviews note that setup went smoothly; it’s also worth noting that customers point out that the sauna requires its own circuit (which is advisable for any major appliance).
This sauna’s interior is full of features to give users—up to five of them, in fact—a more pleasant place to spend time. Inside, you’ll find oversized bench seating, two cedar ergonomic backrests, two built-in speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, a radio and CD player, a reading light, remote-controlled LED accent lighting, eight-color light therapy and air vents for added circulation. The exterior features ambient lighting.
The sauna is made with Grade A reforested Canadian cedar, whose distinctive scent will attract some customers while putting off others. The construction combines the wood with tinted, tempered safety glass and commercial-grade heating panels (with ultra low EMF, if that is important to you). This sauna measures 73.62 x 58.25 x 76 inches.
Radiant Sauna provides a 7-year limited warranty that covers the wood structure, a 5-year limited warranty for the heating elements and electronics, and a 1-year limited warranty for the radio and CD player.
Reviewers report that the sauna is easy to set up and that it is “wonderful” and “works fantastic.”
California-based Dynamic Infrared designed this compact sauna for single-person use, meaning you get its six carbon heating panels all to yourself. This sauna measures 75 x 39 x 36 inches and the phone booth-like structure is constructed from reforested Canadian hemlock wood with tempered safety glass.
The Dynamic Infrared Barcelona Hemlock Infrared Sauna also features interior and exterior LED control panels, a remote control, LED lighting, an interior reading light, light therapy, a handy timer and a vent. The sound system has Bluetooth capability and two speakers with preamp; note that this sauna model doesn’t include a radio (likely not an important feature for most people).
The company provides customers with a 5-year limited warranty.
One of the customers who contributed to this sauna’s 4.9 rating had this to say: “We love our sauna. It’s very well made, easy to assemble and its a wonderful experience for home.” Another customer gave it this high praise: “One of my best purchases ever.”
With its rugged, cabin-like style, this outdoor sauna is in stark contrast to the modern look of most indoor infrared saunas.
Made from Canadian hemlock wood with tempered safety glass, it’s mildew-, UV- and rot-resistant, though it should be placed on a dry, level surface in your yard. (It also includes a protective cover.) Recommended operating conditions are 41 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit at a relative humidity below 85%.
This sauna’s features include seven ceramic heaters; recessed interior lighting; Bluetooth compatibility; a sound system with CD player, FM radio and MP3 player aux input; three movable ergonomic backrests; a vent and all-important cupholders.
The SunRay Saunas 3-Person Outdoor Infrared Sauna measures 83 x 72 x 47 inches and weighs 487 pounds—an acceptable weight for a deck. The company’s warranty covers seven years, aside from the heaters (18 months), workmanship (18 months), electrical components (18 months) and radio/CD player (12 months).
One customer had this to say: “I love this sauna. Fairly simple to put together as long as you have at least one other person to help. It gets really hot, and I’m someone who likes to crank up the heat so that’s nice. The radio works amazingly well. This sauna definitely surpassed my expectations.”
While some sauna companies overstate the potential effects of EMF exposure, it’s understandable that some customers prefer the peace of mind that accompanies an ultra-low-EMF sauna like the Radiant Sauna 2-Person Hemlock Infrared Sauna. It has six strategically placed carbon heaters.
This sauna is made from premium hemlock wood with tongue and groove joints, and has a scratch-resistant, tinted, tempered safety glass door. Exterior measurements are 47.25 x 39.25 x 75 inches, and the company estimates assembly at 30–45 minutes. Customers confirm the claims of easy setup.
The sauna boasts several features that add comfort, including an extra deep bench, backrests, a sound system with built-in speakers (with a radio, CD player and MP3 player aux connection), a seven-color light therapy system, reading lights, a magazine rack, a towel hook and adjustable roof vents for added circulation.
Radiant Sauna provides a 7-year limited warranty with 5 years on the heating and electronics and 1 year on the radio.
One of the many 5-star reviews noted, “We are absolutely thrilled with our radiant sauna. My husband is 6'5" tall with very long legs and he fits comfortably sitting towards the door and sideways both. It's pretty roomy for its overall size and quite sturdy. And it smells so good. We are extremely pleased with this purchase and would highly recommend this sauna to anyone.”