Heat · Instrument 05

Sauna Cost Calculator

"What will it do to my electric bill?" is the question that stalls every sauna purchase. Pick your sauna type, set your local rate, and get the real number — per session, per month, per year.

Running cost infrared · 4×/wk

US average ≈ 17¢/kWh. Check your bill — coastal states often run 25–40¢.

Per session
$0.30
Per month
$5
Per year
$63

Lower-cost ways to sweat

Running costs are only part of the picture. A sauna blanket draws far less power than a full cabin — here are the budget-friendly picks plus our top traditional sauna.

Best overall

HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket Top pick

HigherDOSE

The blanket that built the category, and one of the few publishing third-party EMF data — about 2 mG at the chest. Far-infrared up to 158°F with build quality that survives daily use. Roll it out on a bed, sweat 30–45 minutes, roll it up.

  • Far-infrared, up to 158°F
  • Low measured EMF (~2 mG)
  • 60-minute timer + auto shutoff
  • Waterproof, wipe-clean interior
Under $750 Check price on Amazon
Best value-premium

LifePro RejuvaWrap Infrared Sauna Blanket

LifePro

HigherDOSE-style detox without the HigherDOSE price. It actually runs hotter (up to 176°F versus 158°F), with lab-tested low EMF (1–2 mG) and a lifetime warranty. The pick when you want premium heat for value-tier money.

  • Carbon-fiber far-infrared, up to 176°F
  • Low EMF (1–2 mG), lab-tested
  • 9 heat levels, 71" × 36"
  • Waterproof interior, lifetime warranty
Under $500 Check price on Amazon
Best overall infrared

Maxxus 2-Person Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna Top pick

Dynamic Saunas

A two-person full-spectrum cabin (near, mid, and far infrared) in Canadian red cedar with near-zero EMF — under 2 mG. It delivers the deep feature set people pay five figures for, but installs indoors on a standard 110V outlet.

  • Full-spectrum infrared (near/mid/far)
  • Near-zero EMF — under 2 mG
  • Canadian red cedar, 2-person
  • Plugs into a standard 110V outlet
Under $5,000 Check price on Amazon

Where the watts actually go

For traditional saunas, the heat-up phase is most of the bill — a 6.5 kW heater running 30–40 minutes before you step in costs more than the session itself. Infrared cabins heat up in ~10 minutes and blankets skip warm-up entirely, which is why their per-session costs are pocket change. Running cost is a tiebreaker, though, not the decision: the real choice is heat style, and purchase price dwarfs electricity for years.

Frequently asked questions

How much electricity does a sauna use?

An infrared cabin draws 1.6–3.0 kW; a traditional electric heater draws 4.5–9 kW. A 30-minute infrared session uses roughly 1–1.5 kWh (about 15–25¢ at average US rates). A 45-minute traditional session including heat-up runs 6–9 kWh (about $1.00–1.50).

Does a sauna raise your electric bill a lot?

Less than most people fear. Even a daily 30-minute infrared habit adds roughly $5–10/month at average US rates. A frequently used traditional sauna adds $20–40/month — the heat-up phase, not the session itself, is most of the draw.

Are sauna blankets cheaper to run than cabins?

Yes — blankets draw around 0.5–0.7 kW, roughly a third of a small infrared cabin, and need no heat-up time. A session costs a few cents.

Shopping? Our home sauna rankings flag the real heater draw and temperature ceiling on every pick, and the cost guide covers purchase + install.