Home sauna vs paying per visit
At the median price of about $45 for a sauna visit in the US cities we cover, a $4,700 barrel sauna pays for itself after roughly 110 visits, about two years of weekly use, before you count the cost of wiring it. Where visits are cheaper, or you only go now and then, paying per visit stays cheaper for much longer.
Break-even visits
We divide the list price of each sauna by what you save per session: the median price of one visit at the places we list, about $45, minus the electricity a home session uses at the US average price. Wiring, a base, delivery and upkeep are not included, so the real break-even point comes later.
| Home sauna | List price | Running cost per session | Visits to break even | At one visit a week | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Infrared blanket (Sun Home) | $499 | $0.06 | about 11 | about 3 months | | Barrel sauna, 2 people (Almost Heaven Salem) | $4,736 | $1.50 | about 109 | about 2 years | | Infrared cabin, 2 people (Sunlighten Amplify II) | $6,899 | $0.37 | about 155 | about 3 years | | Indoor sauna, 4 people (Almost Heaven Grayson) | $6,980 | $1.50 | about 160 | about 3 years |
Prices and sources are in how much a home sauna costs, and running costs in the running cost calculator. A sauna for four can also replace visits for several people in a household, which shortens the payback.
It is not only about money
A bathhouse gives you things a home sauna does not: a cold plunge or cold pool, a steam room, hot pools, aufguss sessions, a lounge and other people. A blanket is cheap, but it is a different experience from sitting in a hot room and throwing water on the stones. Many people do both: a home sauna for weekdays and a bathhouse trip for a long session.
What regular visits cost where you live
The table below uses our own price data: the median price of one visit at the places we list in each city. Memberships and class packs usually cost less per visit than these single-visit prices.
| City | Median visit | Weekly visits for a year | Three visits a week for a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $35 | $1,820 | $5,460 |
| Denver | $35 | $1,820 | $5,460 |
| Minneapolis | $38 | $1,976 | $5,928 |
| Milwaukee | $38 | $1,976 | $5,928 |
| Tampa | $38 | $1,976 | $5,928 |
| Salt Lake City | $39 | $2,028 | $6,084 |
| Indianapolis | $40 | $2,080 | $6,240 |
| Charlotte | $42 | $2,184 | $6,552 |
| San Francisco | $43 | $2,236 | $6,708 |
| Atlanta | $43 | $2,236 | $6,708 |
| Seattle | $45 | $2,340 | $7,020 |
| Detroit | $45 | $2,340 | $7,020 |
| Los Angeles | $50 | $2,600 | $7,800 |
| Boston | $59 | $3,068 | $9,204 |
| New York City | $60 | $3,120 | $9,360 |
| Chicago | $60 | $3,120 | $9,360 |
| Houston | $60 | $3,120 | $9,360 |
| Philadelphia | $65 | $3,380 | $10,140 |
| Washington, DC | $75 | $3,900 | $11,700 |
Median price of one visit at the places we list in each city, without memberships or packages, which usually cut the price per visit. How we collect prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to buy a home sauna or pay for sauna visits?
Over a few years, a home sauna is cheaper if you use it often. At about $45 a visit, a $4,736 barrel sauna equals about 109 visits before wiring costs, so it pays off after roughly two years of weekly use.
How much does a sauna membership cost compared with a home sauna?
Membership prices vary too much to compare in one figure, so we compare single visits. Use the table above for your city and divide a home sauna's price by what you would pay each month.