How much does a sauna cost to run?
A 6 kW traditional sauna that heats for an hour and is used for 45 minutes takes about 8 kWh, or roughly $1.50 at the US average electricity price of 18.16 cents per kWh. A small infrared cabin costs well under a dollar per session. Put in your own heater size, habits and price below.
Sauna running cost calculator
Assumes the heater runs at full power while heating up and about half the time once the sauna is hot, as the thermostat cycles on and off. Your real use depends on insulation, outdoor temperature and the heater. The default price is the US residential average (EIA, August 2026).
How the calculation works
Power use in kWh is the heater's power in kW multiplied by the hours it is on. A sauna heater runs flat out while the room heats up. Once it reaches temperature, the thermostat switches it on and off, so the calculator assumes it runs about half the time while you are inside. That share is our assumption, not a maker's figure, and a well-insulated sauna in a warm room will use less.
The default electricity price is the US average for homes, 18.16 cents per kWh in August 2026 (preliminary), from the US Energy Information Administration's Electric Power Monthly, table 5.3. Your bill shows your own rate, which can be much higher or lower depending on the state and the plan.
Worked examples at 18.16 cents per kWh
| Sauna | Heater | Heat-up | Time inside | Energy | Cost per session | Three sessions a week, per month | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 4-person indoor or barrel | 6 kW | 60 min | 45 min | 8.25 kWh | $1.50 | $19.50 | | 2-person infrared cabin | 1.88 kW | 45 min | 40 min | 2.04 kWh | $0.37 | $4.80 | | Infrared blanket | 0.42 kW | 10 min | 40 min | 0.35 kWh | $0.06 | $0.80 |
The heat-up times follow the makers: about an hour for a 6 kW Almost Heaven sauna, 45 to 60 minutes of pre-heat for a Sunlighten infrared cabin, and 10 to 15 minutes for an infrared blanket. The blanket figure assumes it runs at full power the whole time. (Almost Heaven, Sunlighten, Sun Home, HigherDOSE at Bluemercury)
Ways to use less power
- Cut the heat-up time. Start the heater on a timer so it is hot when you are ready, rather than leaving it on while you do other things.
- Pick the right heater size. A heater sized for the room heats it faster than an undersized one working at full power for longer. The maker lists the right size for each room.
- Keep the door shut and the vents as designed. Heat lost through an open door has to be made again.
- Cold climates cost more. An outdoor sauna in winter starts from a lower temperature and loses more heat through the walls.
If you only go once or twice a month, compare this with paying per visit in home sauna vs bathhouse visits.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a sauna use per session?
A 6 kW sauna that heats for an hour and is used for 45 minutes uses about 8 kWh by our estimate. A 2-person infrared cabin uses about 2 kWh, and an infrared blanket about 0.35 kWh.
How much does it cost to run a sauna per month?
At the US average price of 18.16 cents per kWh, three sessions a week in a 6 kW sauna cost about $19.50 a month by this estimate, and in a small infrared cabin about $5 a month.
Do infrared saunas use less electricity than traditional saunas?
The 2-person infrared cabin we used as an example draws 1.88 kW, against 4.5 to 8 kW for most traditional heaters, so it uses much less power per session.