Infrared vs Traditional Sauna: Which Is Right for Your Home?
Infrared warms you. A traditional sauna warms the air.
That one difference shapes everything else. An infrared sauna is gentler, ready in about 10 to 15 minutes and plugs into the wall. A traditional sauna runs hotter, gives you steam from the stones and is wired in on its own supply. Here is how to choose between them for your home.
How each one heats you
Infrared: warmth straight to your skin
Heat panels on the walls give off infrared radiation. It leaves the air fairly cool and warms the surfaces it reaches directly, including your skin.1 So the air stays mild while you warm up.
Traditional: hot air rolling round the room
A stove heats the air, the air heats the room, and the room warms you.1 Throw water on the hot stones and you get a wave of steam rolling round the room.
Warm-up time and power
Minutes to get going
Drawn to scale. The Hekla infrared saunas are ready in about 10 to 15 minutes.4 A traditional electric heater runs at full power for the first 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the sauna.5
Power it draws
Drawn to scale. The Hekla infrared saunas are rated at 1.5kW for one person and 2.4kW for two, and plug into a standard 13A socket, as do our Outdoor Living infrared saunas.4 Our traditional saunas take a 6 to 9kW Harvia heater, wired in on its own supply by a registered electrician who can certify the work.4, 7
Space, price and running cost
Which to choose
Choose infrared if you want
- A sauna indoors, in a spare room or home gym
- To plug it into the socket you already have
- A short session at the end of the day, ready in minutes
- Gentle, dry warmth at a lower temperature
Choose traditional if you want
- A garden sauna or a full indoor sauna room
- Steam from water on hot stones
- The heat turned right up for a classic Finnish sauna
- A sauna for the family, with room for up to six on the benches
Our saunas
See all our infrared saunas and home saunas, or start with one of each. You can try both in our Hull, Carlisle and Garforth showrooms.
Outdoor Living 2 person indoor infrared sauna
£1,199, free delivery
Carbon heat panels on the back wall, both sides and by your legs, a bench for two, Bluetooth music and soft lighting. It plugs into a standard household socket.4
Outdoor Living 4 person barrel sauna
From £3,498 with a Harvia heater
A classic round garden sauna in 38 mm spruce staves, with facing benches for four. The curved walls keep the hot air rolling around you.4
Infrared or traditional: your questions
Open a question to read the answer. For more on sizes and power, read our guide to choosing a home sauna.
Is an infrared sauna better than a traditional sauna?
Neither is better for everyone. An infrared sauna is gentler, warms up in about 10 to 15 minutes and plugs into a standard 13A socket on our Outdoor Living and Hekla models. A traditional sauna runs hotter, gives you steam from the stones and suits the classic Finnish sauna ritual.
Which is cheaper to run, infrared or traditional?
Infrared. The Hekla infrared saunas are rated at 1.5 to 2.4kW, about 40p to 63p an hour even at full power at 26.32p per kWh. A 6kW traditional heater uses about 7 to 9 kWh over a two-hour session, about £1.85 to £2.40.
How hot does an infrared sauna get?
Infrared saunas usually run at about 43 to 57°C. A traditional sauna runs from about 50 to 60°C for a soft, steamy session up to 80 to 100°C for hot and dry.
Can you put water on the stones in an infrared sauna?
Infrared saunas have heat panels rather than stones, so the warmth stays dry and gentle. If steam from water on hot stones is part of the sauna you want, choose a traditional sauna with a Harvia heater.
Do I need an electrician for a sauna?
Our Outdoor Living and Hekla infrared saunas plug into a standard 13A socket, so there is no electrician to book. A traditional sauna's 6 to 9kW heater is wired in on its own supply by a registered electrician who can certify the work.
Sources
- Harvia, Traditional sauna or infrared sauna?, accessed October 2026.
- Cleveland Clinic, 6 possible benefits of infrared saunas, 9 October 2026.
- Harvia, What is the correct sauna temperature?, Harvia support, accessed October 2026.
- Outdoor Living, product pages for the Outdoor Living 2 person infrared sauna, the Hekla Infrared 130, the Outdoor Living barrel sauna and the home saunas range, accessed October 2026.
- Harvia, FAQ about the energy consumption of sauna bathing, accessed October 2026.
- Ofgem, Changes to energy price cap between 1 October and 31 December 2026, 2026.
- Electrical Safety First, Part P of the Building Regulations explained, accessed October 2026.
Paul Margerison
Managing Director & Founder, Outdoor Living
The best sauna is the one that fits the way you will use it. Infrared and traditional each do that brilliantly for different homes.