How much does a sauna cost to run? Electricity per hour
How much does a sauna cost to run?
At 26.32p per kWh1, a sauna heater running flat out costs about 79p an hour for a plug-in infrared, £1.58 for a 6 kW heater and £2.37 for a 9 kW heater. Those are the most each one can cost, because they assume full power for the whole time.
£0.79
per hour at full power
Plug-in infrared
3 kW at most
£1.58
per hour at full power
6 kW heater
Outdoor Living barrel and aluminium saunas
£2.37
per hour at full power
9 kW heater
Hekla Cubes
Cost = kilowatts × hours × your price per kWh.
Cost by sauna
Every figure is at full power, at Ofgem’s average rate of 26.32p per kWh.
| Sauna | Heater or power | Per hour | Per 30 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Living infrared, 13 amp socket (up to about 3 kW) | Plug-in infrared | £0.79 | £0.39 |
| Outdoor Living barrel, 4 person | 6 kW heater | £1.58 | £0.79 |
| Outdoor Living aluminium, 2 person | 6 kW heater | £1.58 | £0.79 |
| Hekla Cube 210, 4 person | 9 kW heater | £2.37 | £1.18 |
| Hekla Cube 250, 6 person | 9 kW heater | £2.37 | £1.18 |
The 6 kW and 9 kW sizes are the heaters listed on each product page. Ofgem’s rate is before VAT, so your bill may show a little more. See all indoor saunas or outdoor saunas.
Work out your own
Pick a heater, add the hours and type the price per kWh from your bill.
Questions about sauna running costs
Open a question to read the answer.
How much does a sauna cost to run per hour?
At Ofgem's average unit rate of 26.32p per kWh, a sauna heater running flat out costs about 79p an hour for a plug-in infrared sauna on a 13 amp socket (up to about 3 kW), £1.58 an hour for a 6 kW heater and £2.37 an hour for a 9 kW heater.
Is an infrared sauna cheaper to run?
The infrared saunas we sell plug into a 13 amp socket, which supplies up to about 3 kW. The heaters on our Outdoor Living barrel and aluminium saunas are 6 kW and the Hekla Cubes use 9 kW, so at full power they draw two and three times as much.
What unit rate should I use?
Use the pence per kWh on your own electricity bill. Ofgem's price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026 averages 26.32p per kWh before VAT, so your bill may show a little more. The calculator on this page lets you type your own rate.
What power supply does a sauna need?
The infrared sauna plugs into a standard 13 amp socket. The heater packages on the outdoor saunas are 6 kW and 9 kW, and each product page lists the supply for that model. Plan the power before the sauna arrives and ask a qualified electrician to check your supply.
Sources
- Ofgem, Changes to energy price cap between 1 October and 31 December 2026, published 26 August 2026.
Paul Margerison
Managing Director & Founder, Outdoor Living
Knowing the cost per session before you buy makes the choice easier. This guide gives you the sum and the figures so you can check it against your own electricity price.