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Saunas should be a relaxing experience, but choosing the right type of heater? Not so much!
With plenty of heaters available these days, it can be confusing and stressful.
Fret not; we’re here to help. In this blog post, we’ll share our ultimate guide to choosing the right type of heater and thoroughly explain the pros and cons of each one.
From cost, maintenance, heat distribution, aesthetics, installation, and efficiency, everything will be discussed. Read on and find out which type is the best for you!
Key Takeaways
Choosing the right type of sauna heater depends on your purpose, budget, location, room size, and preferred aesthetics
electric sauna heater is best suited for small and compact indoor saunas in urban areas
wood-burning sauna heater is best suited for traditional sauna enthusiasts and outdoor saunas
Infrared sauna heater are best for those who prefer lower ambient temperature and modern technology
gas sauna heater is best for communal or larger saunas
Steam sauna heaters are best for public saunas such as gyms and spas
Why the Right Types of Sauna Heaters Are Important
Electric Sauna Heater
Choosing the right type of heater is maybe the most important factor when setting up your sauna. It affects your whole sauna experience in terms of comfort, aesthetics, efficiency, and cost.
You also need to match your current condition with the types of heater you need. For example, getting a wood-burning heater is not a good idea when you can’t install a chimney.
The purpose of your sauna also matters. Are you going to use it for commercial or personal purposes? Some sauna heaters are better suited for smaller rooms, while others can heat a larger room faster and are great for communal saunas.
Nevertheless, prepare and plan your requirements before choosing the type of heater you want. Then go through our list and find the best option for you!
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Sauna Heater
Before you get to know each type of heater, let’s get you to decide on the kind of sauna experience you want. Here are some factors you need to consider:
Heater Output and Sauna Size: Find out the volume of your sauna room and its purpose. Are you building it for personal use or is it a communal space?
Budget Considerations: Prepare your budget for the sauna. In addition to purchasing your heater, you’ll need to spend money on installation and operating it.
Ventilation and Safety Requirements: Take into account how much ventilation is available in your sauna room. Wood-burning and gas heaters require more ventilation, while electric and infrared don’t.
Ease of Use and Maintenance: How much effort are you willing to give? In terms of use and maintenance, modern electric and infrared heaters are low maintenance, while wood-burning heaters require frequent cleaning.
Aesthetics and ambiance: Do you want a sleek, state-of-the-art modern heater or something more traditional with a crackling fire?
Regulations: Check your local regulations and code, especially if you’re installing a chimney or gas line for outdoor saunas.
Types of Sauna Heaters
Now that you already have your priorities, we’ll check out each type of sauna heater and get to know them better in this section. You can also find a compiled version in the table below, where we compare similar capacity heaters that you can use for a small to medium sauna room (212 to 494 cu ft).
Electric (Huum Drop) | Wood Burning (Huum Hive Flow) | Infrared (Northern Lights 300 watt panel) | Gas (TS-60F) | Steam (Harvia HGD90XW) | |
Power | 9 kW | 8.5 kW | 16 Panels | 60,000 BTU (eq. 9 kW) | 9 kW |
Price | US$ 3,011.25 | US$ 2,472.75 | US$ 3,200 | US$ 3,359 | US$ 1,700 |
Setup Requirements | Electricity connection | Wood supply, exhaust | Electricity connection | Gas connection or LPG tank, exhaust | Electricity connection, exhaust |
Monthly costs | High | Low | Low | Low | Low |
Maintenance Level | Low | High | Low | Low | High |
Dry/Wet Sauna | Both | Both | Dry | Both | Wet |
Installation | Easy | Difficult | Easy | Difficult | Easy |
Smart controllers | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Offgrid suitability | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Electric Sauna Heaters
Best for | Small and compact indoor sauna rooms in urban areas |
Pros | Low maintenance Sleeker designs Convenient for urban areas with indoor saunas Easier to install Programmable timers and smart controls Suitable for dry or wet sauna |
Cons | High energy cost |
If you’re someone who wants to have an indoor personal sauna, electric heaters are the way to go. These compact heaters are easy to install, as you can simply plug them in yourself. They can heat smaller spaces quickly and provide convenience for urbanites.
They also come with smart controllers, which give you a more precise temperature compared to traditional types. You can also set your time and temperature before you start your session from your phone.
There’s also the convenience of choosing between a dry or wet sauna experience. If you’re looking for more humidity, you can opt to include steam in your sessions. If you don’t, you can ditch the steam feature and opt for a dry sauna experience.
One downside to the electric sauna is the cost to run it. That’s why we recommend electric heaters for smaller spaces, as it won’t be economically feasible for larger areas.
Product recommendation: Huum Drop Series 9 kW
Huum DROP Series Electric Sauna Heater - 9kW
$1,618.00
$2,022.50
The DROP electric sauna heater from HUUM is inspired by the purest element in nature – a drop of water. Its handsome and artistic rounded design compliments and softens the angular interior of a classic sauna, creating a more elegant… read more
Wood-Burning Sauna Heaters
Best for | Traditional sauna enthusiasts, outdoor and off-grid saunas |
Pros | No electricity needed Authentic, relaxing experience Low running cost Suitable for dry or wet sauna |
Cons | Needs regular cleaning Needs ventilation and a chimney |
A wood-burning heater is the perfect choice for traditional sauna enthusiasts or if you have an off-grid or outdoor sauna. The crackling wood and burning fire offer comfort for those wanting an authentic experience. They’re also much cheaper to run, as they don’t need electricity.
The downside of wood-burning heaters is they need extra effort to run and clean. You’ll have to start the fire and feed it every time you start your sauna session. You’ll also deal with debris, ash, and dirt after usage.
Wood-burning heaters have a more complicated installation because they require proper ventilation and chimneys for their fumes. Refrain from choosing this type if you don’t have the proper setup at your home.
Product recommendation: Huum Hive Flow Mini
HUUM Hive Flow Mini LS Wood Burning Sauna Stove
$2,054.00
$2,567.50
HUUM Hive Flow Mini LS Wood Burning Sauna Stove HUUM Hive Flow is the newest sauna heater on HUUMs collection. What’s unique about the HUUM Flow is its furnaces patent-pending design. The air Flows inside this heater in a unique… read more
Infrared Sauna Heaters
Best for | High-tech sauna enthusiasts who prefer low-temperature sessions |
Pros | More comfortable experience for longer sessions Low maintenance Eco-friendly Programmable features and smart controllers |
Cons | Less authentic experience No humidity |
High-tech enthusiasts would love the infrared sauna heaters. Unlike traditional or normal electric heaters, these heaters penetrate and warm your body directly through infrared heat. It’s suitable for those who prefer lower ambient temperature while still getting the benefit of sweating it out in the sauna.
Similar to electric sauna heaters, they’re easy to install and low maintenance. You can use controllers for convenient use, such as to set up temperature and time before starting your session. Compared to electric heaters, infrared ones are more energy-efficient to run.
The downsides of infrared heaters are the less authentic experience and no humidity. To those who want a steamy environment, the strictly dry infrared heaters might be a dealbreaker.
Product recommendation: Northern Lights Infrared 300 W Panels
Gas Sauna Heaters
Best for | Communal, larger saunas or mobile saunas |
Pros | Quick room heat-up Can evenly heat larger spaces More energy efficient Can be used for mobile or off-grid sauna Suitable for dry or wet sauna |
Cons | Installation is more complicated Needs ventilation |
Gas heaters are great for communal, larger spaces because they spread heat evenly in a short amount of time. They’re also much more energy efficient compared to electric heaters, thus cost less to run. Gas heaters can be used for mobile or off-grid saunas by utilizing LPG or propane tanks.
The downsides of gas heaters are their complicated installation and the need for ventilation. When you get a gas heater, you’ll need a gas supply, which requires a professional to ensure there are no leaks. That’s why setup costs for gas saunas may be higher than electric or infrared heaters.
Product recommendation: Torch TS-60F
Steam Sauna Heaters
Best for | Gyms, spas |
Pros | Helps congestion Improves skin condition Easy to install |
Cons | High maintenance and needs constant cleaning No option for a dry sauna |
If you’re someone who appreciates the spa-like experience, you might want to check out steam sauna heaters. Steam saunas use a steam generator that automatically generates steam in the room and heats the room. Usually equipped with an electric panel or controller, it’s relatively easy to install and use.
steam sauna is great for people with congestion issues, as the moisture and heat may help unblock sinuses. The warm condensation inside the steam sauna may also help improve skin conditions.
The downside to this type of heater is the high moisture content. It needs lots of ventilation and maintenance because the constantly wet surfaces are a notorious breeding ground for germs.
steam sauna is also less versatile than other types on this list because you don’t have the option to go for a dry sauna.
We don’t recommend installing a steam heater in your home sauna due to the high maintenance aspect. Instead, most steam heaters are used for communal services such as public gyms or spas.
Product recommendation: Harvia Steam Generator HGD90XW
Installing Your Sauna Heaters: Professional vs DIY Installation
You should also add installation costs to your total budget. Some heater types are easy to plug in, while others require expertise. Here’s a breakdown of each heater type:
Get professional help: Gas and wood-burning heaters. Gas heaters will need a gas line, while wood-burning heaters need chimney installations, both requiring a professional.
DIY installation: Electric, infrared, and steam. All you need to do for these heaters is choose a suitable electric power phase and voltage.
Shop the Best Sauna Heaters From Sauna Heater Supply
Now that you know which type of sauna heater is the best for you, it’s time you visit Sauna Heater Supply for the best choice of electric and wood-burning sauna heaters.
Our shop provides a wide range of sauna heaters, both for personal and commercial use. We also provide free consultation if you have any questions, so you can start your sauna journey right!
Final Take
Getting the right type of sauna heater will depend on several aspects, such as budget, purpose of use, room size, preferred aesthetics, and local regulations.
For those who prefer a more modern take, you can opt for electric or infrared sauna heaters. Wood-burning heaters are best suited for people who seek a traditional sauna experience. Lastly, gas and steam sauna heaters are more suitable for larger, public spaces.
