Infrared vs traditional sauna (2026): which one should you buy for home?

“Should I get an infrared or a traditional sauna?” is the first question almost everyone asks, and most answers online are written by someone selling one of them.

Here’s the practical comparison, with prices on Sun Home’s range — which sells both — and your price with our code WELLWORTHIT ($200 off).

The short answer

• Buy infrared if you want lower heat you can sit in longer, a simpler installation (often a standard outlet), and a lower price. From $4,799 with code.
• Buy traditional if you want real Finnish sauna: intense heat, steam from water on the stones, and the ritual. Budget for an electrician. From $11,799 with code.

Neither is clearly healthier. The one you’ll use four times a week is the right one.

Side by side

Heat: intensity vs duration

Traditional saunas are hotter. Sun Home’s Nova reaches 230°F. Pour water on the stones and the humidity spikes, which makes that heat feel even more intense. You control the experience with the ladle, and sessions are often shorter as a result.

Infrared runs cooler — Sun Home’s cabins top out at 165–170°F — because it warms your body directly rather than relying on hot air. Many people find it far easier to stay in for 30 or 40 minutes. If very hot air has always been uncomfortable for you, that’s a strong argument for infrared.

Steam is the defining difference

Löyly — the burst of steam when water hits hot stones — is the heart of Finnish bathing. It’s why a traditional sauna feels alive and changeable in a way an infrared cabin doesn’t.

If that’s what you’re after, infrared can’t give it to you. If you’ve never tried it, spend an hour in a gym or spa sauna before deciding. It’s the single most useful thing you can do before this purchase.

Installation and electrical

This is where the real cost difference often hides.

Infrared: Sun Home’s Solstice 1-Person, Equinox and Pod run on a dedicated 120V/20A circuit. Larger models need more — the Solstice 4-Person and both outdoor Luminars need 240V, and the Eclipse needs 30A.

Traditional: Sun Home’s Nova 3-Person needs a dedicated 240V/30A hardwired circuit, installed by a licensed electrician. It’s not optional, and depending on your panel it can be a simple job or a panel upgrade.

Get an electrician’s quote before choosing. It can change which option is actually cheaper for your house.

What the research says — carefully

The most cited sauna research comes from long-term studies of Finnish men using traditional saunas, which associate more frequent sauna bathing with better cardiovascular outcomes and lower mortality. It’s genuinely interesting — and observational, so it shows association, not cause. Frequent sauna users may differ in other ways.

Research on infrared saunas is smaller and shorter-term, with some encouraging findings on blood pressure, muscle soreness and relaxation.

What both reliably do is raise core temperature, relax muscles, and create a period of enforced stillness that many people find valuable for stress and sleep. Neither detoxes you — sweat is thermoregulation; your liver and kidneys handle clearance.

Heat isn’t appropriate for everyone. If you’re pregnant, have a heart condition or low blood pressure, or take medication affecting heat tolerance, speak to a doctor first. Hydrate, keep sessions reasonable, and never use a sauna after drinking.

Your price with code WELLWORTHIT

Infrared saunas

Traditional saunas

Prices checked on Sun Home’s site on 11 September 2026. The code applies on top of Sun Home’s sale pricing — we confirmed that in a live cart.

Our picks

Best infrared: Sun Home Equinox. Full-spectrum heat, 165°F, on a standard circuit. $5,899 with code for the 2-Person.

Best traditional: Sun Home Nova. 230°F, real löyly, Canadian cedar and dual-height benches. $11,799 with code.

Cheapest real cabin: Sun Home Solstice 1-Person. Far-infrared for one, $4,799 with code.

Still deciding between infrared models? Our Sun Home sauna comparison covers all five lines. Want cold as well as heat? See our Sun Home cold plunge comparison.

Save $200 on any Sun Home sauna with code WELLWORTHIT →

Ready to pick one? Our best home sauna guide covers seven options from $1,700.