Best Home Saunas of 2024, According to Experts

AT A GLANCE: The Best Home Saunas

We have spend countless hours of research, hands-on testing, and collaborating with metabolic and fitness experts to confidently select the best home saunas on the market in 2024. 

Before you crank up the heat, know that home saunas are a really big investment. But if you’re frequenting the sauna at your local health club, or just want to reap the relaxation benefits, you can’t beat the convenience of having one at home. That being said, these are our favorite home saunas available online that’ll make every day feel like a stress-easing retreat.

The Best Home Saunas

We’ve broken down the best saunas to buy for your home, considering comfort, design, ease of construction, and overall value. Here are our top picks.

1. Best Overall: Sun Home Saunas Equinox 2 Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna

 

Looking for the absolute best home sauna on the market? Go with the Equinox 2-Person, a full-spectrum infrared sauna from Sun Home Saunas packed with some pretty worthwhile extras (more than your average traditional sauna).

Unlike the industrial look of other infrared saunas, this one is made of hand-sanded, sustainably-sourced Eucalyptus that will elevate any space. What we like: it’s assembled with a patented “Magne-Seal” system, so not only is it durable, it requires zero screws or nails to assemble so you can get to relaxing faster. A Reservation mode also allows you to “preheat” the sauna so it’s ready to go whenever you want some primo relaxation.

Inside, there are six low EMF (electromagnetic field) infrared heating panels that emit precise dosages of healing wavelengths — infrared light directly heats your body instead of heating the air around you, so it’s also better if you want more of a dry heat than getting clamy in a steam room.

The best part? This sauna is tricked out with an audio system with both aux cord and Bluetooth connectivity to play your favorite tunes through built-in surround sound speakers. Overall, its chic and rustic aesthetic combined with modern features make the Equinox 2 break from tradition in the best way possible.

BUY ON SUN HOME SAUNAS

Promising Customer Feedback: “We recently purchased a Sun Home Equinox sauna for our garage gym and it has NOT disappointed! After the installation, we went straight to using the sauna and it is amazing. After using the sauna, I have had the best sleep this far. I feel really relaxed and my skin feels soft. If you’re in the market for a sauna that actually gets up there in heat temperature, makes your skin softer and MOST IMPORTANTLY improves your sleep..this product is for you! Plus the black sauna looks amazing in my garage.” —Elias M.

BEST AFFORDABLE: Almost Heaven Saunas Worthington 4-Person Indoor Traditional Steam Sauna

 

Admitely, this sauna used cheaper wood and low-output heaters (doesn't get very hot), but you can't beat the price. 

The setup and instillation are fairly straightforward, with a full-length top bench and L-extension long enough for you to stretch out and relax, or invite a few friends over. One downside? The sauna doesn’t actually come with a floor, with Almost Heaven Saunas recommending you place it on vinyl, ceramic, concrete, laminate, or tile. While this may limit your options for where you can set it up, or whether you want to add additional flooring, it does come with a lifetime limited warranty (plus a five-year warranty on the heater) to help protect your investment.

Once you set up the steam and heating elements, the steam can crank up to 195 degrees Fahrenheit at maximum temperature. Elegant and relaxing, the Worthington will complement any home looking to benefit from the traditional sauna experience.

Promising Customer Feedback: “Love, love, love, our sauna. It actually came damaged the first time, but customer service was amazing and shipped us a brand new one. It works great. We installed it in one long evening.” —Sara

 

BEST OUTDOOR: Sun Home Luminar Outdoor Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna

 

Made to be used in every season, this next-gen outdoor sauna will keep you sweating no matter what the temperature feels like outside. The Luminar is the only outdoor infrared sauna equipped with 15 high-output heaters (10 full spectrum and 5 FIR) strategically positioned around the cabin so you receive those warming wavelengths at all angles. The smart sauna is also constructed with heat-treated carbonized wood to maintain its temperature in most weather conditions. It also comes with a mobile-app enabled control center, Bluetooth sound, chromotherapy, and exterior LED lighting, if getting ripping hot wasn’t enough.

What we also like about this model is they use aerospace-grade aluminum for the exterior and a stainless steel roof for ultimate durability. This thing is tank compared to normal outdoor saunas. 

Promising Customer Feedback: “I have a friend in the NBA who got the Luminar before it was listed on the site and when I tried it at one of their houses I had to get it. Not only it is it the best infrared sauna I’ve ever been in but it looks absolutely stunning. The sound system bumps and the heaters are crazy powerful for infrared. This is the future of saunas.” —Phil G.

 

Golden Designs Sundsvall 2-Person Traditional Steam Sauna

 

Traditional home saunas like the Golden Designs Copenhagen are built to last, and with its superior build, this steam sauna that can be placed in almost any room of your home for a relaxing, invigorating escape.

It’s designed to be free-standing, with a slatted floor that lays on top of your existing home floor, so it’s really up to you where you want it to live in your house. Plus, to make sure this sauna heats up effectively for maximum performance, Golden Designs included a Sauna Core stove that’s manufactured with the strictest guidelines in Canada and certified by CSA.

While it’s a great choice on durability alone, there are a couple key features that also up the calming factor. You can also use the touch screen control panel to play with the built-in FM radio and Bluetooth connection for the performance speakers, so you can turn up those spa sounds (or turn up the bass). For a traditional steam sauna, the Copenhagen definitely punches above its weight.

Promising Customer Feedback: “I’ve been using this sauna for a year now quite regularly. It’s held up well. My sauna didn’t come with much of a ceiling so I built a cedar ceiling out of 4×4 inch cedar posts. The extra mass on the ceiling holds the temperature much better. Steam sauna’s make me feel like a brand new boy every time I finish.” —Bill

4. Dynamic Barcelona 1 to 2-Person Hemlock Wood Low EMF Infrared Sauna

 

 

If you’re looking to start your home sauna journey, but the sticker shock is what’s holding you back (believe us, we get it), then Dynamic Barcelona’s 1-2 Person Indoor Sauna is an affordable, entry-level pick that will still give you all the benefits at a lower price point.

Constructed from natural hemlock wood that is lightweight yet durable, you won’t struggle too much with this sauna’s simple clasp-together assembly compared to other models. The sauna features six carbon heating elements and a roof vent that’ll help provide safe heat and air circulation. If you’re worried about EMF (electrical magnetic field) exposure from infrared saunas, this low-EMF sauna can give you some peace of mind, too. Although this sauna does include an interior chromotherapy lighting (basically color therapy) so you can read inside or just enjoy a brighter sauna atmosphere.

While you won’t be able to invite your entire crew into this tight sauna, convenient features like an MP3 auxiliary connection and interior and exterior control panels make it perfect for enjoying by yourself or with another person.

Promising Customer Feedback: “The build quality is nicely done. Everything fits together as described. Aesthetically looks nice. The speakers inside and the different color lighting adds a little extra. The sauna heats up fairly quickly when set at 120. Between my wife and I, we’ve used it at least once a day. The Bluetooth speakers are really nice — just leave your phone outside of the sauna and it connects on the first try. We both have said we should have gotten it sooner. So far so good — I would recommend this for the price.” —Jim Hoefgen

5. Redwood Outdoors Cedar Barrel Sauna

 

 

Don’t have enough room in your home, but still want the quintessential sauna experience? Consider the Redwood Cedar Barrel Sauna, a six-person outdoor sauna made with the traditional Scandinavian design using 100% high-quality Canadian red cedar planks.

While it’s on the more expensive side, the round design of this home sauna adds an undeniably timeless, unique element to your backyard or patio, as well as giving you a relaxing outdoor oasis fit for an entire party. While the Redwood Cedar Barrel can heat up to 195 degrees Fahrenheit in under an hour, this sauna gives you maximum versatility in the form of dry or steam heat (including a wood-burning stove option for steam from. acrackling fire).

Its digital Wi-Fi heater can also be controlled via the wall pad mounted nearby your sauna, or from any smartphone or tablet. This allows you to pre-heat your sauna from anywhere — whether at the office or on the slopes. With few taps on your phone, your sauna will be ready when you get home, or early after you wake up the morning. A towel rack (included) is a great place to keep towels for drying off and cooling down between rounds.

While you’ll have to assemble this sauna yourself after delivery (which can be intimidating if your level of expertise is Ikea-based), the instructional video is helpful and easy to understand.

Promising Customer Feedback: “I purchased the six-person barrel sauna almost two years ago and absolutely love it! I’ve used it almost daily for two years and haven’t had any issues. The unit is reliable and assembly was super easy. It’s been a big hit amongst my friends too, and luckily the barrel design allows plenty if space for everyone without sacrificing heat efficiency. I highly recommend Redwood Outdoors to anyone considering purchasing an outdoor sauna!” —Garrett Forthuber

Home Sauna Buying Guide

Here’s what we consider when picking the saunas on our list, from size and material, to other important features when shopping for one:

Size: Saunas come in a range of sizes, from small, 1-2-person options to larger models that can accommodate up to 6-7 people. If you’re looking for a sauna that you can use on your own, a smaller size will likely suffice. However, if you plan on sharing the sauna with others, an outdoor model might be your best option.

Material: Home saunas are typically made from either wood or PVC. Wooden saunas are generally more durable and can provide a traditionally authentic sauna experience, but they’re heavier and difficult to set up, not to mention more expensive and not easily portable. PVC may be a more affordable option, but they may not last as long as wooden sauna models.

Heat: When it comes to heating, there are two main options: infrared saunas and traditional saunas. Infrared heaters raise the temperature inside and give off a dry heat, while traditional saunas use heat from a wood-burning stove or steam to warm the air. Infrared saunas tend to be more energy-efficient and can heat up more quickly than traditional saunas. Traditional saunas may take longer to heat up, but can provide a more authentic experience