Infrared vs traditional sauna: which should you buy?
The short answer
Infrared is cheaper to run (about €0.47 a session), warms up faster and often plugs into a normal socket, but it runs cooler, at about 43 to 57°C, with no steam. Traditional saunas reach about 66 to 91°C and give you steam, but cost about €2.54 to €3.81 a session and usually need their own circuit.
Side by side
| Infrared | Traditional | |
|---|---|---|
| How it heats | Panels warm your body directly | A heater warms the air and stones |
| Temperature | About 43 to 57°C | About 66 to 91°C |
| Warm-up | About 15 to 25 minutes | Usually 20 to 45 minutes |
| Steam (löyly) | No | Yes, pour water on the stones |
| Heater power | 1.4 to 3.4 kW | Often 4 to 9 kW |
| Running cost per session | €0.47 to €1.14 | €2.54 to €3.81 |
| Indoor price, listed in Ireland | €2,099 to €5,200 | €2,099 to €9,950 |
| Electrics | Many plug into a standard socket | Usually a dedicated circuit |
| Garden versions | Fewer, mostly small cabins | Barrels, cubes and cabins |
Temperatures from Cleveland Clinic. Running costs at 40.64c per kWh, with a 20-minute warm-up and 30-minute session for infrared, and a 40-minute warm-up and 45-minute session for traditional. See how we work out running costs.
Choose infrared if
- You want it indoors in a spare room, attic or garage, with no new wiring.
- Running costs matter. Daily use of a small cabin costs a few euro a week.
- You'll use it on weekday evenings, when a 15 to 25 minute warm-up suits better than 45.
- You find intense heat hard, or want longer, gentler sessions.
Choose traditional if
- You want the real sauna feel: high heat and steam from water on the stones.
- You want a garden sauna. Most barrels, cubes and outdoor cabins sold in Ireland are traditional.
- You'll share it. Traditional saunas for 4 to 8 people are common; large infrared cabins are rarer.
- You'd like a wood-burning stove, which only traditional saunas offer. See wood-fired vs electric.
Try before you buy
The two feel very different. If you've only used a traditional sauna at a gym or by the sea, book an infrared session somewhere first, and the other way round. Ask sellers about viewings: some, such as Sauna Ireland, offer them by appointment.
Common questions
Is infrared or traditional sauna better?
Neither is better for everyone. Infrared is cheaper to run, warms up faster and is easier to install indoors. Traditional is hotter, gives you steam, and is what most people mean by a sauna. If you have used a public sauna and loved it, try an infrared session before buying one.
Which is cheaper, infrared or traditional?
To buy, the cheapest of each are similar, from about €2,099. To run, infrared is several times cheaper: about €6.16 a month against €33 for a 6 kW traditional sauna, used three times a week.
How hot does an infrared sauna get?
About 43 to 57°C, against 66 to 91°C for a traditional sauna, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: infrared sauna benefits and temperatures
- Selectra: Irish electricity price index (October 2026)
- Clearlight Infrared Saunas Ireland: electricity costs of an infrared sauna
- Homesauna.ie: why choose an infrared sauna (power supply)
- Haven of Heat: Harvia sauna heater buyer's guide (sizing and heat-up)
- Sauna Ireland: sauna range and prices
- Aquasun: indoor and outdoor saunas
- Homesauna.ie: infrared saunas
More in choosing a sauna
New to this? Read buying a home sauna, step by step.
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