A Wellness Guide to Sauna Types, Sauna Heaters & Which Is Right For You

Beginner's Guide to the Different Types of Saunas

Fun fact: "sauna" is the only Finnish word in the English dictionary. A sauna is defined as an enclosed area—most commonly a wood lined room—that uses a heater to create high temperatures of around 120-200 degrees Fahrenheit, along with moist heat (the humidity level will vary depending on the type of sauna room), to raise the body temperature so sauna users can experience an intense sweat.

However, "sauna" is truly more of an umbrella term that encapsulates several different types of saunas, here's a brief overview of each categorized by the different type of heat and sauna experience.

Traditional Finnish Sauna - Also known as a dry sauna, this is what comes to mind when you hear the term traditional sauna. Originating in Finland, sauna users bathe in high heat that's generated by either a wood stove or electric heater. Sauna goers can splash water on sauna rocks to create steam and very low humidity (around 5-20%)—this dry heat is why they're often referred to as a dry sauna.

Sauna purists will note that a true traditional Finnish sauna is called a savu sauna, which is a wood burning sauna, but taken to the next level. The Savu sauna lacks a chimney to ventilate smoke, so the room fills with smoke and is only ventilated after the fire burns out. This is said to create an intense heat that lasts longer and is more efficient. Also known as a smoke sauna, these intense wood burning saunas are not very popular in the US because of their inherent health risks, but you can still common in Finland today.

Infrared Saunas - Infrared saunas operate by using infrared light technology to heat your body directly rather than heat the air in the room like traditional saunas. An infrared sauna's heat is much lower than that of a traditional wood burning sauna, because it forgoes the electric sauna heater or wood burning stove and instead uses strategically-placed infrared heaters to create heat that emits healing infrared waves.

Many sauna users find the gentler heat and lower temperatures of an infrared sauna to be easier to tolerate; it's especially great for those who might experience negative side effects in the high heat. Infrared therapy has been shown to have health benefits that go beyond skin deep—rejuvenating the body on a cellular level that can help to alleviate joint pain, muscle pain, and promote stress relief.

Wet Saunas - A wet sauna is a similar to a dry sauna, the main difference being the amount of humidity which bathers intensify by pouring even more water over the warm stones to reach 60-100% humidity levels. These are also referred as steam saunas, but are not to be confused with steam rooms, which only release steam into the room rather than using a heater with rocks.

Both will give you a veritable steam bath, just in a slightly different way. During wet sauna sessions, the steam sauna will feel much hotter than it is, when it actuality, it will typically have a lower temperature of around 100-120 F.

The Different Types of Sauna Heaters

Sauna lovers know that heat is what defines a sauna, and the different sauna types are characterized by how and what type of heat is used to create the best type of sauna experience for you. To further understand how heat plays a role in the three main types of saunas, and to know which is best for you, here's a breakdown of the four different types of sauna heaters.

Wood Burning Stove

Wood burning saunas are a popular choice for those who want an all-natural sauna experience, outdoors. In comparison to the other heater types, wood fired saunas take longer to heat up, but create a soothing ambient heat and rich aroma that's worth the wait (the same can be said for wood fired hot tubs). Typically used in dry saunas, they require installing a chimney for ventilation, but other than that, are fairly low-cost and low-maintenance.

Electric Sauna Heaters

Electric saunas can be installed indoors or outside and relay on an electric sauna heater that heats up quickly and allows for much better temperature control than wood burning saunas. Electric heaters don't use up that much energy, so the operating cost stays fairly low, and must be installed a licensed electrician—something I talk about in my backyard sauna build. The biggest draw of electric saunas is getting to choose your desired temperature, and because you aren't waiting on a fire to build heat, more sauna time.

Infrared Sauna Heaters

These high-tech heaters harness the spectrum of far and near infrared wavelengths to generate heat that warms the body instead of the air around you. Infrared saunas have become increasingly desirable for the health benefits that don't just promote muscle recovery through sweating, but healing on a deeper level.

Since far infrared wavelengths have the most potential for healing, far infrared saunas are a popular choice for infrared sauna users. This, combined with the lower temperature, makes it the perfect sauna for someone who wants a gentler sauna experience. As an added bonus, the infrared sauna is a versatile option for a home sauna, because it can be installed indoors or outside.

Author Katherine Englishman with her backyard sauna

Indoor Sauna or Outdoor Sauna?

Depending on your available space, budget, and personal preference, home saunas can be installed both indoors or outside. Many companies sell sauna kits—like Redwood Outdoors, the maker of my outdoor mini-cube sauna—which arrived as precut pieces with all hardware included shipped directly to you, designed to be assembled in one day or less. Another option is to hire a professional to build a custom home sauna, or even DIY.

Speaking from personal experience, the amount of space will probably be the deciding factor here, but to help guide you in the right direction, below are some key considerations to help you choose indoor or outdoor sauna.

Indoor Sauna Considerations

Space - To install an indoor sauna, whether it's pre-fab or custom-built, you'll need the right amount of space for your sauna, including clearance for the door to open.

Ventilation and drainage - It is essential to make sure your space can properly ventilate heat and drain moisture (especially in a steam room!) when deciding between indoor or outdoor. Otherwise, mold and mildew will quickly accumulate and cause issues in the long term.

Vapor barrier and flooring - Talk to a professional to see if your indoor space has a vapor barrier to shield the rest of your home from the sauna's moist heat. Additionally, check to make sure your sauna either comes with flooring or needs to be installed directly on existing flooring, and whether or not it's compatible with the heat and humidity.

Electric hookups - Before buying, find out the voltage required from the heater and factor in any additional components such as lighting, sound, and digital controls, and check that your existing electric system can handle the amount.

Luckily, indoor saunas are pretty versatile. Some good options for enjoying a sauna session in the comfort of your own home include an infrared sauna, electric saunas, steam sauna, and even accessories like sauna blankets!

Outdoor Sauna Considerations

Foundation - A level surface with good drainage is key for the longevity of your al fresco sauna. When installing my backyard sauna, we leveled the area, put down pea gravel for drainage, and built a very simple foundation with wood from the hardware store.

Heat source - If you choose a wood burning stove, be sure to include a chimney for air flow and venting smoke. Beyond that, you won't need much. However, if you choose an electric heater, you'll have to factor in the electric hookup to your power source, and make sure it's compatible with your existing system, and for safety, hire a professional.

Weatherproofing - Even the best-made saunas need some shelter from the elements. Take it from me, it's not fun to sit in your sauna while rain trickles through the boards, or to risk additional wear and tear from weather exposure. Consider if you'd prefer to add a roofing material or build it under the cover a deck or exterior feature. To cover my backyard sauna, we added a slanted metal roof that fit the aesthetic and provides shelter from rain, snow, and pine tree sap.

Some options for outdoor saunas include the ever-popular barrel saunas, a panoramic sauna if you're building in a scenic area, a dome sauna that has a cabin shape with sloping roof and side walls, and a cube sauna, like my two-person backyard oasis! Additionally, you can find plenty of great outdoor infrared saunas and pair any of these with a cold water tub for a refreshing hot-cold experience.

The Best Types of Home Saunas and Choosing What's Best For You

Time to do a little soul searching and consider what you want in a sauna, then compare that against in all the information shared thus far. The best types of sauna is simply the one that fits your lifestyle, budget, and available space. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all home sauna, but for the sauna purists among us, the best option is a high-quality and well-made sauna.

This might mean making an investment, but if you ask me, cutting corners on saunas isn't only a waste of money, it can be dangerous to your health if it isn't made with the right materials; this puts you at risk of inhaling unsafe chemicals in high heat, which cancels out all the health benefits a sauna session can offer!

For buying guides and even more details on each kind of sauna, check out our guide to home saunas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of sauna is the best?

It depends on what type of sauna is best for you. Factor in your lifestyle and wellness goals, budget, available space, and what sauna type and heat quality makes you feel the best.

How many kinds of saunas are there?

Categorically, there are three different types of saunas: wet saunas (sometimes called steam saunas), dry saunas (also known as traditional saunas or traditional Finnish saunas), and infrared saunas.

Which sauna is better, infrared or steam?

Studies have shown that an infrared sauna provides more health benefits than steam saunas. That being said, there are differences between the two that all comes down to your personal preference. Try out all sauna types to see which one you like best.

What is the difference between an infrared and dry sauna?

An dry sauna is typically a wooden room that heats the air with an electric heater or wood burning stove, both heating elements have hot rocks that bathers pour water on to create varying levels of humidity and steam. An infrared sauna uses infrared light to heat the body directly with carbon or ceramic panels. Infrared heat will be lower and less intense than a traditional sauna, but both offer a detoxifying sweat and deep relaxation.

What type of sauna is best for home?

Whichever fits your space, lifestyle, and wellness goals the best is the sauna that's right for your home. Check out our guide to home saunas and personal saunas for ideas and a buying guide with all the info you need to know to buy your own home sauna.

What is the difference between the different types of saunas?

Saunas are defined by the different types of heat they create. For higher temperature with a more intense heat that promotes sweating, a dry sauna or wet sauna is best. For a softer heat with less sweat, but more health benefits, try an infrared sauna.