An infrared sauna is one of the cheaper things in your house to run. It is a few heating panels on a timer, and most 1- and 2-person models draw under 1,800W.
The cost still varies by a factor of two between cabins, and the listing gives you the number you need to work it out. This article does the arithmetic for the models we list. For heaters, sizes, and wiring, start with the infrared sauna buying guide.
Short answer: 25 to 60 cents an hour at full power, and about $3 to $8 a month for regular use at the US average electricity rate.
The formula
Cost per hour = watts ÷ 1,000 x your rate per kWh
The US residential average was 18.34 cents per kWh in mid-2026. Your own rate is on your bill, and it may be well above or below that. Swap it in.
A 1,700W cabin uses 1.7 kWh in an hour. At 18.34 cents, that is 31 cents.
Model by model
Monthly figures assume four sessions a week of 45 minutes each, including warm-up. That is 3 hours a week, or 13 hours a month.
| Sauna | Size | Power | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HigherDOSE Sauna Blanket | Blanket | 420W | $0.08 | $1.00 |
| Sunlighten Signature I | 1 person | 1,350W | $0.25 | $3.22 |
| Clearlight Premier IS-1 | 1 person | 1,370W | $0.25 | $3.27 |
| Durasage 2-Person | 2 person | 1,700W | $0.31 | $4.05 |
| Finnmark FD-4 Trinity (infrared side) | 2 person | 1,750W | $0.32 | $4.17 |
| Health Mate Enrich 2 | 2 person | 1,780W | $0.33 | $4.24 |
| Finnmark FD-5 Trinity XL (infrared side) | 4 person | 2,700W | $0.50 | $6.44 |
| Finnmark FD-3 | 4 person | 3,150W | $0.58 | $7.51 |
Power from manufacturer listings, checked September 2026. Costs are our arithmetic at 18.34 cents per kWh, with the heaters at full power the whole time.
These are upper limits. Once a cabin reaches its set temperature, the panels switch on and off to hold it, so the real draw over a session is lower. Finnmark’s own estimate for the FD-5 on infrared is 30 to 40 cents an hour, against our full-power figure of 50 cents.
Several cabins we list don’t publish their wattage, including the Dynamic Andora and Barcelona and the Sunlighten Signature II. Ask the seller, or read the rating plate when it arrives.
What drives the number
Size. Bigger cabins have more panels. The two 4-person cabins use about twice the power of the 1-person ones.
Maximum temperature. The FD-3 reaches 170°F, which takes more power than a cabin that tops out at 140°F.
Warm-up time. Most of the full-power running happens before you get in. A cabin in a cold garage takes longer to warm than one in a heated room, and that time is on the bill.
How long you sit. Double the session and you roughly double the cost.
Run the numbers against a traditional sauna
A traditional sauna with a 6kW heater uses up to 6 kWh an hour. At 18.34 cents that is $1.10 an hour, and about $14.30 for the same 13 hours a month.
So a 2-person infrared cabin costs about a third as much to run per hour as a 6kW traditional heater. Traditional saunas also need a longer warm-up, 30 minutes or more, which widens the gap.
Here’s what the spec sheet won’t tell you. The gap sounds large and is small in dollars. The difference between the two types is about $10 a month at this usage. Over ten years that is around $1,200, which matters less than the price of the cabin or the cost of a 240V circuit. Don’t choose the heat type on running cost alone.
The cost that isn’t on the bill
Wiring is the bigger variable. A cabin that plugs into an existing 15A outlet costs nothing to connect. One that needs a dedicated 20A circuit, like the Sunlighten Signature I, or a 240V circuit, like the Finnmark FD-3, needs an electrician first. That one-off cost can equal years of electricity.
Ways to spend less
- Put it in a heated room. Less warm-up, shorter run time.
- Get in during warm-up. In an infrared cabin the panels warm you directly, so you don’t have to wait for the air.
- Close the vent and door properly. A gap lets the warm air out.
- Check for a time-of-use rate. If your utility charges less at night, an evening session costs less.
- Don’t leave it on. Use the timer.
My rule of thumb: if the monthly figure for the cabin you want is under $10, stop optimizing and choose on size, warranty, and wiring.
To see how three infrared cabins compare, read our infrared sauna comparison.
Bottom line: watts divided by 1,000, times your rate. For most infrared cabins that is a few dollars a month.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (residential average 18.34¢/kWh, June 2026 data), accessed October 1, 2026
- Sunlighten, Clearlight, Durasage, Health Mate, Finnmark, and HigherDOSE listings (wattage, maximum temperature, running-cost estimate), checked September 2026