Home Sauna Electricity Cost: Is Running a Sauna Expensive?

People assume that saunas are expensive to run, and when it comes to a traditional sauna, it’s true. But portable saunas are different. The main concern is the portable sauna electricity cost, since many assume that saunas use a lot of power.

What surprises most users is how low the cost is compared to other appliances. In this guide, we will go through the cost of running a portable sauna. We will explain what to expect, how much they actually spend, and what affects electricity usage.

Portable Sauna Electricity Cost: What to Expect

To understand how much a portable sauna is going to cost, you must first learn how much energy it uses. This is easy to calculate using a simple formula: Power (watts) x time = energy used.

Now, your typical wattage depends on the type of sauna you use. Steam saunas usually go from 800W to 1500W, depending on the strength of the electric heater.

A weaker sauna heater means lower wattage, but it also takes longer to heat up the tent. That’s the trade-off – lower wattage means longer usage, so in the end, there is very little difference in cost.

As for the infrared sauna, wattage is typically higher. Usually, you are looking at 1200W to 1800W.

In reality, the cost is usually much lower than you might expect when you see these figures. For example, a 1500W home sauna running for an hour will use about 1.5 kWh of electricity.

With an average electricity rate of around $0.15 per kWh, the energy cost ends up being $0.23 per sauna session.

As you can see, the portable sauna electricity cost is quite moderate. They do not require high consumption to use, which is a common misconception.

How Much Does It Cost Per Session?

Now that you have a rough estimate of how much using a portable sauna costs, let’s break it down further.

The first thing to note is that the cost of running a portable sauna depends on two main things. That is the wattage itself, and how long you use it.

As mentioned, most portable units operate between 800W and 1500W for steam models. Infrareds spend a bit more, but ultimately, the electricity usage is manageable.

Now, manufacturers recommend that even experienced users only stay in for 30 minutes. Anything longer than that is not considered safe, nor is it recommended. With that said, a typical 30-minute session will see most saunas use 0.4-0.75 kWh of electricity.

On average, electricity rates are roughly $0.12 to $0.20 per kWh, depending on location. That roughly translates to $0.10 to $0.30 per hour in electricity costs.

So, even if you go for the higher price, that is still fairly cheap compared to what most other household appliances cost to use. This is why sauna spending is often compared to an average hair dryer.

In other words, even if you use it daily, it still doesn’t cost too much. Although note that it is recommended to use the sauna only 3-4 times per week to give your body time to recover.

Portable Sauna Monthly Electricity Cost Estimate

If you follow the recommended rules when using an electric sauna, even the monthly cost is low. With 3-4 sessions per week, that means having a total of 12 to 16 sessions per month.

Using the average portable sauna electricity cost calculated earlier, the average monthly cost is only $2 to $10. You will stay at the lower end if your sessions are short, or approach closer to $10 if you stay in for 30 minutes each time.

In other words, the electricity cost is negligible. This is why most buyers don’t really use it as a deciding factor when picking a portable sauna.

What Affects Portable Sauna Electricity Usage

If your goal is to cut the cost as much as possible, it pays to know how portable saunas use electricity.

Electricity usage is affected by several factors. The biggest one by far is the length of your session. In other words, the longer the session lasts, the more power the sauna uses.

In the case of infrared saunas, their panels draw more heat to keep heating the user. Meanwhile, steam saunas use power for longer to warm the water and produce vapor.

Then, there is the portable sauna temperature setting. The higher the temperature, the more power is needed to achieve it. Preheat time is also a notable factor, which is why it is beneficial to use saunas that heat up the space faster.

Apart from that, don’t forget about the temperature of the environment. If you are in a cold room, the sauna will, naturally, need longer to achieve the desired temperature. This is also why outdoor saunas usually need more electricity than indoor ones.

Is It Expensive to Run a Portable Sauna?

So, is it expensive to run a portable home sauna? The short answer is – no.

In terms of how much electricity they need, you can compare them to other smaller appliances. They spend about as much electricity as an average hair dryer or space heater.

Also, note that if you use them only from time to time, the costs will be extremely low. That, of course, depends on your intentions.

If you plan to use a portable sauna for its health benefits, then consistent use is the key. That means 3-4 sessions per week, meaning 12-16 uses per month, on average. But, if you simply want to relax from time to time, maybe once or twice a week, the costs will be negligible.

Even if you use them 3-4 times weekly, or every day, they use so little power that they cannot be considered a major expense.

FAQ

Conclusion

Many people who consider buying a portable sauna are hesitant due to electricity concerns. However, as we have seen throughout this guide, portable saunas really don’t use much power. The cost of using them, even regularly, is quite low.

Portable sauna electricity cost is no different than other regular household appliances. If you don’t worry about using a hair dryer, there is no reason to worry about sauna cost either. Given how affordable they are to run, this should not be a major factor when deciding whether or not to use a sauna.

With that in mind, here are some of the best portable saunas for home use. We also have a guide on some great models if you are looking for the best portable sauna under $200.