Sauna vs. electric radiant floor heating: running cost
An electric radiant floor heating is cheaper to run: about $69 a year versus $177 for a sauna at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $108 difference.
| Sauna | Electric radiant floor heating | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 6,000 W | 600 W |
| Watt range | 3,000–9,000 W | 150–3,000 W |
| Typical use | 1.5 hours a day, 3 days a week | 6 hours a day for 7 months a year |
| Energy per year | 986 kWh | 384 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 76¢ | 5.4¢ |
| Cost per day | 49¢ | 32¢ |
| Cost per month | $14.78 | $9.86 |
| Cost per year | $177 | $69 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $429 | $167 |
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What drives the difference
- Sauna: Traditional saunas use 240 V heaters of 4.5-9 kW. A session includes 30-45 minutes of preheat at full power plus thermostat cycling while in use, about 6 kWh per session for a 6 kW heater.
- Electric radiant floor heating: Electric floor heating mats and cables draw about 12 W per square foot of heated area. The floor thermostat cycles them to hold surface temperature.
Ways to cut either cost
Schedules heat only when the room is used.
See options on AmazonRemoves cold-floor discomfort with no electricity.
See options on AmazonRuns at 1.5-2.5 kW with 10-15 minutes of warm-up, using about a third as much energy per session.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a sauna or an electric radiant floor heating?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a sauna costs about $177 a year versus $69 for an electric radiant floor heating. That's $108 more, or 2.6× as much.
How many watts do sauna and electric radiant floor heating use?
A sauna typically draws 6,000 W (range 3,000–9,000 W). An electric radiant floor heating draws 600 W (range 150–3,000 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.