How much does it cost to run an infrared sauna?
An infrared sauna costs about 24¢ per hour, 14¢ a day, $4.26 a month and $51 a year at typical use (1 hour a day, 4 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Infrared saunas use 120 V or 240 V carbon or ceramic panels drawing 1,500-3,000 W for cabins. A session including 10-15 minutes of warm-up uses about 1.5-2.5 kWh.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauna blanket | 400 | 6.1¢ | 3.5¢ | $1.06 | $13 |
| 1-2 person cabin | 1,600 | 24¢ | 14¢ | $4.26 | $51 |
| 3-4 person cabin | 2,400 | 37¢ | 21¢ | $6.38 | $77 |
At 1 hour a day, 4 days a week and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.78 | 14¢ | $4.26 | $51 |
| 2 hours | 1.55 | 28¢ | $8.51 | $102 |
| 4 hours | 3.11 | 56¢ | $17.02 | $204 |
| 8 hours | 6.22 | $1.12 | $34.04 | $409 |
| 12 hours | 9.33 | $1.68 | $51.06 | $613 |
| 24 hours | 18.65 | $3.36 | $102 | $1,226 |
Cost to run an infrared sauna in every state
The same infrared sauna costs $35 a year in North Dakota and $124 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | 17¢ | $2.91 | $35 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 17¢ | $2.99 | $36 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 17¢ | $3.04 | $37 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 18¢ | $3.07 | $37 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 18¢ | $3.15 | $38 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 18¢ | $3.16 | $38 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 18¢ | $3.18 | $38 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 18¢ | $3.21 | $38 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 19¢ | $3.24 | $39 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 19¢ | $3.27 | $39 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 19¢ | $3.29 | $40 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 19¢ | $3.30 | $40 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 19¢ | $3.31 | $40 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 19¢ | $3.34 | $40 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 19¢ | $3.34 | $40 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 19¢ | $3.36 | $40 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 20¢ | $3.49 | $42 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 20¢ | $3.49 | $42 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 21¢ | $3.57 | $43 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 21¢ | $3.58 | $43 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 21¢ | $3.62 | $43 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 21¢ | $3.64 | $44 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 21¢ | $3.64 | $44 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 21¢ | $3.66 | $44 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 21¢ | $3.67 | $44 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 21¢ | $3.70 | $44 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 22¢ | $3.78 | $45 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 22¢ | $3.84 | $46 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 22¢ | $3.89 | $47 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 22¢ | $3.90 | $47 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 23¢ | $3.92 | $47 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 23¢ | $4.01 | $48 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 24¢ | $4.21 | $50 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 25¢ | $4.32 | $52 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 25¢ | $4.43 | $53 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 26¢ | $4.44 | $53 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 28¢ | $4.90 | $59 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 29¢ | $4.97 | $60 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 29¢ | $4.98 | $60 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 32¢ | $5.62 | $67 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 32¢ | $5.63 | $68 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 33¢ | $5.72 | $69 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 36¢ | $6.31 | $76 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 37¢ | $6.35 | $76 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 38¢ | $6.62 | $79 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 39¢ | $6.72 | $81 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 40¢ | $6.92 | $83 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 40¢ | $6.93 | $83 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 41¢ | $7.20 | $86 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 45¢ | $7.80 | $94 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 59¢ | $10.29 | $124 |
How to cut the cost
- Preheat only 10-15 minutes; infrared panels warm your body directly, so the air does not need to be hot.
- Turn off panels that face empty seats if the controller allows zone control.
- Keep sessions to 20-30 minutes and use the built-in timer.
- Locate indoor saunas in heated space, not a cold garage, to shorten warm-up.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Uses about 300-500 W for a single-person session.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infrared sauna | 1,600 | 1 hour a day, 4 days a week | $4.26 | $51 |
| Sauna | 6,000 | 1.5 hours a day, 3 days a week | $14.78 | $177 |
| Infrared heater | 1,500 | 6 hours a day for 5 months a year | $29.67 | $148 |
| Heating pad | 50 | 1 hour a day | $0.19 | $2 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 hours a day for 5 months a year | $29.67 | $148 |
| Ceramic space heater | 1,500 | 6 hours a day for 5 months a year | $29.67 | $148 |
| Oil-filled radiator | 1,500 | 8 hours a day for 5 months a year | $32.94 | $165 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an infrared sauna per hour?
An infrared sauna drawing 1,600 watts uses 1.36 kWh per hour while running (85% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 24¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 17¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 59¢.
How much does it cost to run an infrared sauna per month?
At typical use (1 hour a day, 4 days a week), an infrared sauna costs about $4.26 a month and $51 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does an infrared sauna use?
Most infrared saunas use 200 to 3,000 watts, depending on the setting (sauna blanket 400 W, 1-2 person cabin 1,600 W, 3-4 person cabin 2,400 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does an infrared sauna use?
About 0.78 kWh a day and 284 kWh a year at typical use (1 hour a day, 4 days a week).
Does an infrared sauna use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 284 kWh a year it's a small share (2.7%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run an infrared sauna or a sauna?
At typical use, an infrared sauna costs about $51 a year versus $177 for a sauna. So the infrared sauna is cheaper by about $126 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running an infrared sauna?
- Preheat only 10-15 minutes; infrared panels warm your body directly, so the air does not need to be hot.
- Turn off panels that face empty seats if the controller allows zone control.
- Keep sessions to 20-30 minutes and use the built-in timer.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.