How much does it cost to run a sauna?
A sauna costs about 76¢ per hour, 49¢ a day, $14.78 a month and $177 a year at typical use (1.5 hours a day, 3 days a week) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. 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.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 kW (small) | 4,500 | 57¢ | 36¢ | $11.09 | $133 |
| 6 kW | 6,000 | 76¢ | 49¢ | $14.78 | $177 |
| 8 kW | 8,000 | $1.01 | 65¢ | $19.71 | $237 |
At 1.5 hours a day, 3 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 | 1.80 | 32¢ | $9.86 | $118 |
| 2 hours | 3.60 | 65¢ | $19.71 | $237 |
| 4 hours | 7.20 | $1.30 | $39.43 | $473 |
| 8 hours | 14.40 | $2.59 | $78.85 | $946 |
| 12 hours | 21.60 | $3.89 | $118 | $1,419 |
| 24 hours | 43.20 | $7.77 | $237 | $2,839 |
Cost to run a sauna in every state
The same sauna costs $121 a year in North Dakota and $429 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¢ | 52¢ | $10.12 | $121 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 53¢ | $10.40 | $125 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 54¢ | $10.57 | $127 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 55¢ | $10.68 | $128 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 56¢ | $10.95 | $131 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 56¢ | $10.98 | $132 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 56¢ | $11.04 | $132 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 57¢ | $11.14 | $134 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 58¢ | $11.26 | $135 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 58¢ | $11.37 | $136 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 58¢ | $11.44 | $137 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 59¢ | $11.46 | $138 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 59¢ | $11.51 | $138 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 59¢ | $11.60 | $139 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 59¢ | $11.61 | $139 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 60¢ | $11.67 | $140 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 62¢ | $12.14 | $146 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 62¢ | $12.14 | $146 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 63¢ | $12.40 | $149 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 64¢ | $12.43 | $149 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 64¢ | $12.59 | $151 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 65¢ | $12.65 | $152 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 65¢ | $12.66 | $152 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 65¢ | $12.72 | $153 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 65¢ | $12.74 | $153 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 66¢ | $12.85 | $154 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 67¢ | $13.12 | $157 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 68¢ | $13.33 | $160 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 69¢ | $13.51 | $162 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 69¢ | $13.54 | $163 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 70¢ | $13.63 | $164 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 71¢ | $13.92 | $167 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 75¢ | $14.62 | $175 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 77¢ | $15.00 | $180 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 79¢ | $15.40 | $185 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 79¢ | $15.44 | $185 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 87¢ | $17.01 | $204 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 88¢ | $17.28 | $207 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 88¢ | $17.30 | $208 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 100¢ | $19.54 | $235 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 100¢ | $19.56 | $235 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | $1.02 | $19.89 | $239 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | $1.12 | $21.92 | $263 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | $1.13 | $22.07 | $265 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | $1.18 | $23.00 | $276 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | $1.19 | $23.33 | $280 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | $1.23 | $24.05 | $289 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | $1.23 | $24.09 | $289 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | $1.28 | $25.01 | $300 |
| California | 32.99¢ | $1.39 | $27.11 | $325 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | $1.83 | $35.76 | $429 |
How to cut the cost
- Preheat for 30-40 minutes, not over an hour; check the thermometer and start when it reaches 160-180°F.
- Keep sessions back-to-back for multiple people rather than reheating the sauna later.
- Set the thermostat to 170°F instead of 195°F; heat loss rises with the temperature difference.
- Use an outdoor-rated door seal and insulate walls and ceiling to R-13 or better in outdoor saunas.
- Use the heater's timer so it shuts off automatically after the session.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Runs at 1.5-2.5 kW with 10-15 minutes of warm-up, using about a third as much energy per session.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauna | 6,000 | 1.5 hours a day, 3 days a week | $14.78 | $177 |
| Infrared sauna | 1,600 | 1 hour a day, 4 days a week | $4.26 | $51 |
| Electric radiant floor heating | 600 | 6 hours a day for 7 months a year | $9.86 | $69 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 | 4,500 kWh a year | $67.46 | $810 |
| Garage heater | 5,000 | 4 hours a day, 4 days a week for 5 months a year | $37.55 | $188 |
| Heat pump | 4,000 | 24 hours a day for 5 months a year | $184 | $920 |
| Geothermal heat pump | 3,200 | 24 hours a day for 5 months a year | $168 | $841 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a sauna per hour?
A sauna drawing 6,000 watts uses 4.20 kWh per hour while running (70% duty cycle). At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 76¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 52¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's $1.83.
How much does it cost to run a sauna per month?
At typical use (1.5 hours a day, 3 days a week), a sauna costs about $14.78 a month and $177 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does a sauna use?
Most saunas use 3,000 to 9,000 watts, depending on the setting (4.5 kw (small) 4,500 W, 6 kw 6,000 W, 8 kw 8,000 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a sauna use?
About 2.70 kWh a day and 986 kWh a year at typical use (1.5 hours a day, 3 days a week).
Does a sauna use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: 986 kWh a year is about 9% of the average U.S. home's yearly use.
Is it cheaper to run a sauna or an infrared sauna?
At typical use, a sauna costs about $177 a year versus $51 for an infrared 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 a sauna?
- Preheat for 30-40 minutes, not over an hour; check the thermometer and start when it reaches 160-180°F.
- Keep sessions back-to-back for multiple people rather than reheating the sauna later.
- Set the thermostat to 170°F instead of 195°F; heat loss rises with the temperature difference.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.