Personal Sauna Guide: The 6 Best & What to Know

A big guide to owning a small, personal sauna, including a list of at-home sauna alternatives to help you get your sweat on.

Author

Katherine Englishman

Hailing from one of the coldest countries on earth, the ancient tradition of heat bathing has endured for centuries as a popular way to relax the body and mind. Whether it’s a barrel sauna, an infrared sauna equipped with modern bells and whistles, or a wood fired hot tub, the end goal always remains the same: to immerse oneself in a synthesis of wood, fire, water, and air.

Over the years, the traditional sauna has seen many different iterations, most recently, personal saunas have emerged as a popular choice, along with the odd portable sauna. It speaks volumes that the growing desire for a personal space to bathe in peace signals an even greater need for a way to escape the hustle of modern life by entering into the elemental.

In this guide, we've scoured the many different personal sauna and portable sauna options available on the market and handpicked the best in each category. From high-tech saunas with a tiny footprint that you can have in your house (!) to adorable yet functional pods and cubes that blend into the landscape, each one is designed to be a haven of peace, calm, and well, sweat. Read on to see our top picks, interesting sauna alternatives, and scroll all the way down for answers to the most popular personal sauna questions.

Yes! Just like any other type of sauna, a personal sauna (meaning, big enough for 1-2 people, or three max!), has far-reaching impacts that go beyond a good sweat. Bathing in sustained, elevated heat has been shown to boost cardiovascular health, enhance circulation, lower blood pressure, and reduce inflammation. It’s also a great, all-natural way to quickly relieve muscle tension and promote deep relaxation. Oh, and all that sweating? Regular sauna bathers will find it deeply hydrates and cleanses the skin for a lasting healthy glow. Overall, it supports the body’s natural detoxification process and has long-lasting health benefits the more frequently you do it.

The general rule of thumb is to heat a sauna room somewhere between 150 to 195 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it’s always best to notice what feels best in your body and drink plenty of water before and after in order to remain well hydrated. Keep in mind that adding steam (use the bucket and ladle to pour water over the heater’s sauna rocks as a natural steam generator) increases the humidity and will feel much hotter than a dry sauna (no humidity). Again, pay attention to the temperature and humidity levels that feel right to you.

Bathing in a heated sauna room for 8-15 minutes is enough time to raise the body’s core temperature and experience the healing effects. That being said, leave the sauna whenever the heat does not feel right for you at that moment. If you like to cycle through multiple sauna sessions, wait 5-10 minutes in between to allow your body to cool down, and make sure to drink plenty of water.

Now that we've covered the basics and core details of sauna life, let's dive into our picks for the best personal saunas available now.

Level up your home spa with this 1-person sauna by Sun Home Saunas. Just shy of three feet wide and deep, with a six-foot ceiling, this is a truly tiny personal sauna that’s packed with features to deliver the full experience. A digital smart control panel gives heat bathers the ability to customize their sauna session with 7 color chromatherapy LED lights and bluetooth speakers for ambiance, as well as adjust the timing and temperature of the electric Harvia heater. The Canadian hemlock interior gives off a quintessential earthy aroma (beats using essential oils!), a bucket and ladle to switch from dry heat to a steam room, and analog thermostat balances out all the high-tech to ground you in the natural healing benefits. Assembly is required.

Price: $4,795 $4,295SHOP NOW

Small and compact, this 2-person outdoor sauna features unique rounded edges that’s both aesthetically-pleasing and traps heat for an energy efficient design. Crafted from high-quality Canadian red cedar, it’s durable, weather and rot resistant, and environmentally-friendly to ensure a low impact overall. It takes cues from traditional Scandinavian saunas thanks to its bead and cove construction, along with a Harvia electric heater manufactured in Finland capable of heating it to 195 degrees Fahrenheit, either manually or with Wi-Fi remote control so you can schedule your sauna up to eight hours in advance. Assembly is required.

Price: $4,99

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This tech-driven sauna kit creates a different type of sauna experience by using low EMF carbon infrared heat to improve blood flow and support the body’s natural detoxification process without an electric heater or wood stove. It’s kitted out with bluetooth speakers and a chromotherapy LED lighting system for the ultimate sauna spa in your own home. Thankfully, this indoor infrared personal sauna can easily be installed on carpet, tile, laminate or hardwood floors. It is also the most budget-friendly sauna on the list, with the option to add on an oxygen ionizer to purify the air in the sauna. Assembly is required.

Price: $2,899 $1,799

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The health benefits of a barrel sauna seem infinite, and this tiny 6x4 barrel sauna by Almost Heaven is no exception. The cylindrical shape evenly distributes the hot air, which, in tandem with the small size, requires less heat and less energy usage overall. Customize it with add ons such as lighting, a tempered glass door, rear window, different wood types, and even an indoor or outdoor location (bonus points for versatility!). It includes a Finnish Harvia heat with the option to enjoy a dry sauna or splash water on the sauna rocks to create a personal steam sauna, and a 5-year warranty on the sauna interior. Assembly is required.

Price: $7,624

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Like a barrel sauna, the pod style sauna evenly distributes heat inside and the rounded sides keep rain, snow, and other natural elements from accumulating on the roof. That, and, it’s pretty dang cute. It has a small footprint that certainly isn’t the tiniest on this list, but the upside is that it can accommodate 2-4 bathers, so there’s room for more. Made from high-quality red cedar, the Dundalk Leisurecraft Mini Pod offers users the option to choose between electric heaters and a wood burning stove that quickly heat the sauna in just twenty minutes. Assembly is required.

Price: $8,600 $5,566

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Despite its seating capacity of 2-3 people, you probably won’t want to share this dreamy personal sauna with anyone else. The award-winning design is crafted in Estonia using mirrored glass panels that blend into the surroundings and provide an unbeatable view with plenty of privacy. On the interior, there’s a classic wooden construction for the traditional Scandinavian sauna experience, with an electric wall-mounted heater, and wooden benches. One of the biggest perks? It arrives at your doorstep fully assembled.

Price: $30,615 $19,900

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Love a sweat session, but don’t have room for a full size sauna? There are a variety of options and alternatives on the market that provide the same experience in a different form. Full disclosure: this is not a traditional type of sauna, so keep an open mind while exploring these innovative ways to get your sweat on.

SweatTent Outdoor Sauna: Assemble this sauna tent on any level surface and fire up the stainless steel stove to get things heated. Made from a water-resistant, insulated nylon, it sets up in five minutes, and heats up in less than 30 minutes. It’s a great option for anyone who doesn’t want a permanent fixture, but all the benefits of a sauna at home, and well, anywhere.

SunHome Infrared Sauna Blanket: A portable infrared sauna blanket is unconventional, for sure, but it is undeniably compact and more portable than a traditional sauna could ever be. Slip into the waterproof blanket and use a remote control to crank the heat up to as high as 167 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a gentle and healing way to absorb the benefits of relaxing in the heat without the need to invest in a traditional sauna.

Nordic Ways Premium At-Home Signature Steam Spa: Big enough for one bather, this collapsible portable steam sauna offers the option to customize the steam, heat, and length of your sauna session. A remote control powers the 1,600 watt steamer that heats the tent up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, which is actually low by most sauna temp standards. Nonetheless, you’ll still enjoy all the cardiovascular and detoxification benefits while relaxing in the foldable chair (yes, chair included!) for your sweat sesh.

*Complete your at-home spa experience with our guide to cold plunge tubs. *

Published 07-25-2023