Very few things can provide as many health benefits as spending some time in a sauna. Saunas can help relieve stress, improve blood circulation, open up your pores, and even improve your sleep habits. Unfortunately, though, most saunas are only accessible at spas and relaxation centers. Going there while you’re already tired can be a drag, but building a sauna from scratch in your home is not that simple either. What you can do instead is invest in a high-quality sauna that’s complete and ready to use in your home.
Setup is a breeze if you follow the instructions, and the resulting sauna experience is just as good as any commercial option. The only potential worry is finding a sauna that’s worth your hard-earned money, so here are our recommendations when it comes to saunas in 2023. Take a look below:
Installing a sauna at home is one of the biggest improvements you can make in your day-to-day life — just imagine returning home from an exhausting, stressful day at work and having the opportunity to relax in a soothing sauna before bed.
It can be tough to find the right sauna for your needs in 2023, but if you’re up to the task, here are a few things you should think about:
Indoor home saunas can be divided into two types. Both have their place in the market, and your decision will ultimately come down to your situation and preference.
First are wooden saunas that are a combination of the traditional coal-based sauna and modern technology (like infrared heating panels), and the other is the portable sauna that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Here’s how to choose between the two:
The first, and arguably the most important, deciding factor between the two types of saunas is your budget.
Wooden saunas can cost anywhere between $1,500 and $5,000 depending on their size, features, and the wood used in their construction. This price tag can be worth it, though, when you consider the extended lifespan of these saunas and the value that they can add to your home.
High-quality portable saunas can cost as little as $120 and still offer great results. They can get the job done with hot steam, and the price difference comes from structural integrity, longevity, and other such details.
How much room do you have in your home for a sauna? Wooden saunas can take up quite a lot of room, but if you have the space, go for a proper wooden sauna — it can become a key part of your home and add to its overall value.
If you don’t have much space in your home, going the portable sauna route will be the better option. You can set up one of these saunas, relax in it, and then fold it back up for convenient storage, with some even able to fit in the trunk of your car when folded.
Portable saunas use steam generators, and they combine this with a heat-reflective inner layer to quickly raise their temperature. This is fine for the most part, but it can feel quite stuffy, especially if you live in a region with high air moisture levels.
Wooden saunas, on the other hand, have four to six panels that use various modern technologies to produce heat. Most of these are fully adjustable, and the heat from them is dry and soothing.
The only “feature” you’ll find in many portable saunas is that they allow you to extend your arms outside of them — other than that, they’re completely basic. Expensive wooden saunas, though, can have built-in music players, and some even have lights and LED displays with anti-fog coatings.
Whether you buy a wooden home sauna or a portable one, be mindful of its build quality. If you have to choose between a sauna with a five-year warranty and a similar sauna with an eight-year warranty, go for the one that offers you longer coverage.
Warranty isn’t everything, though, and you should also look at customer reviews that discuss the sauna’s long-term performance. If you see complaints about a certain part failing after a few years or any other recurring issues, move on to the next viable option.
Even though home saunas are meant to be ready-made, they still need to be properly assembled. Before you make your purchase, consider whether you have the time and patience to assemble it yourself or if you’ll instead want to hire a professional. If you’re going to hire a pro, make sure they’re available when your sauna arrives.
The Golden Andora from Dynamic sets a high standard for what home saunas should be like, and it excels at everything from its ease of assembly to its final performance and experience. The instructions that come with it are clear and concise, leading to a surprisingly low assembly time, and once it’s assembled, you’ll be able to enjoy consistent, relaxing heat from its six EMF FAR panels. That’s not to mention this sauna’s quality of life features that include a soft-touch control panel and LED display that lets you control everything without hassle.
The outside of this sauna is a sight to behold as well, and its Canadian Hemlock wood gives it a very warm, welcoming feel. It even comes with an MP3 aux connection and speakers, and all of this helps earn this sauna the top spot on our list thanks to its unmatched quality, performance, and looks.
The Radiant Two-Person Sauna from Heat Wave takes a very practical approach to ready-made home saunas, including and focusing on features that can directly improve your sauna experience. A fine example of this is its built-in music player, which you can use to enjoy some calming music or listen to a podcast or audiobook, and another such feature is this sauna’s oxygen ionizer, which can help you breathe without any issues as you decompress.
This sauna’s performance and heat signature offer fairly little to complain about, either, and it’s six carbon heaters produce consistent, calming heat that can help both your body and mind relax. You can also use this sauna’s EZ-touch control panel to turn up the heat if you’re in the mood to sweat, and even better is that its durable design comes with a seven-year warranty.
Comfort is a big part of a sauna’s appeal, and when it comes to comfort, this option from BOTARO is no slouch. Every aspect is designed to help you feel as relaxed as possible, and its roomy interior can feel comfortable even when occupied by two people. The claustrophobic feeling of most ready-made home saunas is absent, and to make things even better, its seats are quite cozy as well.
This sauna’s commitment to comfort extends into its heating and overall performance, something that’s apparent when you take a look at its six heating panels. These are spread out on three different sides so that the resulting heat is even and consistent, and to top things off, this sauna also comes with a built-in music player and a reading lamp to help you enjoy your time inside of it even more.
Not everyone has room for a wooden home sauna (let alone be able to afford one), and that’s where the SereneLife Steam Sauna comes in. Even if you do have the space and budget, this can be a great choice if you don’t want to permanently install a sauna in your home. This sauna is collapsible, meaning you can open it up anywhere and fold it back up when you’re done, and it even comes with a foldable chair for a full-fledged sauna experience.
This portable sauna’s heat is produced by a 4L steamer which, while not as impressive as proper heating panels, works wonders for its low price. Instead of dry heat, this sauna produces steam that’s better for your skin, and it even comes with a remote control that allows you to conveniently control its settings.
This steam sauna from Durasage offers you a ton of value for your money, so make sure you check it out. A large part of this is the price (which is much lower than traditional home saunas), but the real value comes from what you get for this surprisingly low cost. Its design might look a bit odd, but once you’re in there, you can benefit from total relaxation. This sauna can get fairly hot for its size and really make your sweat glands work, and you can even keep your arms outside of it to allow you to use your phone as you relax.
This sauna’s overall build quality is pretty good for its price, and you can use it for a long time before you start to see any wear. You’ll also receive a collapsible chair with your purchase, and you can pick this sauna up in a variety of colors.
A: Better might be a stretch, but steam saunas do provide more health benefits than dry ones.
A: Saunas are safe for children, just as long as they don’t stay in there for too long — especially if they’re under the age of six.
A: If there’s enough space, set your sauna up in your bathroom. If there isn’t, the basement is another great choice.