Best Saunas Under $3K

Our verdict

There is no traditional sauna under $3,000 we recommend. Buy an infrared sauna on a normal outlet, or step up to three person only if you already have a 20 amp circuit.

• Choose the Seattle if you want a sauna that plugs into a standard 15 amp outlet. It is $2,299, and curbside delivery is included in the lower 48.
• Choose the Bellevue if you already have 12 gauge wire and can use a 20 amp receptacle. It is the larger version, at $2,699. If an electrician has to run a new wire, the project is likely over $3,000.

Seattle vs Bellevue

Why we will not recommend a traditional sauna under $3,000

The inside of a traditional sauna is an extreme environment. The temperature is higher than an infrared room, and the air is more humid, because you pour water on the rocks. The wood and the heater both have to live in that.

There is no way to produce and deliver a traditional sauna, with a quality heater, for $3,000 or less, that is worth buying. That is true indoors and outdoors. Other brands do sell traditional saunas online at this price. We would not buy one.

The usual problem is the heater. A lot of these rooms ship with an unbranded, white-label heater, often with its own unmarked dial control. That is a red flag.

The heater brands that have been around, and that are easy to get parts for, are a short list: Harvia, HUUM, IKI, Saunum, and Amerec.

Heating elements are consumables. They run for roughly 2,500 hours, then they need to be replaced. On a Harvia, the element is inexpensive, and most people swap it themselves. You take the rocks out, pull the old element, and put the new one in. It is closer to changing batteries than to hiring a technician. You are not buying a new heater because an element wore out.

On a no-name heater, especially one tied to a white-label dial control, you are waiting on that exact unit. When it fails, a replacement element is often not available. The sauna is built around a heater you cannot service, and the room becomes useless.

That is why a traditional sauna under $3,000 is not on this list.

What the outlet decides

A one or two person infrared sauna usually plugs into a standard 15 amp outlet. You do not need a new circuit for it.

A three person infrared sauna almost always needs a 20 amp receptacle at minimum.

Some newer homes already have 12 gauge wire on that outlet. Then you may only need to change the receptacle. In most homes, including most older homes, the wire in the wall is 14 gauge. A 14 gauge circuit cannot feed a 20 amp sauna. An electrician has to run a new wire from the panel to that room. Depending on how far the room is from the panel, that run is often around $1,000. A sauna that looked like it was under $3,000 is not under $3,000 once that bill is in.

How to check the wire

Turn the breaker off first, and do this carefully. Unscrew the outlet and look at the wire behind it. Yellow wire is 12 gauge. That circuit can feed a 20 amp receptacle and a three person infrared sauna. White wire is 14 gauge. You are maxed out at a two person infrared sauna on a 15 amp circuit.

Why a two person infrared sauna is this size

Most two person infrared saunas are about 48 inches wide by about 42 inches deep. That is about as much room as a 15 amp circuit can heat properly. The Seattle is exactly that size: 48 by 42 inches. The same limit shows up across this category. The circuit sets the box.

It is sold as a two person sauna. It is comfortable for one, and tight for two. If you want two people to sit comfortably, get a three person sauna, and plan on the 20 amp circuit.

Our picks

Prices in this category move through the year. Contact us from this article and we will tell you the current price. Call or text (978)-689-5153.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a traditional sauna under $3,000 worth buying?

No. Not indoor, and not outdoor. A traditional sauna needs wood and a heater that can handle higher heat and more humidity. We do not see a way to deliver that, with a quality heater, for $3,000 or less.

What is wrong with an unbranded sauna heater?

When the heating element fails, a name-brand heater can be repaired. A white-label heater, especially one with its own dial control, often cannot. The sauna is stuck with a heater you cannot get parts for.

How often do traditional heater elements need replacing?

They are consumables. Figure on roughly 2,500 hours before the elements need to be replaced. On a Harvia, the part is inexpensive and most people install it themselves.

What should I buy under $3,000?

The Seattle 2 Person Infrared Sauna, at $2,299, on a standard 15 amp outlet. If you already have a 20 amp circuit, the Bellevue 3 Person at $2,699 is the larger version.

Do I need an electrician for a two person infrared sauna?

Usually no. A one or two person infrared sauna plugs into a standard 15 amp outlet. A dedicated outlet is the better setup.

How do I know if I can run a three person infrared sauna?

Turn the breaker off, then look at the wire on the outlet. Yellow is 12 gauge and can feed a 20 amp circuit. White is 14 gauge, which keeps you at a two person sauna on 15 amp. A new wire from the panel is often around $1,000 and can push the project over $3,000.

Is a two person infrared comfortable for two people?

It is tight. The common 48 by 42 inch size is about as large as a 15 amp circuit can heat. It is comfortable for one. For two people to sit comfortably, get a three person sauna and a 20 amp circuit.

As always, our team is here to help. Call or text us if you want the current price on either sauna.