Are at-home saunas worth the sweat? Experts weigh the pros and cons

Global sauna sales are heating up, with home installations projected to grow at a rate of 8.6 per cent a year through 2031.

The surge is partly driven by sauna-loving celebrities – Justin Bieber, Gwyneth Paltrow and Joe Rogan among them – and fits into broader wellness and self-care trends (meditation, fibremaxxing, digital detoxes). But are at-home hot boxes worth the sweat? Design, construction and cultural experts weigh in.

For the uninitiated, what is a sauna?

A sauna is an enclosed room heated from around 65 to 90 degrees Celsius or higher.

The concept comes from Finland, where there’s roughly one sauna for every two people – more per capita than anywhere else in the world. The tradition dates back 10,000 years and has evolved from stones heated in subterranean pits to today’s cedar-lined bathhouses.

What are they good for?

Studies show saunas can reduce stress, soothe sore muscles, relieve pain and improve heart health. Some research suggests they could also lower the risk of dementia.

For maximum effect, many enthusiasts recommend pairing a sauna session with a short cold plunge, followed by a rest at room temperature. This routine, known as a thermal circuit or Nordic cycle, often includes roughly 15 minutes in a sauna, one to two minutes in an ice bath and another 15 minutes relaxing at room temperature.

Why have one at home? Aren’t there spas that offer the same thing?

According to Alan Jalasjaa, who hosts a sauna podcast and serves as Canada’s Sauna Ambassador (a title bestowed by a Finnish group that promotes sauna), you can exceed spa standards at home.

Commercial saunas tend to be large and lofty, which lets the heat rise away from bathers, whereas home saunas tend to have lower ceilings, keeping the heat on you, said Jalasjaa.

Building a great home sauna is where things can get tricky. For starters, there are several different kinds of saunas to consider: wood burning, electric and infrared. Placement in the home is up for debate, too. Common options include basements, backyards, bathrooms or even bedrooms.

Which type is best?

Aficionados such as Jalasjaa prefer wood-burning.

“It’s the most traditional and a nice high heat,” he said, adding that you can make it as hot as you want.

The drawback is that wood-burning saunas are time-intensive to operate because you have to build and maintain a fire. They generally only work outdoors, ruling out basements, ensuites and condos.

“There are more extensive code requirements involved for a true wood-burning sauna,” said Priya Mitrovic, an interior designer and founder of Toronto-based Studio P Interiors. “An electric heater is a simpler and more compact installation when trying to retrofit a sauna inside an existing home.”

Electric options are a “close second” to wood-burning models, said Jalasjaa, pointing out that they’re easier to operate – sometimes just as simple as clicking a button on an app. “But they have a limit,” he noted. They’re only allowed to go up to 90 degrees C in Canada, whereas Jalasjaa prefers a sauna in the 90-to-100-degree range.

Electricity and steam sounds like a dangerous combo. Are they unsafe?

The steam, or löyly, is a key part of the experience. It usually occurs when water is poured on the hot rocks that sit over the heater. And while water and electricity don’t mix, sauna heaters are insulated to prevent shocks.

Markus Raty, who designs and builds saunas as the founder of Toronto’s Norden Sauna, compares them to the coils on an electric stove. “When water boils over onto a stove, the coil doesn’t explode,” he said. “Likewise, the elements in a sauna are sealed and protected from getting wet, even when water is poured on the rocks.”

What about the other types?

Infrared saunas use hot lights to warm a space. They are particularly popular these days, partly because they are the easiest to install. Electric saunas require a dedicated electric circuit installed by a professional electrician, while small infrared saunas can usually plug into existing wall outlets.

“The main disadvantage is the temperature,” said Platon Polianskyi, a sales manager at Toronto contractor Magic Reno. The infrared can heat to a maximum of 60 degrees C, so sessions take longer, requiring 30 to 40 minutes to achieve the same effect as a 15-minute session in a traditional sauna.

That sounds a bit like trying to bake a potato with a hair dryer.

Jalasjaa would agree.

“Infrared is not a sauna,” he said. “It’s not hot enough.”

What’s the best location for a home sauna?

To Raty, whose family is Finnish (his father also designed and built saunas), backyards are the best option.

“A sauna is best when you can walk out directly into nature,” he said. “That’s the way it’s typically done in Finland.”

For those without a yard, basements and ensuites can also work, but it’s important to ensure the sauna is well insulated and ventilated and has proper drainage. “Some people convert a basement room into a sauna, but they don’t want to invest in a drain,” said Raty. “But saunas are wet by nature. Drainage is important.”

Poor installation can result in mouldy, mildewy spaces. Many basement saunas installed during the previous wellness boom in the 1970s and eighties were later torn out for just that reason.

“These days, we’re probably installing one sauna per week,” said contractor Polianskyi. “Five to 10 years ago, people who had saunas in their homes were getting rid of them to add an extra bathroom or just to have more open space.”

What about the cost?

One reason infrared saunas are popular is that they tend to be more affordable. According to Polianskyi, a small sauna for two people heated with infrared light costs less than $5,000. “And the infrared saunas don’t require additional wiring or ventilation or permits from the city,” he said, the latter of which tends to be required for wood-burning saunas.

That’s still a big investment compared to the odd day at the spa.

Generally, yes, but it depends. The more they are used, the more cost-effective at-home saunas can be. Indoor electric saunas start at around $5,000 to $10,000, while backyard installations typically run $30,000 and above.

For comparison, a single drop-in session at Toronto sauna house Othership runs $58 for a 75-minute sweat.

Do you also need to invest in a special tub for cold plunges?

Nick McNaught, who runs Toronto’s sauna festival, said existing facilities can work.

“A cold shower is the most accessible, affordable option,” he explained. For an outdoor alternative, Raty recommended a garden hose, or in the winter, “a big pile of snow.”

Final verdict?

Do it if you’re committed to investing in a lifetime of healthful sweating.

Don’t if you think your passion for saunamaxxing will run its course.