Sauna heater comparison

A sauna heater is the heart of every Finnish sauna. It heats the stones and the air, and gives you steam when you pour water on the stones. On this page you can compare heaters from several retailers and find a model that suits the size of your cabin.

Types of sauna heater

• Electric sauna heater: easy to use and to control. It is the most common choice for indoor saunas and for many garden saunas.
• Wood-fired sauna stove: needs no power and gives a traditional feel. You do need firewood and a safe chimney, so it is mostly used outdoors.
• Heater with separate control unit: some models use an external panel, others have the controls on the heater itself.

With a Finnish heater the air reaches about 70 to 100 °C. Warm-up takes about 30 to 60 minutes. The steam from water on the hot stones is called löyly, and many people find it relaxing.

Which sauna heater power do you need?

Sauna heaters usually range from 3.5 to 9 kW. A rule of thumb is 1 kW for every 1 to 1.5 m³ of cabin volume. So measure the length, width and height of your cabin and multiply them. Glass walls or cold outer walls can mean you need a bit more power. The product details usually state which cabin size a heater suits. A heater that is too small has to work hard and takes longer to warm up the cabin.

Our sauna heater guide explains how to choose step by step.

230 V or 400 V?

Heaters up to about 3.6 kW can often run on a normal 230 V connection. Larger heaters need 400 V three-phase power. Always ask a qualified electrician to check your connection and to install the heater safely. Check this before you order, because it affects the total cost of your sauna.

Where is a heater used?

You need a heater for a Finnish sauna, for a barrel or garden sauna and for a hybrid sauna, which combines a heater with infrared emitters. An infrared cabin does not need a heater.

SaunaSteamer does not sell heaters itself. You can filter by persons, price, wood and heating, and then buy directly from the retailer. That way you see the options from several shops at once.