How Much Does It Cost to Run the Sauna ?

Budgeting is essential in life, and that’s why people consider the purchasing, installing and running cost of the saunas before making the final decision of getting a home sauna. If you plan to buy the home sauna, you must have this question in mind: how much does it cost to run the sauna?

Because getting and installing the sauna could cost you thousands of dollars, therefore people often think that the cost of running the sauna must be very high. Well, if you think so, you are wrong. A sauna costs you a few cents per session.

The running cost of the sauna depends upon various factors such as the sauna type, the size of the sauna, amount of usage and the electricity rate of your area. With the help of these factors, you can easily calculate the electricity cost of the sauna. However, the running cost also includes the maintenance and cleaning cost. To experience a high-quality sauna, you have to repair and replace certain damaged parts of the sauna, and their replacing cost will be added to the sauna’s running cost.

Therefore, if you are going to calculate the running cost of the sauna, you must calculate the electricity and the maintenance cost of the sauna. The Royal Sauna team is going to help you in this regard. In this blog, we have calculated the running cost of the sauna. So, by reading the following blog,  you will get the idea about the sauna’s running cost, including the electricity and maintenance cost.

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Sauna?

The Royal Sauna has divided the running cost of the sauna into two sub-costs. It includes;

• The Electricity Cost of the Sauna
• The Maintenance and Cleaning Cost of the Sauna

If you want to calculate the actual running cost, you must consider these costs to get a rough idea of the sauna’s possible spending.

Let’s discuss these costs one by one.

The Electricity Cost of the Sauna

The saunas use electricity to run and function properly, and they keep using electricity to give you a warm and soothing ambience. The electricity cost of the sauna depends upon the following factors;

• How often do you use the sauna?
• What is the duration of the sauna sessions?

The more often you use the sauna, the more it costs you in electricity bill, and the longer the sessions are, the more it costs you in electricity bill.

The electricity cost could vary depending on the electricity cost, usage amount and the session duration, and that’s why it is not possible to calculate the exact running cost of the sauna. However, the Royal Sauna team has estimated the electricity cost of the saunas.

The Running Cost of the Infrared Saunas

Infrared saunas and the traditional saunas are different from each other, and therefore, their running cost is different from the traditional saunas. Moreover, the running cost of various sizes of infrared saunas is different from each other.

The Running Cost 2-3 Person Infrared Sauna

2 to 3 person sauna is a small infrared sauna and many users with small installation area love to install the 2 to 3 person sauna. If you have 2 to 3 person sauna in your home, it will cost you nine cents per session. However, the cost could be more or less than this according to the session duration and the electricity rates in your area.

The Running Cost of 4 to 6 Person Infrared Sauna

4 to 6 person sauna is considered a medium sized sauna, and many users love to install it because they want to share the experience with their friends and family. If you intend to install a 4 to 6 person infrared sauna in your home, it will cost you sixteen cents per session. However, the session duration and the electricity rates could affect the cost per session.

The Running Cost of the Traditional Sauna

Many users still prefer the traditional saunas, and the running cost of the traditional saunas is different from the infrared saunas.

The Running Cost of the 2 to 3 Person Traditional Sauna

If you plan to buy a 2 to 3 person traditional sauna, it could cost you more than the infrared sauna. A 2 to 3 person traditional sauna costs you approximately twenty cents per session. However, you must consider the session duration and the cost per unit in your area.

The Running Cost of the 4 to 6 Person Traditional Sauna

If you want to share traditional sauna experience, you can get 4 to 6 person traditional sauna.  A 4 to 6 person traditional sauna approximately costs you seventy-two cents per session. However, the cost could be more or less than this because of the duration and the cost per unit.

The Running Cost of the Suana By the Heater Killowatage

Different sauna models have different types of heaters, and various heaters use different kilowatts of electricity. The amount of electricity consumed by the heaters in an hour is measured in kilowatts. With the help of kilowatts you can determine the electricity cost of the sauna heater.

To determine the cost of a single sauna session, you need to multiply the number of kilowatts per hour to the amount of time the heater is running during the session and then multiply it with the electricity rates of your area. Let’s take the example of a traditional sauna that you use for a 15 to 30-minute session.

You have to turn on  traditional sauna 30 minutes before using it, and then you spend 15 to 30 minutes in the sauna. It means the sauna runs for an hour to give you the heat therapy. However, the sauna does not use the electricity for an hour, but it stops using it once it reaches the ideal temperature.  So, we can say that the sauna uses the electricity for 75% of one hour. If the running cost of the electricity in your area is 12 cents per kilowatts per hour, then you can calculate the per session cost by multiplying the kilowatts of the heater to the electricity usage per hour to the average cost per hour.

You will have the following running costs of different kilowatts heaters if you use them for 15 to 30 minutes, and the cost per unit is 12 cents.

• 2 kilowatt heater sauna costs you .18 cents per session.
• 3 kilowatt heater sauna costs you .27 cents per session.
• 6 kilowatt heater sauna cost you .54 cents per session
• 8 kilowatt heater sauna cost you .72 cents per session.
• 9 kilowatt heater sauna cost you .81 cents per session.
• 12 kilowatt heater sauna cost you 1.08 cents per session.

Moreover, if you want to calculate the electricity cost per month of a sauna, you can calculate the cost with the following formula.

The kilowatts of the heater X averages cost per unit x duration of electricity usage x no of days you use the sauna.

Put the values in the formula according to your area and session duration, and you will get an idea about the per month electricity cost of your sauna.

Saunas, both the traditional and the infrared saunas, cost you only a few dollars in electricity and maintenance costs. The saunas are budget-friendly and easier to maintain. Therefore, if you are looking for some options to relax and enjoy, you must get either an infrared or a traditional sauna. You can get the sauna according to your demands, needs and personal choice and preferences.

How Can You save the Electricity Cost of the Sauna?

If you want to stay low on budget and you want to control and reduce the electricity cost of the sauna, the Royal Sauna suggests following the following tips.

Get the Sauna Made with Cedar Wood

The Cedar wood is a high-quality natural insulator, and it keeps the sauna temperature at the ideal level for a long time and ultimately reduces the sauna’s electricity cost. Therefore, if you are going to purchase the sauna, you must get the one made with Cedar wood and you can quickly get it from the Royal Sauna in your favourite design and specifications.

Get an Insulated Sauna

If the sauna is not made with the cedar wood, the Royal Sauna suggests to get the one that has a high-quality insulation because it will prevent the sudden decrease in heat and temperature of the sauna and ultimately reduce the running cost of the sauna.

Use the Sauna Around the Same Time

If multiple people are going to use the sauna, the Royal Sauna suggests using around the same time so that you don’t have to heat up the sauna from scratch. It will save the warm up time and the electricity consumption during that time and ultimately reduce the running cost of the sauna.

Get the Infrared Sauna

The infrared sauna takes less time to heat up and to reach at the ideal temperature and hence it uses less electricity than the traditional saunas. Therefore, it would be best if you get the infrared sauna to save and reduce the running costs of the sauna. You can get the one from the Royal Sauna according to your taste, demand and preferences.

Get a High-quality Sauna

The high-quality saunas are made with high-quality wood and therefore, they could keep the temperature of the sauna at the moderate and the ideal level for a longer time. Moreover, they are equipped with a high-quality heater and increase the temperature with a minimum warm-up time. Therefore, they use less electricity and ultimately reduce the running cost of the sauna.

The Maintenance Cost of the Sauna

Apart from the electricity cost the sauna, you have to consider the maintenance and cleaning cost of the saunas. In the maintenance and cleaning process, you have to consider the following costs.

• A Scheduled Maintenance Visit
• Repair and Replacement of the Sauna Heaters
• Repair and Replacement of the Sauna Parts
• The Cleaning Cost of the Sauna

A Scheduled Maintenance Visit

If you want to enjoy the sauna for a long time and want to increase the lifetime of the sauna, the Royal Sauna suggests you schedule a proper maintenance session after 3 to 6 months. In the planned maintenance session, you have to do the following things.

• Thoroughly clean the sauna
• Look into the damaged parts of the sauna
• Repair and Replace the damaged parts of the sauna heater.

Repair and replace the Sauna Heater Parts

The saunas give you heat therapy because they are equipped with high-quality heaters. Though the heaters in the home saunas last for years, if the heater or some parts of the heater are damaged, the Royal Sauna suggests immediately replacing and repairing them.

The sauna stove or heater elements often get damaged, and you have to replace them to get the heat therapy. You can get the replacement in $50 to $100 depending upon the quality, model, and the area you are getting the replacement and repair.

Replace and Repair the Sauna Parts

The home saunas are made with the high-quality wood and raw material to last for years to give you a lifetime experience. However, like any other product,  if you don’t use them with care, they get damaged, and need repair and replacement of the damaged and broken parts. The Royal Sauna suggests you to hire some professionals to repair and replace the damaged parts of the sauna.

So, while calculating the running cost of the sauna, you have to keep these services and their costs in mind.

Cleaning Costs of the Sauna

To enjoy the sauna experience, make sure to sit in the clean and hygienic sauna. To clean the sauna properly, you need certain products that you can easily get from the market. However, they cost you some additional budget as the running cost of the sauna.

How Can You Reduce the Overall Running Cost of the Sauna?

The running cost of the saunas is already low, and they don’t cost you thousands of dollars in the running costs. However, you can further reduce the running cost of the sauna with a few simple steps.

If you want to save your budget, get a high-quality sauna that is made with red cedar wood and equipped with a high-quality heater that could last for a long time, and you don’t have to spend your money on the repair and replacement of the heater. Moreover, the cedar wood sauna will keep the heat at the ideal level for a longer duration, and the sauna will not consume more electricity to keep the temperature at the ideal level.

Moreover, the Royal Sauna suggests you to clean the sauna regularly, it helps you in maintaining the sauna and keep it efficient for a longer time. If you regularly clean the sauna, you don’t have to spend a lot of budget on the maintenance of the sauna, and it will ultimately reduce the running and maintenance cost of the sauna.

Additionally, the high-quality sauna’s parts and accessories are also made with excellent quality raw material. Therefore, they could last long without any damage and breakage and ultimately reduce the maintenance cost of the sauna. Therefore, getting a high-quality sauna is essential to enjoy the best sauna experience. You can get a high-quality sauna from the Royal Sauna. Contact the Royal Sauna team and get the sauna of your choice from a reliable brand.

Some FAQs About How Much Does a Sauna Cost to Run

Does Sauna Use So Much Electricity?

Many users are concerned about the running costs of the saunas, and they ask this question: if the saunas use so much electricity? The answer is NO, the saunas don’t use so much electricity, and it’s just a myth.  On average, the saunas use less than $5 electricity in a week.  You can easily calculate the running cost of the saunas with the above-mentioned formula.

How Much Does a Sauna Cost Per Month?

The per month cost of the sauna depends upon various factors such as; the electricity cost per unit, the session duration, number of days you are using the sauna. You can calculate the per month cost of the sauna with the following formula.

Per month cost of the sauna= The kilowatts of the heater X averages cost per unit x duration of electricity usage x no of days you use the sauna.

Are There Any Sauna Heaters that Run on Gas?

Yes, there are sauna heaters that run on gas, but they are very few. Moreover, they are much more expensive, and they cost you a lot of budget. Furthermore, they are not suitable for the home saunas. If you are planning to get a home sauna, the Royal Sauna suggests you not to get the gas heater.

How Much Does a Sauna Cost to Build?

The cost of building a sauna varies according to the model, size, type and area you are getting the home sauna. On average, an entry level small sized sauna costs you $1,000. A medium level sauna costs you $2,000 to $4,000. However, a customized sauna with premium quality could cost you $3,000 to $6,000.

What is the Installation Cost of the Indoor Sauna?

The indoor sauna is comparatively easier to install than the outdoor sauna. You don’t have to build the solid concrete pad under the sauna as it is already there.  However, you need to install a proper drainage and ventilation system in your indoor home sauna. On average, an indoor sauna cost could range between $1,000 to $2,000. To get the precise information about the installation cost of the sauna, contact the professionals in your area.

Are Saunas Expensive to Run?

Many new users believe that the home saunas are expensive to run. However, the fact is quite opposite to it. The Saunas are not that much more expensive to run; they only cost you a few cents in an hour long session and cost you a few dollars in a month. You can get an idea of  the running cost of the sauna according to the electricity cost of your area.

How Much Does a Sauna Cost Per Year?

The per year cost of the saunas depends on the various factors. If the electricity cost per unit in your area is 12 cents, you use the sauna for 30 minutes. You will get the following per year costs.

• 2 kilowatt heater sauna costs you $65.70 in a year.
• 3 kilowatt heater sauna cost you $98.55 in a year.
• 5 kilowatt heater sauna cost you $147.83 in a year.
• 6 kilowatt heater sauna cost you $197.10 in a year.
• 8 kilowatt heater sauna cost you $262.80 in a year.
• 9 kilowatt heater sauna cost you $295.65 in a year.
• 10 kilowatt heater sauna cost you $328.50 in a year.
• 12 kilowatt heater sauna cost you $394.20 in a year.
• 15 kilowatt heater sauna cost you $492.70 in a year.

How Much Does a 10 Year of Sauna Ownership Cost?

If you want to estimate the ownership cost of the sauna for ten years, it would cost you $2,500, including the electricity and maintenance cost.

Does a Sauna Add Value to Your Home?

The saunas are your one time investment, and they could cost you thousands of dollars in purchasing and installation. Therefore, many users ask that if they spend thousands of dollars purchasing the sauna, will they increase the home value? The answer is, YES. They will increase the home value and enhance the beauty and look of your home.

How Much Does a Small Sauna Cost to Run?

A small infrared sauna costs you nine cents per session, and a small sized traditional sauna cost you approximately twenty seven cents per session. However, the running cost of the small sized sauna according to the area, cost per unit and the size of the sauna.