10 Best Sauna Heaters: Electric, Gas, Wood
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A sauna runs best when it has an appropriate heater. The heater is the heart of the sauna and is used to heat the sauna room. Hence, it needs to have enough power to provide the correct temperature to the people using the sauna.
Saunas help in maintaining your overall health. However, saunas are also used for relaxation. There is nothing better than relaxing in a sauna after a tiresome day at work. This relaxation is achieved through the heat energy present inside a sauna. No heater equals no sauna! Hence, it is crucial to get the correct sauna heater.
Currently, three types of sauna heaters are in use; traditional, gas, and electric heaters. The traditional heater uses wood as the primary fuel, while the gas needs well gas in the form of natural or LPG fuel. The electric heaters are currently the most popular because of the cost and ease of use. Electric heaters also help in having finer control over the temperature of a sauna.
In this article, we have tried to give you a comprehensive guide to ten of the best sauna heaters available in the market. We have gone in-depth for each product to help you choose the best one.
Busy and no time to read extensive reviews? Here’s a quick look at the top sauna heaters.
Our Top Picks – Sauna Heater Comparison
Best High-Quality Electric Sauna Heater: Vevor Sauna Heater, for best heating capacity, durability, and powerful heating.
Best Commercial Use Electric Sauna Heater: Turku Sauna Heater, for overheating protection, efficient digital temperature controller, and large capacity.
Best Traditional Wood Sauna Heater: Harvia M3 Sauna Heater, for a fabulous heating capacity, an affordable price, and for giving out a warm glow.
Best Reputable Electric Sauna Heater: Finlandia FLB-60 Sauna Heater, for efficient programmability, corrosion resistance, and durability, along with being a reputed maker of sauna heaters.
What are the Best Sauna Heaters? – Detailed Analysis
Type: Electric Power: 9kW Unit Size: 15.7 x 11 x 22.4 inches Room Size: Up to 913 ft3 Construction: Aluminium alloy Highest Temperature: 105°C Controls: Temperature and time control knobs Dry/Wet Sauna: Dry Maximum Working Time: 4 hours Best Features: Easy to install, fast heating Warranty: No warranty
Vevor is the best sauna heater we have come across. Vevor sauna heater is a treat to the eyes thanks to its elegant design and stainless steel finishes.
The company offers heaters with varying heating capacity.
The model we are reviewing here is of maximum heating capacity that is enough for a 7-8 person sauna.
This 9KW sauna heater can be used for commercial purposes.
To start with, it comes packed in a stainless steel shell which, in turn, is known for its durability and rust-resistance.
The heating coil is of the same material with an advantage of fast heating and power-efficient design.
Though the heater cannot be connected to a smart device, you can manually maneuver the setting via the controls at the front.
The mechanical knobs offer temperature and time adjustment and are pretty handy.
Last but not least, it arrives pretty much pre-assembled and so the installation is a breeze.
The Verdict If you have been meaning to maintain a traditional-type sauna, then the Vevor sauna heater is one of the best sauna heaters you can get. It has the best qualities of the electric sauna, including the high temperature. The best part about it has to be the quick heating which makes your establishment run faster. Also, little to no manual effort is needed to run a sauna if you happen to have this model.
Type: Electric Power: 9kW Unit Size: 15.7 x 11 x 22.4 inches Room Size: Up to 450 ft3 Construction: Aluminium alloy Highest Temperature: 90°C Controls: Temperature and time digital control with display Dry/Wet Sauna: Wet and Dry Best Features: Overheating protection, affordable maintenance Warranty: No warranty
Turku Sauna Heater is the most affordable heavy duty sauna in our list.
In many of its features, it is similar to the Vevor model we discussed above.
They both allow for wall mounting; they both are high power heaters and lastly, they both are suitable for commercial purposes as they can handle 7-8 users, and even more, at a time.
Apart from the cheap price tag, the one obvious benefit of this heater is the external digital controller.
It allows you to control the temperature and timing of the heater without having to touch it.
The sauna heater can fill upto 30-40 lbs stones, and can provide for both wet and dry heating sessions.
To keep users on the safe side, it is equipped with an overheating protection unit.
It promptly shuts down the heater if the temperature inside the home sauna rises to abnormally high level.
The Verdict The Turku sauna heater is a great product for those who are looking for an affordable yet powerful sauna heater. This is a well-made product that comes with overheating protection. It is great for a commercial sauna institution that needs a heater that can work for both wet and dry conditions.
Type: Wood Power: N/A Unit Size: 153/8 x 17 x 28 inches Room Size: up to 459 ft3 Construction: Galvanized Metal with stainless steel Controls: Through the glass door Dry/Wet Sauna: Wet and Dry Best Features: Glass door for warm glow Warranty: No warranty
Harvia is the leader in the sauna manufacturing industry. This M3 sauna heater attests to the quality and class of Harvia products.
To begin with, this wood burning sauna is a little heavy and larger in size than its electric counterparts.
However, the overall design doesn’t fail to impress you.
The Harvia sauna heater is made up of stainless steel that is protected against rusting.
The glass door at the bottom allows for the warm glow of the fire to complement the sauna atmosphere.
The M3 sauna heaters are fairly cheaper than the electric sauna stoves of the same size and capacity, however, it requires more effort to maintain and has high operational cost.
You must take into consideration that wood burning heaters have usually unregulated heat and take more time to heat up sauna rooms.
On the plus side, you will enjoy an intense heating session.
The Verdict Many people like traditional wood burning saunas, and this device connects it to them. It can also be connected with a water pump, which is great to heat water. The best thing about this sauna heater has to be the glass door that allows the glow of fire to seep into the sauna along with the smell of burning wood.
Type: Electric Power: 6 kW Unit Size: 16 x 11 x 24 inches Room Size: up to 300 ft3 Construction: Stainless steel Controls: Temperature and time control knobs Dry/Wet Sauna: Dry Best Features: Countdown feature, programmability, corrosion resistance Warranty: No warranty
Finlandia is another reputable brand in the sauna manufacturing industry.
If you are looking for a lightweight sauna with an average heating capacity, this sauna is the best option for you.
You will get sauna stones with the purchase.
The most striking feature in this heater is its programmability.
You can set the timer precisely 8 hours prior to the sauna bath so you won’t have to wait for the sauna to heat up.
The timer can be set using mechanical knobs at the front, there is no digital controller for it.
This 6kw sauna heater is enough for heating a sauna with 4-5 person maximum capacity.
The heating filament is of professional grade and has reasonably high heating power.
The most affordable heavy-duty sauna, perfect for commercial use, can handle 7-8 people. Comes equipped with an overheating protection unit that ensures you have a worry-free peaceful sauna session. Its external digital controller allows you to manage temperature and timing without having to touch it. inless steel to ensure corrosion resistance and durability. It can be mounted on the wall.
Last but not least, Finlandia sauna heaters are approved by all major European and the US authorities for its conformity with health, safety and environment protection standards.
The Verdict If you want to install a good looking sauna heater that also does a phenomenal job, then Finlandia has got the product for you. The corrosion resistant body of this sauna heater ensures that it will stay beautiful for a long time. Additionally, the programmability and control knobs make this a great tool for those who like to toggle with their sauna experience.
Type: Electric Power: 6.8 kW Unit Size: 14 x 13 x 40 inches Room Size: up to 354 ft3 Construction: Stainless steel Controls: Harvia Xenio Digital Wall Control Dry/Wet Sauna: Wet and Dry Best Features: Outside controls, appealing shape, space saving Warranty: No warranty
With Cilindro 7, Harvia has come up with the best electric sauna heater.
This heater’s cylindrical design is a major break with the normally found saunas in the market.
The compact design allows it to save space without compromising on heating capacity.
Also, it can carry up to 200 lbs stones and need minimal effort to service and operate.
Mechanical knobs to control temperature and timer are absent in this model, however users will get a treat in the form of a digital controller.
The controller performs the similar function but it is more convenient to use than knobs.
Lastly, its design lets you generate two kinds of steam: soft steam by throwing the water on sides and an intense steam by pouring the water on the top. It’s perfect for your home steam sauna.
The Verdict Gone are the days when sauna heaters had to be chunky and required huge space. The cylindrical shape of Harvia Cilindro 7 sauna heater will be loved by those who like space saving devices. This heater is also great for those who are looking for an electric sauna heater that can stay on for a longer period of time. Also, the digital controls make this gadget easy to handle compared to other similar products.
Type: Electric Power: 6 kW Unit Size: 25 x 17 x 12 inches Room Size: up to 354 ft3 Maximum Heating Duration: 4 hours Construction: Galvanized sheet Controls: Digital Control, Knob controls Highest Temperature: 105°C Dry/Wet Sauna: Dry Best Features: Outside controls, internal safety mechanism Warranty: No warranty
This Aleko Coasts sauna stove is famous for its durability and affordability.
For those who are on a shoestring budget, and still want to have a reliable home sauna heater, this one is highly suitable.
Not that this heater offers something extraordinary than others in our list but the fact that it offers them in a limited budget is striking.
It has a stainless steel frame that is resistant to rusting, corrosion and high temperature.
To control the temperature and timing of the heater, you can use both the mechanical knobs at the front and the digital control panel that is included in the package.
Other striking features of this sauna stove include energy efficient coil and the internal safety mechanism.
It automatically shuts off when the temperature in the room rises to dangerously high levels.
Lastly, it takes little to no effort to install.
With regular tools and a little know-how of electric circuits, you can easily install it within minutes.
The Verdict Are you in hunt of a good electric sauna heater for an affordable price? If yes, then the Aleko Coasts sauna heater is perfect for you. It stands out for the internal safety mechanism that helps to keep the sauna space safe and secure. This is a good sauna heater especially for a personal sauna, and controlling it is very easy even for a novice sauna user.
Type: Electric Power: 2 kW Unit Size: N/A Room Size: up to 90 ft3 Construction: Galvanized sheet Controls: Knob controls Dry/Wet Sauna: Wet and Dry Best Features: Overheating protection, teflon coated heating elements Warranty: No warranty
Turku Mini sauna heater is one top of the line electric heater that is suitable for 1-2 person saunas.
This is the second product by the same company in our list, and has a lot in common with its heavy duty counterpart.
The key advantage of this heater is the ease of installation.
You don’t need any special cricut or wiring to operate it.
All you have to do is to plugin the switch, and the heater is ready to be used. However, it cannot operate for more than one hour.
As far as the built quality is concerned, Turku has taken special care of it in all its products.
The stainless steel design is resistant to high temperature and mainly to corrosion.
The teflon coated heated element heats up the stones and ultimately the sauna quite efficiently, whereas the vents inside ensure the proper air circulation.
This heater doesn’t come without a safety mechanism installed.
The heater automatically shuts down once the temperature inside it or in the sauna rises to unbearable extremes.
The Verdict The Turku Mini sauna heater is perfect to use in home and personal sauna. It can only heat up a small space, but the heat given out by it is phenomenal. Also, the teflon coated heating elements last for a long time. It can also be used for both wet and dry sauna, hence, you can definitely enjoy the steamy sauna baths with the help of this heater.
Type: Electric Power: 8.3 kW Unit Size: 19 x 13.5 x 7 inches Room Size: up to 420 ft3 Construction:Thermosafe casing Controls: Thermostat control Dry/Wet Sauna: Wet and Dry Best Features: Beautiful design, enhanced controls, casing Warranty: No warranty
Not even a single product in our list can come close to this heater, if we take elegance and aesthetics as the only measures of our assessment criteria.
Tylo nailed it, as far as the design is concerned.
It is encased in a dark thermosafe casing. The chances of getting hurt by accidently touching the heater are minimized.
On the inside, there is a stainless steel body with a vented design.
There is a small opening on the top to ladle water and to add aromatherapy fragrance.
Also, sauna stones are included in the package so you will save a little money in the deal.
Sense Sport 8 heater has been approved by top quality assurance authorities in the US and Europe.
It is certified for safety, health and environmental protection.
The Tylo sauna heater is a large sized heater and draws maximum power while running at full capacity.
Therefore, it is not a good choice to be used at home.
Its installation requires special circuit and wiring, and it takes an electrician to do the job.
The Verdict The Tylo Sense Sport 8 sauna heater is a premium looking product that works well for commercial sauna spaces that need a heavy duty machine. The thermosafe coating of this heater makes it extra safe. This is also great for places that need to heat the place quickly and maintain the heat for a long time.
Type: Electric Power: 8 kW Unit Size: 23 x 16 x 11 inches Room Size: up to 425 ft3 Construction: Galvanized steel Controls: Digital control Dry/Wet Sauna: Dry Best Features: Sauna stones included, Rust proof Warranty: No warranty
Amerec is offering this sauna heater in three different models. They have the same design but different capacities.
The largest of them, the 8 kW model is the product we are reviewing.
The major benefit of this sauna heater is the digital remote control.
You can control the temperature and timing of the heater with the ease of a single press.
There are no mechanical knobs on the heater.
There are little chances that you get impressed by its looks.
The heater is a little heavy and the manufacturer chose a very poor color scheme.
However, the construction is sturdy enough to withstand high temperature and rusting.
Furthermore, being a high power heater, it needs special wiring and a separate connection.
You would have to hire an electrician to properly install it.
Last but not least, it comes with 50 lb sauna stones making it a worth investing heater.
The Verdict The Amerec sauna heater might look like a heater from the past years, but it comes with a digital control which makes maneuvering it easy. The high power capacity of this heater is perfect for heating up a bigger sauna space that may sit 5-6 people. The company even includes the sauna stones, so you wouldn’t need to spend time searching for it.
10. Vico Sauna Heater
Type: Gas BTU: 40,000 Unit Size: 23 x 16 x 11 inches Construction: Stainless steel Dry/Wet Sauna: Dry Best Features: Through-the-wall fuel cap venting, overheating protection Warranty: No warranty
Vico sauna heater is the only gas heater in our list.
Gas heaters should be preferred where natural or LP gas is in abundance, whereas this model by Vico is most suitable for large saunas in gym, hotels and spa.
This model has all in all stainless steel design which is treated to protect it against corrosion and high temperature.
Through the wall flue cap venting ensures proper air circulation so you get an intense steaming session.
Most people are wary of the safety of the gas heaters, and it is right to be concerned.
Gas heaters are the most dangerous type after the electric ones, and therefore they should be equipped with an internal safety mechanism.
Vico has installed a built-in thermal cutout in this heater to protect it against overheating.
Lastly, this gas heater is built to last for years.
It is easier to install and maintain, and if used commercially, have low operational cost.
The Verdict The Vico sauna heater is the only gas powered sauna heater in this list. Even though it is a gas heater, the product runs on liquid propane, making it much more cost effective than other similar sauna heaters. It is well vented for better air circulation, and its capacity makes the heater a great product for commercial spaces like gyms and hotels. Moreover, this heater is built in a way that it will last for years.
Types of Sauna Heaters
Sauna heaters come primarily in three main types: electric, gas and wood.
We will discuss each one of these heaters in detail and their respective pluses and drawbacks –
1. Traditional Sauna Heaters (Wood)
Advantages
- This is one of the cheapest ways to heat a sauna room.
- It is the traditional method of heating a sauna.
- Wood heaters provide the ambience of early saunas.
- A wood heater can be used in both wet and dry saunas.
- Powerful heating capacity for use in bigger saunas.
Disadvantages
- The heat inside the sauna can’t be fully regulated.
- Buying the correct wood can become costly at times.
- One needs to be extra careful with fire safety hazards.
- The temperature inside traditionally heated saunas can be excessive for people who are sensitive to heat.
2. Electric Sauna Heaters
Advantages
- The heat inside a sauna can be easily controlled.
- It is cheap to maintain the electric sauna heater.
- Can be easily operated by someone who is using a sauna for the first time.
- A better heater for indoor saunas.
- Little to no manual effort is needed to work this heater.
Disadvantages
- The initial cost of getting an electric sauna heater is expensive.
- One will need to pay regular utility bills.
- This type of sauna also has a relatively high temperature range.
3. Gas Sauna Heaters
Advantage
- Heating is comparatively quicker with gas heaters.
- It is good for commercial sauna places that have larger capacities.
- Gas-powered sauna heaters can run for a long time.
- Good for places where a high temperature range is required.
- Gas-powered sauna heaters are used in steam saunas for quick heating.
Disadvantage
- Requires regular maintenance which has a high price.
- Investing in gas will cost you money.
- It isn’t eco friendly if you are using petroleum based gas.
- Operating it can be a little more technical.
4. Infrared Sauna Heaters
Advantages
- These sauna heaters are good for home use.
- The temperature range can be easily controlled.
- Doesn’t make the sauna goer uncomfortable, rather targets our body from the inside.
- Cheaper to maintain on the longer run.
- It is an eco-friendly sauna heater.
- Operating the infrared sauna is easier.
Disadvantages
- The initial cost of getting the infrared sauna heater is high.
- Maintenance can be on the costlier side.
- Doesn’t work well for commercial places.
- Not great for clubbing with wet saunas.
Electric vs. Far Infrared Sauna Heaters
You may have noticed that we have mentioned four types of sauna heaters in this article. Among the four, the electric and infrared sauna heaters are the most available products in the market. The infrared sauna heaters are also known as the far-infrared heater based on the infrared rays that are used.
We thought it is important to lay down the differences between the electric and far infrared sauna heaters so that you can choose the best. One of the most basic differences lies in the source of heat. The electric sauna heater uses electricity as the source that helps to heat the filament that heats the room. On the other hand, the far infrared sauna heaters use a far-infrared bulb that infrared rays. The rays help in heating a person from inside rather than just heating the environment.
This brings us to the difference in temperature. In an electrically heated sauna, the temperature is somewhere around 90-105°C. The temperature range is quite hot, and a person should spend no more than 20 minutes inside the sauna. However, the temperature inside a far-infrared heated sauna room is around 40-65°C or even lesser in some cases. This allows people to stay inside these rooms for longer periods of 30-40 minutes. Profuse sweating takes place inside both types of sauna irrespective of the temperature.
In the case of an electricity-powered sauna room, one needs to pour water on the stones to increase humidity in the space. At the same time, the humidity levels in a far infrared sauna remain steady because of the moderate temperature. This makes the far infrared saunas relatively better for people who suffer from skin sensitivity. However, the traditional saunas do offer a temperature range that can never be found in the case of infrared saunas.
Another difference between the sauna heaters exists in the time required to heat a room. There is little to no prep time needed for the far-infrared heater as it may start acting on a person as soon as it is turned on. However, the traditional electric sauna heaters have a waiting time range of 30-60 minutes for heating the room.
Traditional saunas are often a group experience because of its prevalence in commercial places like spa and gyms. 5-6 or even more people can enjoy traditional saunas at the same time. However, in the case of far-infrared saunas, the number might be limited to just two people. Far infrared saunas are getting popular as private home saunas.
The last thing to mention is the cost of maintaining and running the sauna heaters. Electric sauna heaters will require regular utility costs, which might be on the higher side. But, the heaters are quite affordable to buy. On the other hand, infrared heaters are much more expensive to purchase. But, running costs are far less when compared to electric sauna heaters.
How to Choose A Sauna Heater?
This comprehensive buying guide will help you steer clear of making the wrong choices.
If possible, make a checklist of these features whenever you are out looking for a sauna heater to buy.
1. Quality
The first and foremost feature to look for is the construction of the sauna heater. This should preferably be made of stainless steel which is strong, durable and rust-resistant. Don’t forget that you will be pouring water on this heater so rust resilience is extremely important
2. Heater Type
Size
Heater size is dependent on your sauna size and capacity – the larger the size of the sauna, the larger the size of heater you will need. A good rule of thumb is 50 cubic feet = 1 kilowatt. So if you have a 400 cubic ft sauna room, you will need an 8-kilowatt heater.
Heat source
There are three main heat sources for the type of dry heat that you’re after for a sauna – electric, gas and wood.
The choice of any of them is a personal preference. However, the electric heaters are the most convenient to use and also the most reliable.
Heat up time
The wood heaters take more than an hour to heat up, and are difficult to maintain, but on the other hand they have that rustic feel and are the closest to a ‘traditional sauna experience’ if that’s what you’re after.
Gas heaters are more suitable for commercial purposes, and they also take a considerable amount of time to heat up the sauna.
Electric heaters take less time than others to heat up the sauna, and most importantly, they can be put on a timer so the sauna is nice and toasty when you arrive home from work.
Stone capacity
One way to measure the power of a sauna heater is to find out its stone or rock capacity. In a nutshell, the stone capacity means the sauna heater is capable of heating up a certain weight equivalent of sauna rocks. The higher the capacity the more powerful a sauna heater is.
3. Cost
The cost of sauna heaters depends mainly on its heating capacity and heat source type. The gas sauna heaters are the most expensive, whereas the electric sauna heaters are the most affordable for home saunas.
The wood heaters may come cheap initially, but they have a high operational cost – unless you own your own trees you can cut down for wood and then it becomes very economical.
For home saunas, for my money the electric sauna stove wins hands down. All the premium sauna manufacturing companies offer warranty and stand by their products and most offer a 2 year warranty.
4. Look
The design and look of a heater has nothing to do with how it works, but who doesn’t want to have an aesthetically pleasing heater in the sauna? Most preferably, the heater should be compact and is of color that matches the interior decor of the sauna.
5. Assembly
Sauna heaters usually require manual assembly. In most cases, it requires a certain level of expertise to install the heaters. Electric heaters should always be connected to the electricity by a qualified electrician. After all, you will be pouring water on this heater – you need to know it’s safe.
When given an option, the preassembled heaters should always be preferred.
6. Extra features
Electric sauna heaters and usually programmable and some even have a smartphone app. Wood burning sauna heaters, on the other hand, offer hot water tanks as an extra.
Final Thoughts
Of all the heaters we have discussed above, Tylo Sense Sport 8 Sauna Heater is the most stylish and reliable.
It checks all the boxes of a good home sauna heater.
Tylo is recognized as one of the best sauna heater brands out there making it a trustworthy product.
But the ultimate choice, however, rests with you. Choose what fits your needs.
FAQs
→ What is the best sauna heater?
The best sauna heater is the Vevor Sauna Heater. We compared it with 35 models. Read our review on Vevor here.
→ How do I choose a sauna heater?
To choose a sauna heater, you need to consider the size, cost, quality, design, heat sources, heat up time, stone capacity, and extra offerings. Learn more about how to choose a sauna heater.
→ How much does a sauna heater cost?
A sauna heater may cost something between $200-1200. That said, the cost is just one of the criteria you should consider when you want to buy a sauna heater. Learn about all the things you need to consider when choosing a sauna heater.
→ What size heater do I need for my sauna?
To figure out what size of the heater you need for your sauna, you need to follow a formula which is – 50 cubic feet = 1 kilowatt. Say, you have a 400 cubic feet sauna room, you need an 8-kilowatt heater.
→ How long do sauna heaters last?
Sauna heaters can last for upto 20 years but it comes down to how well the heater was made and how you are taking care of it. Most sauna heaters come with a warranty of 1 to 5 years.
→ What is the best sauna heater for my sauna rooms?
The best sauna heater is the Vevor Sauna Heater. We compared it with 35 different models and Vevor came up on top. But it might not be best suited for you. Check out our post on how to choose the best sauna heater.
→ Is it safe to put water on an electric sauna heater?
No, it’s not safe to put water on an electric sauna stove. It’s dangerous. Water may cause short circuits which can lead to a fire.
→ What is the difference between an electric and an infrared sauna heater?
The biggest difference between an electric and infrared sauna is the heat they produce. Unlike an electrical sauna, infrared saunas is equipped with heating elements that causes the body to sweat at a low temperature. Moreover, the electric heater heats the air which in turn heats the body. Infrared heater on the other hand, heats the body directly but at a low temperature.
→ Are sauna heaters safe?
Yes, sauna heaters are safe. Manufacturers ensure that their product is not harmful to their customers. Even then, you should follow basic measures like not touching the heater when it’s hot, not pouring water over an electric heater, etc.
Found the best sauna heaters of your sauna rooms, or do you need more help? Leave a comment below with all your doubts and queries. We’ll get back to you asap.
Hi, my name is Mark, I am a fitness enthusiast and sauna lover. All About Sauna is a project dedicated to helping others make important decisions related to sauna and wellness.
