Note: This 2024 comparison of the top-rated home saunas for longevity is the second article in our investigation of heat therapy and life extension. The first article covered the longevity benefits of sauna use, and went in-depth on the scientific research around how the body’s heat shock response may help you live longer. Be sure to read it first before continuing here!

If you read my previous article on the science behind sauna use and heat therapy for longevity, you’ll know I came away from that research much more impressed with heat therapy than with cold therapy.

While there was a dearth of good, conclusive, randomized controlled trials for cold therapy, when it came to heat therapy, I found the studies much more numerous and compelling.

Heat therapy, and particularly sauna use, seems to have beneficial effects on all kinds of health outcomes including:

• -Improved cardiovascular health
• -Improved mood
• -Improved muscle strength
• -Improved lung function
• -Reduced risk for dementia
• -Lower all-cause mortality risk

With quite a bit more besides.

And though there are risks to sauna use, most can be mitigated with some basic planning and careful, supervised use.

Plus the benefits of heat therapy for longevity seemed to hold not just for dry (sometimes known as “Finnish”) sauna bathing, but also infrared sauna (also called “Waon” therapy), and even hot water immersion (like hot tubs).

Since not everyone has access to a gym or rec center which has a sauna, and since having something at home, and easily accessible, makes you more likely to use it (as the adjustable dumbbells by my work desk can attest), I figured I’d research some at-home sauna products.

Read on to see some of the great options I found for home saunas, including some top portable saunas, infrared saunas, barrel saunas and more!

Important: Heatstroke can kill, and people with certain heart conditions, like unstable angina pectoris and recent heart attack, should exercise caution when attempting any kind of heat therapy. Please talk to your doctor before using a sauna for longevity, and always have someone else around to supervise and watch over you. Never sauna bathe when drunk or hungover.

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The top-rated home saunas for longevity

Sauna benefits seem to be dose-dependent. That means the more often you use the sauna, the greater the benefits.

For example, a 2015 observational study found that people who used the sauna 4-7 times weekly had about a 50% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and 40% lower all-cause mortality risk compared to those who used the sauna only once weekly (those using the sauna 2-3 times a week fell right in the middle).

And it’s not just traditional Finnish dry saunas that appear to have these benefits. “Waon” therapy, otherwise known as far infrared sauna therapy, seems to confer similar benefits, including improved cardiac biomarkers and better vascular function. 

Infrared sauna may even be better in some ways than Finnish sauna as it can elevate core body temperatures faster and more efficiently. A 2021 review noted: 

“The infrared waves generated by these saunas are able to penetrate the skin, effectively heating the body from the inside out. Thus lower air temperatures are required compared with Finnish sauna to achieve similar (or greater) increases in body core temperature.”

But, while the positive health evidence for sauna use is pretty convincing, as anyone with a gym membership can attest, oftentimes the hardest part of a workout is just getting out of the house to go to the gym in the first place.

On the other hand, when something is easy, nearby, and accessible, there isn’t as much of a psychological barrier to using it.

That’s why a home sauna makes sense: sure, there may be one at your gym but, being honest with yourself, are you really going to go over there every single day to use it? Even when it’s raining out? Or the traffic’s bad?

Unfortunately, unlike cold plunging, which can be cheaply replicated at home with ice bags and a bathtub, there aren’t a lot of budget methods for at-home heat therapy (though we will cover some cheap sauna options at the end, so stick with us!). 

And while dedicated cold plunges can cost between $2,000-$5,000, dedicated saunas typically start in the $5,000-and-up range (I even encountered one that was $25,000+ while researching this article).

However, there are a couple potential options to help you get the benefits of sauna therapy for longevity without selling a kidney to afford them.

Home sauna alternatives

There are some ways to “trial” heat therapy for your longevity routine before fully committing to a $5,000+ home sauna.

• –Gyms/clubs/spas and clinics: I know I just went on about how you’re less likely to use a sauna if it’s at an external location like a gym, but if you already have a gym membership (or are planning to get one) finding a gym with a sauna is an easy way to get access to sauna benefits without spending any more money than you were planning to anyway. Sure, you may only use it 2-3 times a week after a workout, but that’s still better than never.
• –Hot tubs: Hot water immersion may actually work better than sauna use for elevating core body temperature to the all-important 101.3°F (38.5°C) used in studies. That’s because water has a higher thermal conductivity than air and can heat your body faster. Most studies of hot water immersion used water heated to 105°F (40.5°C). Hot tubs, especially pre-owned or refurbished ones, can be much cheaper than getting a sauna (often half the cost or less).
• –Cold plunges with heaters: For the same reasons hot tubs can provide significant heat therapy benefits, many of the cold plunges I covered in my previous article come equipped with heaters as well that can get water to 105°F (40.5°C). I included the ones that have heaters in a section towards the bottom of this article.
• –Cheaper sauna blanket and portable options: Infrared sauna blankets and portable tent-like steam saunas can provide heating benefits at a fraction the cost of traditional saunas (hundreds, instead of thousands of dollars). I’ve included a whole section of these at the end of the article as well.

What about DIY saunas?

Unfortunately, unlike cold plunges where DIY can be as cheap as a bag of ice and a bathtub, you’re unlikely to get the same sauna benefits by hotboxing your closet (and I would highly recommend against trying!).

Even DIY sauna building is expensive, with the extensive sauna building guide from Trumpkin (a bible in the DIY sauna space and chock full of great information) estimating a home sauna build can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $12,000 (without paying for contractors, it only goes up from there), which is not any less than the price range I found for already-built home saunas you can buy.

The main benefit to DIYing a home sauna seems to be you have a lot more control over layout, location, and amenities than with a store-bought sauna.

With all that out of the way, let’s get into the products themselves!

Saunas are broken out by section, and then ordered alphabetically by company name.

Best at-home traditional saunas

1. Aquavoss Solitude traditional sauna

• Price: $11,999
• 1-person sauna
• Indoor-suitable
• Premium wood and metal construction

Kicking off at the high-end price-wise, the Aquavoss Solitude is a traditional Finnish dry sauna for one person. It’s been built to fit indoors, with a slim design to squeeze into any empty corners or unused space. If you’re interested in premium construction and design in a compact package, the Solitude fits the bill.

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2. Divine Saunas Knotty Cedar Outdoor Barrel Sauna

• Price: $5,730 ($6,729 with added Harvia heater)
• 2-person sauna
• Outdoor-suitable
• Easy-to-assemble sauna kit with lots of customization options

Designed by Dundalk Leisurecraft out of Ontario, Canada, this is one of the best barrel sauna options for people wanting to customize their sauna experience. With each sauna custom-built, there are a range of options you can choose from, from more windows, to an added changing room and porch, to different heater types and larger sizes to accommodate more people.

Because each sauna is custom-built, expect a delivery time of 8-10 weeks.

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3. Divine Saunas Cabin Indoor Sauna

• Price: $7,552 ($8,551 with added Harvia heater)
• 2-person sauna
• Indoor-suitable
• Easy-to-assemble sauna kit with lots of customization options

Also designed by Dundalk Leisurecraft, this top 2-person indoor sauna has a similar level of customization to their barrel sauna. Not only can you change heater type, and door and windows placement, you can also opt for different sizes depending on the number of people you want to accommodate.

Again, because these saunas are built-to-order expect a delivery time of 4-6 weeks.

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4. Redwood Outdoors Thermowood Barrel Sauna

• Price: $5,599
• 4-6-person sauna
• Outdoor suitable
• Harvia heater included

Built with heat-treated “thermowood” to increase durability and longevity, this top-rated barrel sauna is a comparative deal. While it lacks the extensive customization options of the Divine Saunas Leisurecraft products, there are still some upgrade options, especially around different heaters. And with a much lower base price (with heater included) the Redwood saunas are an easier entry point for most.

While it claims to be for six people, the dimensions will likely make that a tight squeeze. Four people is probably a more realistic fit for the base option.

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5. Redwood Outdoors Thermowood Indoor Sauna

• Price: $4,599
• 3-person sauna
• Indoor suitable
• Harvia heater included

Similar to their outdoor barrel sauna, this indoor cabin-like sauna from Redwood Outdoors is built with heat-treated “thermowood.” It’s also a lower-cost entry sauna for people wanting a basic option to put in their home.

Expect shipping to take 3-5 weeks.

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6. SunHome Saunas Canadian Cedar Barrel Sauna

• Price: $10,649
• 4-person sauna
• Outdoor suitable
• 7KW Huum DROP heater included

Another lux option, this outdoor barrel sauna comes with an included heater and digital control pad. The heater allows temperatures up to 220°F (though recall from my article on the science behind sauna use that you only need temperatures of 158°F- 212°F to get the health benefits).

Expect shipping to take 8-12 weeks.

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Best at-home infrared saunas

7. Dynamic Saunas Barcelona infrared sauna

• Price: $1,899.99
• 1-person sauna
• Indoor suitable
• “Chromotherapy” lighting including red light

A good budget infrared sauna option for people wanting a small indoor sauna, the Barcelona comes with six infrared carbon heating panels. They allow temperatures up to 140°F (60°C) which is the same temperatures used in many studies on infrared sauna benefits, including this 2018 meta analysis. While it claims to fit up to two people, reviews suggest that would be a tight squeeze and one is more comfortable.

An MP3 aux connection and two speakers also means you can listen to some great longevity podcasts while you sweat and improve your cardiac biomarkers.

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8. Heat Healer infrared Energy Sauna

• Price: $1,998.40
• 1-person sauna
• Indoor suitable
• Red light therapy LEDs included

The Energy Sauna may look a little funky, and does require you to lie down inside to use it, but it’s a great space-saver option if you don’t have a permanent place in your home to keep a larger sauna. One of the best portable infrared sauna options, the Energy Sauna slides together to store against a wall or inside a closet when not in use.

The far infrared heating element included with the sauna allows temperatures up to 194°F (90°C), which is more than enough to get the benefits of waon therapy, and which makes this one of the hottest infrared sauna products I found.

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9. Heatwave Hemlock Deluxe Infrared Sauna

• Price: $4,326.22
• 2-person sauna
• Indoor suitable
• “Chromotherapy” lighting including red light

If you want something a little more spacious than the 1-person Barcelona above, the Heatwave Hemlock infrared sauna makes one of the best 2-person infrared sauna options. Like the Barcelona it has six heating elements, cant get up to 140°F (60°C), and includes a stereo system with aux connection for all your easy listening muzak needs. 

Unlike the Barcelona, it’s about a foot wider, allowing a more spacious interior that should be able to fit two people with ease.

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10. HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna

• Price: $6,299
• 2-person sauna
• Indoor suitable
• “Chromotherapy” lighting including red light

The main selling point of this luxe infrared sauna seems to be that it offers not just far infrared heating, but also near and mid infrared. While there are some studies suggesting near and mid infrared light can have certain positive effects (for instance, this 2023 study suggesting near infrared can help with mood and heart rate, but only during the winter), most studies showing beneficial cardiovascular results from infrared saunas used far infrared therapy. 

So it’s unclear to me if the addition of near and mid infrared therapy options really adds a lot from a longevity perspective, especially given the added cost. Mid infrared light, for instance, seems to mainly be used for medical imaging.

That said, there are other reasons to pick the HigherDOSE infrared sauna if you want to splurge: it’s got a spacious interior, modern bluetooth sound system, chromotherapy settings, and sleek luxury design. 

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11. SunHome Saunas Solstice infrared sauna

• Price: $5,399
• 2-person sauna
• Indoor suitable
• “Chromotherapy” lighting including red light

The Solstice infrared sauna only offers far infrared therapy, unlike SunHome’s more expensive Equinox offering, which provides near and mid infrared as well. That said, as discussed above, I’m not really convinced you get much additional benefit from near and mid infrared functionality—at least from a health and longevity perspective—based on the studies I’ve seen.

And the Solstice offers a lot of other great features, including EMF shielding, a proprietary infrared heating system, and a built-in bluetooth sound system.

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Hot tubs and heated plunges

I won’t go into detail for each of these, as I covered their features and functionality in our earlier post on the top cold plunges for longevity, but I did confirm that each can heat water to temperatures of at least 105°F (40.5°C). 

This is the temperature used in many studies on the benefits of hot water immersion, including this 2019 study of women with polycystic ovary syndrome which showed cardiovascular benefits.

Edge Theory Tub Elite

• Price: $4,990
• 1-person plunge tub
• Indoor and outdoor suitable
• Inflatable and portable

Inergize Cold and Hot Plunge Tub

• Price: $3,990
• 1-person plunge tub
• Indoor and outdoor suitable
• Inflatable and portable

Michael Phelps Chilly GOAT Tub

• Price: $8,495
• 1-person plunge tub
• Outdoor suitable
• All-weather proof

The Plunge Tub with added heater

• Price: $6,390
• 1-person plunge tub
• Outdoor suitable
• WiFi app-enabled

Sun Home Cold Plunge

• Price: $4,499
• 1-person plunge tub
• Indoor and outdoor suitable
• Inflatable and portable

General hot tubs

• Price: $950-$9,200
• 1-7 person hot tub
• Outdoor suitable

Best portable saunas and infrared blankets

And finally, for the truly budget options, there are a raft of sauna blankets and top portable steam sauna tents which can be had for $160 and up. 

While the steam sauna tents don’t typically get to the higher temperatures suggested for dry saunas (122°F vs. 158°F-212°F), because water transfers heat more efficiently than air, a steam sauna with high humidity doesn’t need as high an air temperature as a traditional Finnish sauna. 

According to a 2021 review, one should sum the percent humidity with the air temperature to get a rough idea of the actual temperature in comparison to a dry sauna. Thus, a steam sauna reaching 122°F would need a humidity level of 36%+ to have an equivalent heating effect as a dry sauna at 158°F+.

Freein Full Size Portable Sauna Tent

• Price: $169

Heat Healer Infrared Sauna Blanket

• Price: $558.40

HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket

• Price: $699

LifePro Infrared Sauna Blanket

• Price: $168.12

Nordic Ways At-Home Premium Steam Sauna

• Price: $284.95

SunHome Saunas Infrared Sauna Blanket

• Price: $499

TherapyWrap Infrared Sauna Wrap

• Price: $649

X-Vcak Portable Steam Sauna

• Price: $169.99

Any great at-home saunas we missed?

For several reasons, including the lower total heat requirement, generally lower costs, and smaller footprint, I personally am leaning towards buying an infrared sauna for my at-home use.

But are there any good tips and tricks, or DIY home sauna options you’ve stumbled across that I didn’t mention here?

Add them in the comments!

Home saunas FAQ:

Are home saunas any good for weight loss?

No, studies have not found that home sauna use helps with weight loss. In fact, a 2013 study looking at heat therapy found no difference between the hot bathing group and the control group in terms of weight loss.

Are portable saunas as good as regular saunas?

Portable saunas aren’t able to get as hot as traditional saunas, and so they must use steam to generate additional heat. But, because water conducts heat better than air, a steam-filled portable sauna can elevate core body temperature just as well as a regular sauna.

Which type of sauna is best for home?

Depending on your available space at home, an infrared sauna typically has a smaller footprint, can reach optimal temperatures quicker, and doesn’t need to get as hot as a traditional Finnish sauna to confer the same health benefits.

How much does a sauna cost?

Most Finnish and infrared saunas cost anywhere from $5,000-$15,000, though portable steam sauna tents and infrared sauna blankets run between $160-$600 on average.

What are the different types of home saunas?

Home saunas break down into four main groups:

• Traditional sauna, also called regular or Finnish dry sauna, which come in both barrel and cabin shapes.
• Infrared sauna, also known as far infrared sauna and “Waon” sauna.
• Portable steam sauna tents.
• Infrared sauna blankets, also sometimes called infrared sauna wraps.