How We Chose the Best Home Saunas
We really broke a sweat trying to narrow down the best at-home saunas. After encouraging testers to schvitz through multiple sessions in various models, we had them report back on how hot they got, how comfortable the seating was, how roomy the sauna was, how easy the controls were to use, whether the extra features were worth it, and anything else you could imagine to ensure our picks were legit. Here’s the full rundown on how we test fitness equipment.
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The Sunlighten mPulse Believe Smart Sauna uses technology to demystify sauna therapy and ensure you’re optimizing the benefits of infrared heat in every session.
Our Tester’s Take
What’s better than a sauna that does the work for you? The Sunlighten mPulse Believe Smart Sauna maximizes the benefits of every type of infrared wavelength the full-spectrum heater offers while you bask in its warmth. Using the in-sauna Android-powered tablet, choose a session that offers the benefits you crave—near infrared for an energy boost or cell regeneration, mid infrared for increased blood flow, far infrared for recovery, or a mix of the above—and the right wavelengths beam into your skin via 15 heaters. And as long as you’re within 1,500 feet of the Wi-Fi-enabled sauna, you can remotely schedule sessions using a mobile app. Even with all that tech, the company says the sauna runs on the same wattage as a blow dryer.
Aesthetically, this sauna is just as smart as the tech that powers it. Thick, insulating basswood—a durable, lightweight choice that’s less expensive than cedar or eucalyptus—seamlessly fits together via a magnetic sealing system to lock in the warm air, even if you’re ducking in and out for cooling breaks. And premium features like a Blaupunkt stereo and speakers, touchscreen control panel, LED light panels, chromotherapy lighting (which uses colored lights to enhance your wellness experience), and the ability to watch streaming services on the included tablet make this a standout option on the sauna market.
Wrapped in eucalyptus wood and powered by high-output heaters, the Sun Home Saunas Equinox Full-Spectrum Sauna isn’t just a sauna—it’s a personal retreat.
Our Tester’s Take
While traditional saunas rely on heat to warm the air around your body, the Sun Home Saunas Equinox Full-Spectrum Sauna uses infrared energy to heat your body from the inside out. The full-spectrum approach—which is right there in the name—means this sauna combines all three types of infrared energy (near, mid, and far) to penetrate deeper into your body than a single type, offering a more well-rounded, effective sauna experience. It also uses high-quality shielding to limit your exposure to potentially dangerous ELF/EMF (extremely low frequency electric and magnetic field) levels; the company claims exposure is lower than most household appliances.
That cutting-edge tech blends nicely with the Equinox’s contemporary design. It’s constructed from durable eucalyptus wood (a more expensive material than the more frequently used cedar, but a more sustainable one because it grows much faster for re-harvesting) and equipped with high-output 500W heaters. Plus, the sauna can reach up to 165°F—higher than any other infrared sauna on the market, the company claims (and so toasty, you may need to jump into a cold plunge tub after your sweat sesh). Use the digital control panel to set a “reservation” time so the sauna’s ready exactly when you want it. The built-in surround sound system and ambient lighting elevate the atmosphere, turning any session into a spa-like retreat.
The Redwood Outdoors Cabin Sauna blends centuries of tradition with high-tech craftsmanship in a compact cube that offers two types of therapy in one.
Our Tester’s Take
Transport yourself to Northern Europe, where saunas date back thousands of years, in the Redwood Outdoors Cabin Sauna. While the design is a nod to the practice’s history, the construction is entirely modern. It’s crafted from Scandanavian Thermowood, a type of wood that’s kiln-treated to prevent swelling, cracking, or warping, and is resistant to rot and fungi. The result: better insulation and increased durability when exposed to the elements.
Inside, this surprisingly compact sauna offers two levels of seating, which not only allows for multiple users—our testers reported that the benches are wide and deep enough that no one will end up with a knee in their back—but enables you to cycle between high and low heat. Heat rises, so if you want a more intense experience, pick the top bench, or if you’re already there and need to tone things down, just move to the lower level—no heater adjustments necessary. If you prefer steam over dry heat, just toss water on the heated stones. Either way, make sure to don the traditional felt sauna hat that comes with your purchase.
Bring Scandinavian sauna culture into your home with Plunge The Sauna Mini—a sleek, space-efficient design that’s as practical as it is luxurious.
Our Tester’s Take
Fun fact: In Finland, there are an estimated 3.3 million saunas for a population of 5.5 million inhabitants. You, too, can trick out your home with compact at-home models like the The Sauna Mini from Plunge. This streamlined design—constructed from six easy-to-assemble, pre-wired panels—takes up minimal square footage, and still manages to fit all the essentials (two levels of seating, a cage for sauna stones, and an adjustable air flow vent) inside.
It’s a traditional sauna, just like you’d find throughout Scandinavia. Cedar wood allows the heat, which can reach up to 230°F, to flow evenly throughout the sauna while keeping the surface of the wood cool enough for you to relax against. Our testers reported that the Mini maintained its temp well with the door shut, but it did cool and took some time to heat back up every time they stepped in and out for breaks—likely due to its smaller size. While there are dials inside to control the lights and fan, you can also use the Plunge App to control those features during your session and start a session remotely.
Chop your own wood and stoke your own fire to warm up the SweatTent Outdoor Sauna Portable Outdoor Sauna, which was built to hold up against the toughest elements.
Our Tester’s Take
If you prefer the idea of old-fashioned, DIY nature of wood-burning heat, opt for the SweatTent Outdoor Sauna Portable Outdoor Sauna. With a layer of insulation sandwiched between two layers of durable fabric, this tent will keep you warm in even the most extreme cold—it heats up in 30 minutes and can maintain temperatures up 200°F in temperatures as low as 10°F. You can leave it outside permanently, or pack it up in the included carrying bags to switch up the location (just don’t bring it indoors, for safety’s sake).
Wood-burning stoves generate a ton of heat and humidity, but they also require more of a hands-on approach. How much and what type of firewood you use will impact the heating time, although you only need three or four pieces of split hardwood firewood to get the tent heated to the recommended 176°F. But the lack of bells and whistles is proof that you don’t need much for a good sauna session; the durability, portability, and high heat output of this tent make it a worthy investment.
Wrap yourself in the Higher Dose Infrared Blanket to enjoy the benefits of infrared heat without using a single construction tool.
Our Tester’s Take
If you don’t want a sauna taking over your indoor or outdoor space—or don’t have the funds to even dream about that kind of at-home luxury—the Higher Dose Infrared Blanket is a great way to get the benefits of heat therapy without breaking the bank. That’s not to say it’s cheap, but after vetting lower-priced sauna boxes and tests, our testers were convinced the Higher Dose sauna blanket offers better value.
This plain black blanket is made out of non-toxic vegan leather, and wouldn’t look out of place draped on any bed or sofa if you left it out when you weren’t using it (but it also folds up and can easily be stashed out of sight). It takes about 10 minutes to preheat, and the coils offer nine levels of heat. Our testers found it to be a little tricky to adjust temperature while you’re inside, because the control is plugged into the bottom of the blanket and there’s a lot of cord to deal with, but it’s not a dealbreaker. It’s worth noting that Higher Dose makes a lot of woo-woo health claims, like using a layer of charcoal, clay, and magnets as well as an amethyst and tourmaline layer for various vague-sounding benefits, but those were much less of a selling point to our testers than the portability and practicality of this sauna blanket.
Sauna therapy’s a party in the Sun Home Luminar Outdoor 5-Person Full Spectrum Sauna, a weather-resistant cocoon that maxes out the number of heaters to optimize infrared heat’s benefits.
Our Tester’s Take
Turn your backyard into a year-round oasis with the Sun Home Luminar Outdoor 5-Person Full-Spectrum Sauna. A combo of durable aluminum paneling and insulating cedar wood was used to protect this sauna from the elements, while creating a cozy space for multiple people to enjoy the benefits of full-spectrum infrared energy. One 6’3”, 240-pound tester said four people of his size could comfortably share the wide, deep bench that extends along two sides of the interior.
