Sauna electrical requirements: what home saunas need

The short answer

• 69 of 69traditional saunas need a hardwired 240V circuit of their own
• 56%of infrared cabins run on 120V (30 of 54); 23 of those want an outlet on its own circuit
• 24infrared cabins need 240V, through a plug rather than hardwiring
• 4blankets and domes plug into a household outlet

Traditional saunas heat stones with a 6 to 10.5kW heater, which only a 240V circuit can feed. Infrared cabins draw far less, so many plug into a 120V outlet, but the bigger ones move to 240V. Whichever you want, the question for your electrician is the same: is there room in the panel for one more circuit of this size, and how far is the run?

Figures are as each brand publishes them, checked October 2026. Where a brand does not state a breaker size we say so instead of guessing. Your heater's installation manual and local code always override this page.

Circuits at a glance

How many of the 127 models we track need each kind of circuit.

Traditional saunas: 240V, hardwired, its own breaker

All 69 traditional saunas in our data use an electric heater wired straight into a dedicated 240V circuit; none plug in. 55 state the breaker size:

• 30A: 30 models
• 40A: 23 models
• 45A: 1 model
• 50A: 1 model

Bigger heater, bigger breaker. Where the brand gives one heater size and one breaker size, the pairs are:

Where one heater size shows more than one breaker, the brands differ; go by the figure in your heater's manual. 14 traditional models, mostly larger saunas with 9 to 10.5kW heaters or a choice of heater sizes, give no breaker figure on the product page; it is in the heater manual. A bigger heater needs a bigger circuit and heavier wire, so choose the heater before the electrician quotes. Wood-burning heaters, offered on some outdoor models, need no circuit at all. See how heater sizing works.

Infrared saunas: check the plug before you order

The infrared cabins in our data are rated at 1.4 to 7.2kW. 30 of 54 run on 120V, and 23 of those ask for an outlet on its own circuit, usually 20A. The other 24 need 240V; they come with a plug, so you need a matching 240V receptacle installed near the cabin. The plugs the brands name:

• NEMA 5-20P: 15 models (120V)
• NEMA 6-20P: 13 models (240V)
• NEMA 5-15P: 7 models (120V)
• NEMA L6-30P: 4 models (240V, locking twist plug)
• NEMA 6-15P: 4 models (240V)
• NEMA L6-20P: 2 models (240V, locking twist plug)
• NEMA L5-30P: 1 model (120V, locking twist plug)
• NEMA 6-30P: 1 model (240V)

Two cabins that look alike can differ: the same brand may sell a 2-person model on 120V and its 3-person sibling on 240V. Check the power line in the table below for the exact model, and see infrared vs traditional for how the heat differs.

What it costs to run

Pick a model or enter a wattage, then your own habits and rate. The result assumes the sauna draws its full rating the whole time, so it is a ceiling: a heater cycles on and off once the room reaches temperature.

Default rate: U.S. average residential price for July 2026, 18.31¢/kWh, from the EIA Electric Power Monthly. Your bill shows your own rate, which can be much higher or lower.

Every model's power needs

All 127 models, smallest circuit first. Filter by what your house can supply.

Want models that also fit your space and group size? Take the sauna quiz.

Use this data

The full table is free to download as CSV (127 rows: brand, model, type, voltage, breaker, connection, plug, rated watts, seats, exterior size and the brand's product page). If you quote it, please link to this page as the source. We re-check the brands' spec sheets and update the date at the top when they change.

Frequently asked questions