A home sauna is a big purchase, and the two main kinds have little in common beyond the name. An infrared cabin plugs into a household outlet and warms you with heating panels at around 120 to 150°F. A cedar barrel heats the air with a stove and stones to 150°F or more, and needs a 240V circuit and a spot outdoors.
We ranked both kinds together, then noted which kind each pick is. Start with our infrared vs traditional comparison if you haven't decided.
Our picks at a glance
- Best infrared overallSun Home Equinox 2$6,799 list
- Best barrel overallAlmost Heaven Pinnacle$7,575 list
- Best warrantyClearlight Sanctuary 2From $6,799 list
- Best full-spectrum valueMaxxus Full Spectrum (MX-M206-01-FS)$5,058 list
- Best compact barrelDundalk Canadian Timber Luna$6,945 list
- Best budgetDynamic Barcelona$1,999 list
- Best for big groupsAlmost Heaven Lewisburg$9,083 list
- Best known brandSunlighten Signature 2About $4,995 (quote)
Sun Home Equinox 2
- Price
- $6,799 list
- Size
- 2 person
- Heat
- Full spectrum (4 far-IR + 2 full-spectrum heaters)
- Power
- 120V, 20A dedicated circuit
- Warranty
- 7 years on cabinet and heaters
Sun Home's Equinox 2 is the infrared cabin we'd recommend to most people. It has four far-infrared and two full-spectrum heaters, draws 1,880 watts from a dedicated 120V, 20-amp circuit, and plugs in rather than being hard-wired. Sun Home publishes EMF and air-quality testing, which few rivals do in as much detail.
At $6,799 it isn't cheap, and the published testing comes from representative samples rather than each unit. The 7-year cover on cabinet and heaters is solid, though shorter than Clearlight's lifetime parts warranty.
What we like
- Full-spectrum heat from a 120V plug
- Published EMF and VOC testing
- 7 years on cabinet and heaters
What to know
- Needs a dedicated 20A circuit
- $6,799
Almost Heaven Pinnacle
- Price
- $7,575 list
- Size
- 4 person
- Heat
- Traditional, Harvia electric heater
- Power
- 240V dedicated circuit
- Warranty
- See Almost Heaven
Almost Heaven is the best-known barrel maker in the US, and the four-person Pinnacle is its sweet spot. It comes with an electric heater from Harvia, Finland's best-known sauna heater maker, and lists at $7,575. Almost Heaven runs frequent sales; in August 2026 the Pinnacle was $5,302.50.
What we like
- Real stone-and-steam heat
- Four seats
- Frequent 30% sales
What to know
- Needs a 240V circuit
- Outdoor only
- Assembly takes an afternoon
Clearlight Sanctuary 2
- Price
- From $6,799 list
- Size
- 2 person
- Heat
- Full spectrum
- Power
- 120V, 15A dedicated circuit
- Warranty
- Lifetime parts, 7 years labor
Clearlight's Sanctuary 2 is the benchmark for infrared build quality, and its indoor residential warranty covers parts for life, with seven years of labor. It costs $6,799 to $7,799 depending on wood.
One thing to know as a buyer: Clearlight doesn't pay review sites commission on its saunas, so we earn nothing if you buy one. It's here because it deserves to be.
What we like
- Lifetime parts warranty
- Full-spectrum heaters
- Strong build reputation
What to know
- From $6,799
- Add-ons get expensive
Maxxus Full Spectrum (MX-M206-01-FS)
- Price
- $5,058 list
- Size
- 2 person
- Heat
- Full spectrum (4 far-IR + 2 near-IR)
- Power
- 120V, 15A
- Warranty
- 1–5 years by component
The Maxxus MX-M206-01-FS adds two near-infrared heaters to four far-infrared panels for $5,058, about $1,700 less than Sun Home or Clearlight. It runs on 120V, 15A. Warranty terms are shorter, from one to five years depending on the part.
What we like
- Full spectrum for $5,058
- Standard 120V power
What to know
- Shorter warranty
- Less published testing
Dundalk Canadian Timber Luna
- Price
- $6,945 list
- Size
- 2–3 person
- Heat
- Traditional, Harvia Kip 6 kW heater
- Power
- 240V, 30A breaker
- Warranty
- 3 years, parts only
Dundalk's Canadian Timber Luna is 6.5 feet long and 6.5 feet across, seats two or three, and is built from Eastern White Cedar with 1.5-inch walls. It includes a Harvia Kip 6 kW heater on a 240V, 30A breaker. It was $6,945 at a major retailer, down from $8,776.
What we like
- Fits small yards
- Solid cedar construction
- Heater included
What to know
- Electric heater only
- 3-year parts-only warranty
Dynamic Barcelona
- Price
- $1,999 list
- Size
- 1–2 person
- Heat
- Far infrared
- Power
- 120V, 15A
- Warranty
- 1–5 years by component
The Dynamic Barcelona is the cheapest well-known infrared cabin at $1,999. It's rated for one or two people but is realistically a one-person sauna. It uses far-infrared panels only and runs on 120V, 15A.
What we like
- $1,999
- Plugs into a standard outlet
What to know
- Tight for two
- Far infrared only
- Short warranty on some parts
Almost Heaven Lewisburg
- Price
- $9,083 list
- Size
- 6–8 person
- Heat
- Traditional, Harvia electric heater
- Power
- 240V dedicated circuit
- Warranty
- See Almost Heaven
Almost Heaven's Lewisburg seats six to eight and lists at $9,083, with sale prices near $6,400. It's the cheapest way to fit a whole family in one sauna.
What we like
- Six to eight people
- Frequent sales
What to know
- Takes up a lot of yard
- 240V circuit
Sunlighten Signature 2
- Price
- About $4,995 (quote)
- Size
- 2 person
- Heat
- Far infrared
- Power
- 120V household power (confirm circuit with Sunlighten)
- Warranty
- Confirm terms with Sunlighten
Sunlighten is one of the oldest infrared sauna companies. It doesn't publish prices; third-party reports put the far-infrared Signature 2 at about $4,995 and its full-spectrum mPulse cabins at $7,499 to $9,999. Ask for a written quote.
What we like
- Long track record
- Showrooms to try before you buy
What to know
- Prices by quote only
- Signature is far infrared only
How they compare
| Model | List price | Size | Heat | Power | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Home Equinox 2 | $6,799 list | 2 person | Full spectrum (4 far-IR + 2 full-spectrum heaters) | 120V, 20A dedicated circuit | 7 years on cabinet and heaters |
| Almost Heaven Pinnacle | $7,575 list | 4 person | Traditional, Harvia electric heater | 240V dedicated circuit | See Almost Heaven |
| Clearlight Sanctuary 2 | From $6,799 list | 2 person | Full spectrum | 120V, 15A dedicated circuit | Lifetime parts, 7 years labor |
| Maxxus Full Spectrum (MX-M206-01-FS) | $5,058 list | 2 person | Full spectrum (4 far-IR + 2 near-IR) | 120V, 15A | 1–5 years by component |
| Dundalk Canadian Timber Luna | $6,945 list | 2–3 person | Traditional, Harvia Kip 6 kW heater | 240V, 30A breaker | 3 years, parts only |
| Dynamic Barcelona | $1,999 list | 1–2 person | Far infrared | 120V, 15A | 1–5 years by component |
| Almost Heaven Lewisburg | $9,083 list | 6–8 person | Traditional, Harvia electric heater | 240V dedicated circuit | See Almost Heaven |
| Sunlighten Signature 2 | About $4,995 (quote) | 2 person | Far infrared | 120V household power (confirm circuit with Sunlighten) | Confirm terms with Sunlighten |
How to choose
Decide the kind of heat
If you want steam, high heat and the feel of a Finnish sauna, choose a barrel. If you want a quiet, milder session indoors with no wiring project, choose infrared.
Check your power
Most two-person infrared cabins need a dedicated 120V circuit. Barrels need 240V, like an electric dryer. A new circuit to the backyard can cost a few hundred dollars or more. See our electrical guide.
Read the warranty
Coverage varies more than price. Clearlight covers parts for life; Dundalk covers parts for three years; budget brands cover some parts for just one year.
Questions
Is infrared or a barrel sauna better?
Neither is better for everyone. Barrels give hotter air and steam; infrared cabins are cheaper to run, fit indoors and plug in. Our comparison covers both in detail.
How much does a good home sauna cost?
Our picks run from $1,999 for a one-person infrared cabin to about $9,000 for a large barrel at list price. Barrels are frequently on sale for 30% less.
Do I need an electrician?
For a barrel, almost always, to run a 240V circuit. Many infrared cabins plug into a dedicated 120V outlet, which may also need a new circuit.
