Electric saunas are cheaper to run day-to-day, costing roughly $0.63 per session at average U.S. electricity rates, while wood-burning saunas can cost anywhere from $3 to $13 per session if you're buying firewood. Wood-burning becomes dramatically cheaper only if you have access to free or low-cost firewood you can source yourself.
Thinking about putting a sauna in your home? The cost question usually comes up right after the health question. Fair enough. A sauna is an investment—in your recovery, your circulation, your sleep, and your mental reset. But the ongoing cost of running it matters, especially if you plan to use it 4 to 7 times per week like the Finnish men in those longevity studies.
The short answer: electric saunas are cheaper to run day-to-day, but wood-burning saunas can be cheaper if you have access to free or low-cost firewood. The longer answer involves installation, maintenance, fuel prices, and your local utility rates. Let's break it down so you can make a decision that fits your budget and your routine.
Upfront Installation Costs
Electric saunas are generally cheaper to install. A typical home electric sauna kit runs from $2,000 to $6,000 for the unit itself, plus $500 to $1,500 for electrical work if you need a dedicated 240-volt circuit. Most electric saunas require a licensed electrician to run the wiring, especially if you're placing it in a garage, basement, or outdoor structure. If you're handy and your panel has capacity, this can be straightforward. If you need a sub-panel or trenching for an outdoor unit, costs climb.
Wood-burning saunas have a lower equipment cost—often $1,500 to $4,000 for a basic kit—but higher installation complexity. You need a proper chimney or flue system, fireproof wall and ceiling clearances, and often a concrete or stone base. A certified stove installer or mason can charge $1,000 to $3,000 depending on your setup. If you're building a separate outdoor sauna, you'll also need a roof, insulation, and a floor that can handle ash and moisture. The total project cost for a wood-burning sauna often ends up equal to or higher than an electric one, especially if you're not doing the labor yourself.
The takeaway: Electric is usually cheaper upfront if you have existing power access. Wood-burning can be cheaper if you're building from scratch with salvaged materials and doing the work yourself.
Fuel Costs: The Ongoing Bill
This is where the numbers shift depending on where you live.
Electric saunas convert electricity directly into heat. A typical 6-kilowatt electric heater running for 45 minutes (including warm-up time) uses about 4.5 kilowatt-hours per session. At the U.S. average electricity rate of about $0.14 per kWh, that's roughly $0.63 per session. If you sauna 5 times per week, that's about $3.15 per week, or roughly $164 per year. In regions with higher electricity rates—like New England at $0.22 per kWh—that same session costs about $1.00, or $260 per year at 5 sessions per week.
Wood-burning saunas run on firewood. A typical session burns 2 to 4 pieces of split hardwood, depending on the stove's efficiency and how hot you like it. If you buy seasoned hardwood by the cord (a cord is 128 cubic feet), prices range from $200 to $400 per cord in most regions. A cord might last 30 to 60 sessions depending on stove size and usage. That works out to roughly $3 to $13 per session if you're buying firewood. At 5 sessions per week, that's $15 to $65 per week, or $780 to $3,380 per year.
But here's the catch: many men who use wood-burning saunas source their own firewood. If you have land, a chainsaw, and a weekend to split and stack, your fuel cost drops to near zero—just your labor and the cost of a chainsaw and gas. In that case, wood-burning becomes dramatically cheaper than electric.
The takeaway: Electric is cheaper if you buy fuel. Wood-burning is cheaper if you cut your own wood. If you're buying firewood, electric wins on cost per session.
Maintenance and Longevity
Electric saunas have few moving parts. The heater element may eventually burn out after 5 to 10 years of regular use, and replacing it costs $200 to $500. The control panel and thermostat are the other weak points. Otherwise, maintenance is minimal: wipe down benches, vacuum the floor, and replace the rocks every year or two if they start to crumble.
Wood-burning saunas require more attention. You'll need to clean the chimney annually to prevent creosote buildup (a fire hazard). The stove door gaskets wear out and need replacement every few years. Ash needs to be removed after every few sessions. The flue pipe and stove body can rust over time if exposed to moisture. If you're not comfortable with basic stove maintenance, you'll pay a chimney sweep or stove technician $100 to $300 per year.
The takeaway: Electric saunas are lower maintenance. Wood-burning saunas require more hands-on care but have a longer lifespan if maintained properly.
Time and Convenience
This isn't a direct cost, but it affects your routine. An electric sauna heats up in 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the heater size and room insulation. You turn it on, wait, and step in. A wood-burning sauna takes 45 minutes to 90 minutes to reach temperature, plus you have to build the fire, tend it, and wait for the stones to get hot. If you're using the sauna for recovery after a workout or to wind down before bed, that extra hour of prep time matters.
If your goal is to sauna 5 to 7 times per week, electric is far more convenient. If you enjoy the ritual of building a fire and don't mind the extra time, wood-burning can be part of the experience.
Environmental Considerations
Electric saunas are only as clean as your local power grid. If your electricity comes from coal or natural gas, each session has a carbon footprint. Wood-burning saunas burn a renewable resource, but the smoke contains particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. Modern EPA-certified wood stoves are cleaner than older models, but they still emit more particulates per session than an electric heater powered by a clean grid.
If environmental impact matters to you, check your local electricity mix. In regions with hydro, nuclear, or solar-heavy grids, electric is the cleaner choice. In areas where you can sustainably harvest your own firewood, wood-burning can be carbon-neutral in the long run.
Which One Should You Choose?
Here's how to decide:
- Go electric if: You want to sauna frequently (4+ times per week), you value convenience, you live in an area with average or low electricity rates, or you're installing indoors and don't want to deal with smoke and chimney maintenance.
- Go wood-burning if: You have access to free or cheap firewood, you enjoy the hands-on process, you're building an outdoor sauna, or you want the traditional Finnish experience that many purists swear by for the quality of the heat and the ritual.
Either way, the health benefits don't change. The heat shock proteins, the improved circulation, the cardiovascular protection, and the post-sauna recovery all happen regardless of how you heat the room. The question is what fits your lifestyle, your budget, and your tolerance for maintenance.
If you're on the fence, consider starting with an electric sauna for the convenience, especially if you're new to the practice. You can always build a wood-burning sauna later if the ritual calls to you. The important thing is to start using one—the research is clear that regular heat exposure is one of the most effective lifestyle interventions for long-term health.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an electric sauna per year?
At the U.S. average electricity rate of about $0.14 per kWh, a typical session costs roughly $0.63, which works out to around $164 per year at five sessions per week. In higher-rate regions like New England, that same usage pattern runs closer to $260 per year.
Is a wood-burning sauna cheaper than electric if I buy firewood?
No. If you're buying seasoned firewood by the cord, a wood-burning sauna can cost $3 to $13 per session, which adds up to $780 to $3,380 per year at five sessions per week. Electric wins on cost per session whenever you're purchasing your fuel.
How long does it take to heat up an electric sauna vs a wood-burning sauna?
An electric sauna heats up in 20 to 40 minutes depending on heater size and room insulation. A wood-burning sauna takes 45 minutes to 90 minutes to reach temperature, and you also have to build the fire, tend it, and wait for the stones to get hot.
Which type of sauna needs more maintenance?
Wood-burning saunas require more hands-on care, including annual chimney cleaning to prevent creosote buildup, replacing stove door gaskets every few years, and removing ash after every few sessions. Electric saunas are lower maintenance, with the main costs being an eventual heater element replacement and occasional rock replacement.