Buying Guide

Traditional Sauna vs Infrared Sauna: Which Is Better?

A direct comparison of traditional Finnish saunas and infrared saunas — covering temperature, health benefits, running costs, and why the evidence strongly favours traditional saunas.

By Wellness One Lifestyle · Published 2026-08-02 · Updated 2026-08-02

Traditional Sauna vs Infrared Sauna

The outdoor sauna market includes both traditional Finnish saunas and infrared saunas. Understanding the difference is important for making an informed purchase.

How They Work

Traditional sauna: A heater (electric or wood-fired) heats rocks, which heat the air. The sauna operates at 80–110°C. Water poured on the rocks produces steam (löyly), increasing perceived heat and humidity.

Infrared sauna: Infrared panels emit infrared radiation that heats the body directly, rather than heating the air. Infrared saunas typically operate at 40–60°C.

Health Benefits: The Evidence

The health research on sauna use — cardiovascular benefits, muscle recovery, longevity associations — is almost entirely based on traditional Finnish sauna use at 80–100°C. The landmark Finnish studies (Laukkanen et al.) that showed 50% reduction in cardiovascular mortality were conducted on traditional sauna users.

Infrared saunas have a much smaller evidence base. Some studies suggest benefits for muscle recovery and pain relief, but the cardiovascular evidence is significantly weaker.

Temperature and Experience

Traditional saunas at 80–110°C produce a more intense physiological response — heart rate increases to 100–150 bpm, core body temperature rises significantly, and sweating is profuse. This is the mechanism behind the health benefits.

Infrared saunas at 40–60°C produce a milder response. Many users find them more comfortable, particularly those who find high temperatures difficult.

Running Costs

Traditional saunas require more energy to heat the air to 80–110°C. However, a well-insulated traditional sauna (such as a Wellness One with 100mm SIP insulation) is significantly more efficient than a poorly insulated one. The running cost difference between a well-insulated traditional sauna and an infrared sauna is smaller than many people assume.

The Verdict

For health benefits, the evidence strongly favours traditional saunas. Wellness One builds traditional Finnish saunas to the world's best specification.