The two main types of home sauna deliver different experiences. Here's how to choose the one that fits your goals, your space and how you like to use heat.
Choosing your first home sauna is a genuinely exciting decision — but with two distinct technologies available, it's worth understanding the difference before you commit. Both deliver real, well-documented benefits. The right choice comes down to how you want to experience heat, and what you're asking it to do for you.
How each type works
Traditional saunas — sometimes called Finnish or hot stone saunas — heat the air around you using a stove loaded with lava rocks. Temperatures typically reach 70–100°C, creating the intense, enveloping heat that sauna culture has been built on for centuries. Pour water over the stones and you generate steam — known in Finnish as löyly — which increases humidity, softens the heat and deepens the experience. This is the format with the longest heritage and the most extensive research base.
Infrared saunas work differently. Instead of heating the air, infrared panels heat your body directly using light energy. Ambient temperatures are lower — typically 45–65°C — but because the heat penetrates deeper into muscle tissue, many users find sessions equally intense at a lower temperature. The experience is quieter, more meditative, and ready faster.
Key differences
| Traditional | Infrared | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 70–100°C | 45–65°C |
| Heat-up time | 30–45 minutes | 10–15 minutes |
| Steam | Yes — pour water on hot stones | No — dry heat only |
| Energy use | Higher | Generally more efficient |
| Experience | Intense, social, high-heat | Gentler, meditative, focused |
| Best for | Authentic ritual, outdoor cabins | Recovery, relaxation, indoor spaces |
The health benefits
Both types deliver well-documented wellness benefits — improved cardiovascular function, reduced muscle soreness, stress relief and deeper sleep. The research base for traditional saunas is older and broader, particularly around heart health and longevity, largely driven by decades of Finnish population studies. Infrared research tends to focus on deep tissue recovery, circulation and detoxification.
The honest answer? Neither is definitively better. Both work. The question is which experience you'll actually use consistently — because consistency is where the real benefits compound.
Which should you choose?
Choose a traditional sauna if:
You want the authentic, high-heat Finnish experience. You love the ritual of steam and Löyly. You plan to share sessions with a partner or friends. You're drawn to an outdoor cabin and have a space planned for one. Or you have a suitable indoor space for a traditional heat source indoor sauna - such as a home gym, a garage or a garden room - with good ventilation.
Choose an infrared sauna if:
You prefer a lower-temperature, more accessible heat. You want faster heat-up times and lower running costs. Your focus is deep tissue recovery, relaxation or sleep. You're installing indoors and working with limited space or ventilation.
Explore the Origin State range
We stock a carefully curated selection of both — all UK sourced, properly specified, with expert guidance and fast delivery.
Browse our Traditional Saunas and Infrared Saunas, or view all Indoor saunas or Outdoor Saunas to compare models side by side depending on the space you are looking to install your sauna.
Not sure which direction is right for your space and goals? Get in touch — we're here to help you get it right.
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