Types of Saunas: Finnish, Infrared, Steam and Wood-Fired

Below, each type is explained with its typical temperature, how it works, what the research says and who it suits, followed by a comparison table and a quick guide to choosing.

Where did the sauna originate?

The sauna originated in Finland and the wider Baltic region, and "sauna" is a Finnish word, one of the few that has passed into everyday English. Early Finnish saunas were pits or log rooms heated by stones over a fire, with no chimney, which is the ancestor of today's smoke sauna.

Sauna culture remains central to Finnish life. When UNESCO inscribed sauna culture in Finland on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020, it noted about 3.3 million saunas for a population of roughly 5.5 million. UNESCO's listing names smoke, wood-heated, electric and infrared saunas as part of that culture, without ranking any above the others.

Other cultures developed their own sweat baths independently: the Russian banya, the Turkish hammam, the Korean jjimjilbang and Indigenous sweat lodges in North America. They share the idea of heat followed by cooling, but differ in humidity, ritual and setting.

1. Traditional Finnish sauna (electric stove)

The traditional Finnish sauna is a wood-lined room heated by a stove topped with stones. Bathers ladle water onto the hot stones to create a burst of steam the Finns call löyly, which briefly raises humidity and makes the air feel hotter.

• Finnish sauna temperature: usually 80-100 °C (176-212 °F) at head height, with relative humidity of about 10-20% between throws of water. Many home users settle around 70-85 °C (158-185 °F).
• Heat source: an electric sauna heater, commonly 3.5-9 kW for home rooms, wired on a dedicated 240V circuit in North America.
• Feel: intense, enveloping heat; you control it with bench height and how much water you throw.

Because it can run as a dry or a steamy sauna depending on the bather, the electric Finnish sauna is the most versatile of the traditional types. Our traditional stove saunas use electric heaters in roughly the 3.5-6 kW range on listed models.

2. Wood-fired sauna

A wood-fired sauna works the same way, but the stones sit on a wood-burning stove vented through a chimney. Many people consider it the true Finnish sauna experience: the heat is soft, the fire crackles, and there is no need for a heavy electrical supply.

The trade-offs are time and safety work. A wood-fired sauna typically takes 45-90 minutes to heat, needs a properly installed chimney with code clearances, and requires dry firewood. It is the natural choice for an outdoor Finnish sauna at a cabin or lakeside. For sizing and installation, see our guide to the wood-burning sauna stove.

3. Smoke sauna

The smoke sauna, or savusauna, is the oldest type still in use. It has a large stone mass and no chimney. The fire burns for several hours while smoke fills the room and blackens the walls; the room is then vented and the embers allowed to die before anyone goes in.

Enthusiasts describe the heat as the gentlest and longest-lasting of any sauna, with a faint smoky scent. It takes most of a day to prepare and requires experience to manage carbon monoxide and fire risk, so it is rare outside Finland and dedicated sauna clubs.

4. Infrared sauna

An infrared sauna uses heating panels that emit infrared radiation, which warms your skin and body directly rather than relying mainly on hot air. Far infrared (FIR) refers to wavelengths of roughly 3-1,000 µm; full spectrum models add near and mid infrared emitters.

• Temperature: cabin air typically 45-60 °C (113-140 °F). Mars Sauna infrared models list an operating range of 18-65 °C (64-149 °F).
• Humidity: low, and there are no stones to steam.
• Power: many 1-2 person cabins run on 110-120V household circuits.

Mayo Clinic notes that infrared saunas produce sweating and a raised heart rate at lower temperatures than a regular sauna, and that some small studies suggest benefits for conditions such as high blood pressure and heart failure, while larger studies are still needed. Browse full spectrum infrared saunas to see how cabin sizes and heater layouts compare.

5. Steam room (wet sauna)

A steam room is technically not a sauna, but it is often called a wet sauna or steam sauna. A steam generator boils water and pipes vapor into a sealed, tiled room.

• Temperature: about 40-50 °C (104-122 °F).
• Humidity: close to 100%, so sweat does not evaporate and the air feels heavier than its temperature suggests.
• Construction: waterproof, vapor-tight walls and a sloped ceiling, usually tile, stone or acrylic, never wood.

Humidity matters physiologically. A 2026 University of Jyväskylä study of 50 healthy adults reported that both temperature and humidity raised heart rate and core temperature during sessions, because humid air slows sweat evaporation. See sauna vs steam room for the full comparison.

6. Hybrid sauna

A hybrid cabin combines infrared panels with a traditional stove, letting you choose gentle infrared heat or a hot Finnish session with löyly in the same room. It costs more and needs electrical capacity for both systems, but suits households that disagree about heat. Our hybrid sauna guide explains wiring and layouts.

Different types of saunas compared

Figures are typical ranges, not limits; individual heaters and rooms vary.

What is the best type of sauna for health?

No sauna type has been proven healthiest, and claims that one type "detoxes" better than another are not supported by good evidence. What the research does show:

• The strongest long-term data comes from traditional Finnish saunas. Laukkanen and colleagues (2015) in JAMA Internal Medicine followed 2,315 Finnish men aged 42-60 for a median of 20.7 years. Men who used a sauna 4-7 times a week had a 50% lower risk of fatal cardiovascular disease than once-a-week users. The study was observational and included only men, so it shows an association, not proof of cause.
• A 2018 systematic review by Hussain and Cohen found regular dry sauna bathing associated with benefits including lower blood pressure and improved cardiovascular measures, alongside a good safety profile in healthy people.
• Infrared studies are smaller and shorter, but a lower air temperature may suit people who find 90 °C uncomfortable.

In practice, the best type of sauna for health is the one you will use safely and consistently. Harvard Health advises limiting sessions to 15-20 minutes, avoiding alcohol, drinking two to four glasses of water afterward, and checking with a doctor first if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart disease. For a deeper look, read sauna benefits: what the research shows.

This article is general information, not medical advice. People who are pregnant, have heart disease, low or high blood pressure or other conditions should talk to a doctor before using a sauna.

Finnish sauna etiquette and culture

Scandinavian sauna culture is relaxed but has a few customs worth knowing if you visit a public or family Finnish sauna:

• Shower before entering, and sit on a towel or seat cover.
• Nudity is normal in Finland, but public saunas are typically separated by gender; unisex sessions are usually for families or groups where swimwear may be expected. Follow local signs.
• Ask before throwing water on the stones, and do it gently.
• Keep conversation calm; the sauna is traditionally a place of quiet.
• Cool off between rounds with a shower, a lake swim or fresh air, then repeat two or three times.

What type of sauna is best for home?

Use this checklist to narrow the choice:

1. Electrical supply: only standard household outlets? Look at 120V infrared models. A spare 240V circuit opens up traditional electric heaters.
2. Location: indoors in a spare room or basement suits infrared or a compact Finnish cabin; a backyard suits outdoor saunas with electric or wood stoves.
3. Heat preference: want löyly and 85 °C? Go traditional. Prefer gentler heat? Go infrared or hybrid.
4. Number of users: a family Finnish sauna for 4-6 people needs a larger room and heater than a 1-person infrared cabin.
5. Maintenance: steam rooms need waterproofing and descaling; wood-fired saunas need firewood and chimney cleaning.

If you are still unsure, the sauna finder tool matches cabins to your room size and number of users.

Key takeaways

• The main types of saunas are Finnish electric, wood-fired, smoke, infrared, steam rooms and hybrids.
• A traditional Finnish sauna runs at about 80-100 °C (176-212 °F) with low humidity; infrared cabins run at 45-60 °C; steam rooms at 40-50 °C with near 100% humidity.
• The sauna originated in Finland, where UNESCO counted about 3.3 million saunas for 5.5 million people when it listed sauna culture in 2020.
• Most long-term health evidence comes from traditional Finnish sauna studies, which are observational; no type is proven healthiest.
• For most homes, infrared is easiest to install, while a traditional or wood-fired sauna offers the classic hot, steamy experience.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. UNESCO: Sauna culture in Finland (inscribed 2020)
2. Laukkanen et al. (2015). Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events. JAMA Internal Medicine
3. Hussain & Cohen (2018). Clinical effects of regular dry sauna bathing: a systematic review
4. Mayo Clinic: What is an infrared sauna? Does it have health benefits?
5. Harvard Health: Saunas and your health
6. University of Jyväskylä (2026): Steam increases physiological strain during sauna bathing
7. IEC 60335-2-53: Particular requirements for sauna heating appliances and infrared cabins