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Traditional vs infrared sauna

A traditional sauna heats the air and a load of stones, and you control humidity by throwing water on them. An infrared room uses emitters and no water.

How each one heats

The North American Sauna Society defines a sauna as a room heated to about 150–195 °F whose temperature and humidity are adjusted by sprinkling water on the heater rocks.

NASS describes an infrared room as radiant heat: emitters send heat directly to the body instead of heating the air or stones. NASS notes no water or steam is used in an infrared room. (North American Sauna Society)

NASS says the vast majority of today's saunas use electric heaters, which have been available since the 1950s. (North American Sauna Society)

Temperature and humidity

NASS says a Finnish sauna is the only bath where the user controls both temperature and humidity; in infrared rooms the user controls temperature but not humidity. (North American Sauna Society)

Finnleo says many people run a traditional sauna at 150–175 °F and an infrared sauna at 120–130 °F. Finnleo says no water should be added in an infrared sauna. Finnleo says the aim in an infrared sauna is absorption of infrared heat rather than a high room temperature.

NASS says the UL safety standard (UL 875) caps sauna temperature in the US at 195 °F, and UL-listed heaters follow it. (North American Sauna Society)

What this site covers

Saunakivi lists traditional kits and heaters only. The comparison here is about construction and heating, not about what either does for the people using it.

Questions

Do you pour water in an infrared sauna?

NASS notes no water or steam is used in an infrared room. Finnleo says no water should be added in an infrared sauna.

Sources: Sauna Types; Frequently Asked Sauna Questions, Answered by Finnleo

How hot is a traditional sauna compared with infrared?

Finnleo says many people run a traditional sauna at 150–175 °F and an infrared sauna at 120–130 °F.

Source: Frequently Asked Sauna Questions, Answered by Finnleo

Read next

Sources

  1. Sauna Types — North American Sauna Society
  2. FAQs — North American Sauna Society
  3. Frequently Asked Sauna Questions, Answered by Finnleo — Finnleo
  4. Build a Sauna — North American Sauna Society