Short answer
Most Planet Fitness clubs do not have a traditional sauna or a steam room, and neither is listed as a standard membership perk. What many clubs do offer, mainly to PF Black Card members, is HydroMassage, massage chairs, tanning, Total Body Enhancement and, at newer or renovated clubs, a Recovery Lounge or Wellness Pod. A few clubs advertise a “Red Light Sauna”. Amenities vary by location, so always check your own club’s page before you join.
If you are joining Planet Fitness mainly for post-workout heat, check first. Planet Fitness is built around low prices and lots of equipment, and heat rooms are not part of the standard package. Here is what the clubs actually offer, what the “Red Light Sauna” is, and how to confirm your own club in two minutes.
Planet Fitness amenities at a glance
| Amenity | Classic | PF Black Card | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional dry sauna | No | No | Not a listed perk at any tier |
| Steam room | No | No | Not a listed perk |
| “Red Light Sauna” | No | Some clubs | Red light plus infrared cabin, e.g. St. Louis (South County) |
| HydroMassage | No | Participating clubs | Water-jet massage bed, you stay dry |
| Recovery Lounge | No | Participating clubs | Targeted cold plus warmth, not a heat room |
| Wellness Pod | No | Participating clubs | Relaxation pod with light, sound, temperature and scent |
| Tanning / Total Body Enhancement | No | Participating clubs | UV tanning; TBE is a UV-free red light booth |
| Pool / hot tub | No | No | Not part of the Planet Fitness concept |
Based on Planet Fitness membership and club pages, checked September 2026. Classic starts at $15/month and PF Black Card at $24.99/month; prices and perks vary by club.
Why most Planet Fitness clubs skip saunas and steam rooms
Traditional saunas and steam rooms are expensive to install, heat and supervise, need drainage and ventilation, and take up floor space that could hold cardio machines. They also bring hygiene and liability questions. A low-cost, high-volume gym like Planet Fitness puts its money into equipment and self-service extras instead: massage chairs, HydroMassage beds and booth-style amenities that one person uses at a time.
What is the Planet Fitness “Red Light Sauna”?
Some clubs, for example St. Louis (South County), Missouri, list a Red Light Sauna among their PF Black Card perks and describe it as a combination of red light and an infrared sauna. That is closer to an infrared cabin than to a traditional sauna: infrared cabins run at lower air temperatures (typically around 50 to 65 C / 120 to 150 F) than a Finnish sauna (70 to 90 C / 160 to 195 F), and you sweat from radiant heat rather than hot air. If you are unsure which experience suits you, see our comparison of infrared vs traditional saunas.
Recovery Lounge and Wellness Pod: not saunas
Newer and renovated clubs increasingly add two Black Card extras. The Recovery Lounge is described by Planet Fitness as targeted cold for soreness combined with warmth in other areas. The Wellness Pod lets you choose visuals, audio, temperature and scent for a short relaxation session. Both can feel good after training, but neither replaces a 10 to 15 minute heat session in a real sauna.
How to check your club before you join
- Go to planetfitness.com, search your club and open its Offers page, or look it up in the PF app.
- Look for the exact wording: “Red Light Sauna”, “Recovery Lounge”, “Wellness Pod”, “HydroMassage”.
- Check whether the amenity is Black Card only. At most clubs the extras are.
- If anything is unclear, call and ask: “Do you have a traditional dry sauna, a steam room, or an infrared/red light cabin, and is it working right now?”
- Ask about session limits or booking, since single-person amenities often have queues at peak times.
Want a real sauna? Your options
- A different gym: YMCA branches, Life Time, LA Fitness and many independent clubs have dry saunas or steam rooms. See which gyms have saunas, and what kind.
- Sauna at home: a portable sauna or a sauna blanket costs roughly what a year or two of Black Card does. Read do portable saunas really work and our sauna blanket guide.
- Not sure which type fits you? Try the free Which sauna is right for you quiz.
Wherever you end up, keep sessions short after a hard workout, drink water, and time yourself. Our free sauna timer works on any phone.
FAQ
Does any Planet Fitness have a real sauna?
Planet Fitness does not list a traditional sauna as a perk at any membership tier. A small number of clubs advertise a “Red Light Sauna”, which combines red light with an infrared cabin. If you specifically want a hot, dry Finnish-style sauna, ask the club directly, and do not assume it from a “sauna” label.
Does Planet Fitness have a steam room?
Steam rooms are not part of the standard Planet Fitness amenity list. If steam matters to you, gyms such as YMCA branches, LA Fitness, Life Time or local independent clubs are more likely to have one.
Is the Red Light Sauna included in Black Card?
At clubs that have it, it is listed among the PF Black Card perks. Check the Offers page of your club, because availability and access rules differ between locations.
What is the closest thing to a sauna at Planet Fitness?
For heat, the Red Light Sauna (where available). For relaxation, the Wellness Pod or HydroMassage. The Recovery Lounge focuses on cold with some warmth, so it is closer to a recovery station than a sauna.
How do I find out what my club has?
Open planetfitness.com, search your club, and open its Offers or Amenities tab, or check the PF app. If an amenity is unclear, call the club and ask about the exact equipment and whether it is currently working.
Editorial note: Planet Fitness amenities change as clubs are renovated. This guide is based on the official Planet Fitness membership page and individual club pages, checked in September 2026. Always confirm with your home club.