Short answer
Pick a sauna if you want intense dry heat in short rounds and low running costs. Pick a hot tub if you want to float, soak with others and use jets at a gentler 104 °F or less. Traditional saunas run about 150 to 195 °F, infrared saunas about 110 to 135 °F. Neither is a medical treatment.
Saunas and hot tubs both warm you up, but they do it in very different ways, cost different amounts to run and need different care. Here is how traditional saunas, infrared saunas and hot tubs compare, based on health and safety agencies and current cost guides.
Sauna vs hot tub: quick comparison
| Traditional sauna | Infrared sauna | Hot tub | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it heats you | Hot air, plus steam when you pour water on the stones | Infrared panels warm your body directly | Hot water, often with jets |
| Typical temperature | About 150–195 °F | About 110–135 °F | 104 °F or less |
| Typical session | 15–20 minutes at most (Harvard Health) | Start with 5–10 minutes, up to about 20–30 | Keep water at 104 °F or below; leave if you feel too hot |
| Home price (HomeGuide) | About $3,000–$10,000 installed (home sauna average) | About $2,300–$8,500 installed | About $2,000–$18,000 |
| Running cost (HomeGuide) | About $0.25–$0.50 per 20-minute session (electric) | Same electric-sauna figure | About $20–$30 a month above ground, $30–$100 in-ground |
| Upkeep | Wipe benches, air it out | Wipe surfaces | Test sanitizer and pH, clean filters, drain a few times a year |
How each one heats you
Traditional sauna
A traditional sauna heats the air, usually to about 150 to 195 °F according to Cleveland Clinic. The air stays fairly dry until you pour water on the hot stones. Harvard Health describes what happens in the heat: skin temperature rises to about 104 °F within minutes, the pulse can jump by 30% or more, and the average person sweats out about a pint in a short session. Learn more in how long to use a traditional sauna.
Infrared sauna
An infrared sauna warms your body directly with infrared panels, so the air stays cooler, about 110 to 135 °F. Cleveland Clinic suggests starting at around 110 °F for 5 to 10 minutes and keeping sessions to about 20 to 30 minutes. See infrared vs traditional sauna and how hot infrared saunas get.
Hot tub
A hot tub surrounds you with hot water. The CDC says the water should not be hotter than 104 °F (40 °C), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that soaking in water heated to 106 °F can raise body temperature to the point of heat stroke. The CPSC also notes that hot tub thermostats can be off by as much as four degrees, so check with an accurate thermometer.
What about health benefits?
Many people use both to relax and unwind. Our older version of this article claimed that saunas and hot tubs help with detox, calorie burning or diabetes. We removed those claims because the evidence does not support them as stated. Harvard Health says saunas appear safe for most people, and that people with heart disease or uncontrolled high blood pressure should check with their doctor first.
If you are mainly interested in sore muscles after exercise, see sauna or hot tub for sore muscles. For more on sauna research, see benefits of using a sauna.
When a sauna makes more sense
- You like intense, dry heat in short rounds.
- You want low running costs and no water chemistry to manage.
- You want to combine heat with a cold shower or plunge; see sauna with cold plunge.
- You have room for a small cabin or barrel, indoors or outside.
When a hot tub makes more sense
- You prefer to float and soak at a gentler temperature.
- You want to relax with family or friends at the same time (children under 5 should stay out, according to the CDC).
- You do not mind testing the water and cleaning filters regularly.
- You enjoy water jets.
Costs at home
Rough national figures from HomeGuide’s sauna cost guide and HomeGuide’s hot tub price guide:
- Home sauna: about $3,000 to $10,000 installed on average, and $2,300 to $8,500 installed for an infrared sauna; an electric sauna costs about $0.25 to $0.50 in electricity per 20-minute session.
- Hot tub: about $2,000 to $18,000 on average; inflatable tubs cost $400 to $1,500 but last only up to about five years. Running costs are about $20 to $30 a month for above-ground tubs and $30 to $100 for in-ground or built-in tubs.
- Hot tub care: HomeGuide recommends cleaning monthly and draining completely three to four times a year.
Local prices vary a lot. For a sauna estimate, try our sauna build cost calculator, and see what a home sauna costs to run and whether a sauna adds home value.
Safety for both
- Skip alcohol before and during use. Harvard Health, the CDC and the CPSC all warn against it, and in a hot tub drowsiness can lead to drowning.
- Talk to your doctor first if you have heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure or another medical condition, or take medication that affects sweating or makes you drowsy.
- If you are pregnant, ACOG says it is best not to use saunas or hot tubs early in pregnancy, because a rise in core body temperature can harm the fetus.
- Keep hot tub water at 104 °F or below, and check sanitizer levels: the CDC recommends at least 3 ppm chlorine or 4 to 8 ppm bromine, and a pH of 7.0 to 7.8.
- Drink water, cool down gradually and get out right away if you feel dizzy or unwell.
Want to use both in one visit? Read sauna before or after the hot tub and steam rooms vs hot tubs.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sauna or a hot tub better?
Neither is better for everyone. A sauna suits people who like intense, dry heat in short rounds and want little upkeep. A hot tub suits people who want to float and soak with family or friends at a lower temperature, and are happy to manage water chemistry.
Which is hotter, a sauna or a hot tub?
A sauna. Traditional saunas run about 150 to 195 °F and infrared saunas about 110 to 135 °F, according to Cleveland Clinic. Hot tub water should not be above 104 °F, according to the CDC and the CPSC. Hot water transfers heat to your body much faster than hot air, which is why a tub feels so warm at a much lower temperature.
Which costs more to own, a sauna or a hot tub?
It depends on the model. HomeGuide puts a home sauna at about $3,000 to $10,000 installed and hot tubs at about $2,000 to $18,000. Running costs differ more: about $0.25 to $0.50 per 20-minute session for an electric sauna, versus about $20 to $100 a month for a hot tub, plus chemicals and cleaning.
How long should you stay in a sauna or hot tub?
Harvard Health advises staying in a sauna no more than 15 to 20 minutes. For infrared saunas, Cleveland Clinic suggests starting at about 110 °F for 5 to 10 minutes and keeping sessions to about 20 to 30 minutes. In a hot tub, keep the water at 104 °F or below and get out if you feel too hot, dizzy or sleepy.
Can you use a sauna and a hot tub on the same day?
Yes, many people do. Drink water, take a break between the two and leave if you feel lightheaded. Skip alcohol, which raises the risk of overheating and drowning.
Who should not use a sauna or hot tub?
Talk to a doctor first if you have heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure or another medical condition, or if you are pregnant. ACOG advises against saunas and hot tubs early in pregnancy, and the CDC says children under 5 should not use hot tubs.
Sources
- Harvard Health Publishing: Saunas and your health
- Cleveland Clinic: Infrared sauna benefits and precautions
- CDC: What you can do to stay healthy in hot tubs
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: CPSC warns of hot tub temperatures
- ACOG: Can I use a sauna or hot tub early in pregnancy?
- HomeGuide: How much does a home sauna cost?
- HomeGuide: Hot tub prices
This comparison is based on the linked health agencies and cost guides. We did not test products ourselves. It is general information, not medical advice.