Choosing between an infrared and a traditional sauna is one of the most common questions we get from customers browsing our Saunas & Cold Plunge collection. Both heat your body, both offer a home wellness ritual, but they get there in very different ways. Here's a straightforward breakdown to help you pick the right one.
How Traditional Saunas Work
Traditional saunas heat the air around you, typically to 150-195°F, using an electric or wood-burning stove that warms rocks. You can pour water over the rocks to create steam (löyly) and control humidity. This is the classic Finnish sauna experience: intense heat, a quick, deep sweat, and the option to add steam. Our Golden Designs Traditional Saunas line uses cedar or hemlock construction with this stove-and-rock heating method.
How Infrared Saunas Work
Infrared saunas use infrared emitters to heat your body directly rather than heating the air first. Cabin temperatures typically run lower, around 120-150°F, while still producing a comparable sweat because the heat penetrates the body directly. This makes infrared saunas more approachable for people who find the intense heat of a traditional sauna uncomfortable, and it's why infrared cabins (like our Dynamic and Maxxus Low EMF and Near Zero EMF lines) tend to be quicker to warm up.
What About Hybrid Saunas?
Hybrid saunas, such as the Golden Designs PureTech™ Hybrid models, combine both technologies in one cabin: a traditional stove for classic steam-heat sessions, and infrared panels for lower-heat, direct-warming sessions. This gives you the flexibility to choose your experience session by session rather than committing to one heating method.
Quick Comparison
- Traditional: Higher air temperature, steam/humidity option, classic sauna ritual, generally longer warm-up time.
- Infrared: Lower air temperature, heat penetrates the body directly, faster warm-up, no steam/humidity control.
- Hybrid: Both options in a single cabin, at a higher price point.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you grew up with or love the intensity and steam of a classic sauna, a traditional model like the Golden Designs or Dynamic traditional lines is the closer match. If you want a gentler, lower-temperature session or plan to use the sauna more frequently for shorter periods, an infrared cabin is usually the more comfortable daily option. If you can't decide, a hybrid model removes the need to choose at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is infrared or traditional sauna better for beginners?
Infrared saunas are generally easier for first-time users because the lower air temperature feels less intense while still producing a good sweat.
Can I add steam to an infrared sauna?
No, standard infrared saunas don't use water or rocks, so there's no steam or humidity control. Only traditional and hybrid models offer that.
Do hybrid saunas cost more than single-technology models?
Yes, because they include both a traditional stove and infrared emitters, hybrid saunas are typically priced higher than a comparable single-technology cabin.
How much space do I need for a home sauna?
It depends on the model and person capacity — our lineup ranges from 1-person compact cabins up to 8-person full-spectrum models, so measure your space and check the product page's exact dimensions before ordering.
Browse the full range, filter by capacity and heating type, in our Saunas & Cold Plunge collection. Free US shipping and a 30-day return window apply to every sauna we sell — see our Shipping Policy and Return and Refund Policy for details.