Infrared Pro — How Much Does It Cost to Run?

A common question before buying a sauna is what it costs to run. The good news: it's modest. Infrared saunas heat up quickly and run at lower temperatures than traditional saunas, so a session usually adds up to just a small amount on your energy bill.

How to estimate your cost

You only need two numbers:

1. Your sauna's power draw, in watts — listed on the unit's rating plate and in your manual. Divide by 1,000 to get kilowatts (kW).
2. Your electricity rate, in cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) — shown on your utility bill.

Then: kW × session length in hours × your rate = cost per session.

For example, a sauna drawing 2 kW, run for a 45-minute session (0.75 hours) at a rate of $0.15/kWh, works out to about 2 × 0.75 × 0.15 = $0.23 for that session. Plug in your own unit's wattage and your local rate for an exact figure.

Real-world use is usually lower

Rating-plate wattage is the maximum. Once the cabin reaches your set temperature, the emitters cycle on and off to hold it rather than running flat out, so actual energy use per session tends to be lower than the maximum suggests.

Keeping costs down

• Let it reach temperature, then get in — rather than running it long before you're ready.
• Don't leave it running unattended. Use the built-in session timer and switch it off when you're done.
• Mind the room. A sauna in an uninsulated garage works harder to reach and hold temperature — especially in cold weather — than one in a climate-controlled space, which raises energy use.

Questions? Email info@calore.ca or call us anytime.