Infrared vs Traditional Sauna: What’s the Difference?

If you’re shopping for a home sauna, one of the first decisions you may come across is infrared vs traditional sauna. Both provide a heated environment for relaxation, but they create that experience in very different ways.

Traditional saunas heat the air around you using a sauna heater, while infrared saunas use infrared energy to warm the body more directly. Those differences affect temperature, humidity, heating time, atmosphere, and the overall sauna experience.

Here’s what to know before deciding which sauna is right for your home.

What Is a Traditional Sauna?

A traditional sauna uses an electric or wood-burning sauna heater to heat the room. Sauna stones are typically placed on or within the heater, allowing users to pour small amounts of water over the heated stones to create bursts of steam known as löyly.

Traditional saunas generally operate at higher air temperatures than infrared saunas and provide the classic sauna environment many people associate with Finnish sauna culture.

They are available in many configurations, including outdoor saunas, indoor saunas, barrel saunas, cabin saunas, and modern backyard saunas.

What Is an Infrared Sauna?

An infrared sauna works differently. Instead of primarily heating the surrounding air, infrared heaters emit radiant energy that warms the body and nearby surfaces.

Because of this heating method, infrared saunas typically operate at lower air temperatures while still creating a noticeably warm environment.

Infrared models are commonly designed as enclosed indoor cabins and generally don’t provide the same hot-stone-and-steam experience as a traditional sauna.

Infrared vs Traditional Sauna Temperature

Temperature is one of the biggest differences between infrared and traditional saunas.

A traditional sauna typically provides a hotter ambient environment, while infrared saunas generally operate at lower air temperatures.

If you enjoy intense heat, hot sauna stones, and the ability to introduce steam, a traditional sauna will usually provide the more familiar sauna experience.

If you prefer a lower-temperature environment, infrared may be more comfortable.

Heating Method

The biggest technical difference comes down to what is being heated.

Traditional sauna: The heater warms the sauna stones and surrounding air, which then heats your body.

Infrared sauna: Infrared panels emit radiant heat that warms your body and surfaces more directly.

Neither approach is automatically better for everyone. Your preference depends largely on the type of sauna experience you want.

Steam and Humidity

This is where traditional saunas have a major experiential difference.

With a traditional sauna heater and stones, you can pour water onto the hot stones to temporarily increase humidity and create steam.

Infrared saunas generally provide a dry heat experience without this traditional steam-producing ritual.

For people who consider steam, sauna stones, and löyly an important part of sauna bathing, traditional sauna is usually the better fit.

Heating Time

Infrared saunas can often feel ready sooner because they don’t need to heat the entire room to the same high temperatures associated with traditional sauna bathing.

Traditional saunas generally require more preheating as the heater warms the room and sauna stones.

However, heating time varies considerably depending on sauna size, heater output, insulation, construction, and outdoor conditions.

Indoor vs Outdoor Sauna Options

Another important consideration is where you want your sauna.

Infrared saunas are frequently used indoors because many are sold as self-contained cabin-style units.

Traditional saunas offer significantly more flexibility in terms of design and placement. They can be installed indoors or incorporated into a complete outdoor backyard or cottage setup.

For homeowners looking for an outdoor sauna in Canada, traditional sauna designs offer options ranging from compact Barrel Saunas to larger Log Cabin and contemporary sauna models.

Infrared vs Traditional Sauna Experience

The choice ultimately comes down to the experience you’re looking for.

Choose an infrared sauna if you prefer lower operating temperatures, dry heat, and a straightforward indoor sauna setup.

Choose a traditional sauna if you want higher temperatures, sauna stones, adjustable humidity, steam, and the classic sauna atmosphere.

For many homeowners, the ritual itself is an important part of the decision. Heating the sauna, pouring water over the stones, enjoying the changing humidity, and cooling down afterward create an experience that infrared heat doesn’t replicate in quite the same way.

Which Sauna Is Better for a Canadian Home?

Both can work in Canadian homes, but your available space and intended location should guide your decision.

If you’re primarily looking for a compact indoor installation and prefer lower-temperature heat, infrared may be worth considering.

If you’re creating a backyard sauna, cottage sauna, or dedicated indoor sauna room, a traditional sauna offers considerably more freedom in size, design, heater selection, and placement.

Traditional outdoor saunas are also particularly well suited to the Canadian climate, allowing homeowners to enjoy their outdoor space throughout the year rather than limiting backyard use to warmer months.

Infrared vs Traditional Sauna: Which Should You Choose?

There’s no universal winner in the infrared vs traditional sauna comparison.

The better choice depends on what you value most:

Feature	Traditional Sauna	Infrared Sauna
Heating method	Heats air and sauna stones	Radiant infrared heat
Air temperature	Higher	Lower
Sauna stones	Yes	Typically no
Steam capability	Yes	Typically no
Humidity control	More flexible	Primarily dry
Outdoor options	Extensive	More limited
Traditional sauna experience	Yes	No
Preheating	Generally longer	Generally quicker

If what you’re looking for is the classic sauna experience with real sauna stones, intense heat, steam, and indoor or outdoor design options, traditional sauna is likely the stronger choice.

Find Your Traditional Sauna at Sauna Depot

At Sauna Depot, we specialize in sauna solutions for Canadian homes, backyards, and cottages, with options including Barrel, Luna, Cube, Modern, Log Cabin, custom indoor saunas, and more.

Choosing the right sauna means considering your available space, preferred capacity, design, heater, and how you plan to use it. Our team can help you compare your options and find a sauna that works for your property and lifestyle.

Explore Sauna Depot’s sauna collection online or visit our Vaughan showroom to find the right sauna for your home.