The Great Sauna Debate: Infrared vs. Traditional

The Great Sauna Debate: Infrared vs. Traditional

Whether you are a first-time buyer or upgrading your home wellness setup, one question comes up more than any other: should you go infrared or traditional? Both deliver real benefits, but they work in fundamentally different ways — and the right choice depends on your health goals, available space, and budget.

At Relaxacare, we carry both types and help Canadians find their perfect fit every day. Here is our honest, side-by-side breakdown.

How Each Sauna Works

Traditional (Finnish) Sauna

A traditional sauna heats the air around you using an electric heater or wood-burning stove, often with heated rocks. Temperatures typically range from 70°C to 100°C (160°F to 212°F). You can pour water on the rocks to create bursts of steam, raising the humidity and intensity of the session.

Infrared Sauna

An infrared sauna uses infrared light panels to heat your body directly, rather than heating the surrounding air. Operating temperatures are much lower — typically 45°C to 65°C (113°F to 150°F) — making sessions more comfortable and accessible for people who find traditional heat overwhelming. Far infrared, mid infrared, and full spectrum models each target different depths of body tissue.

Health Benefits: What the Research Shows

Both sauna types offer overlapping benefits, including improved circulation, stress relief, muscle recovery, and sleep quality. However, infrared saunas have gained particular attention for:

Traditional saunas, meanwhile, tend to produce more intense sweating sessions and the authentic Finnish experience many enthusiasts prefer.

Cost Comparison in Canada

Entry-level traditional saunas start around $1,500–$2,500 CAD for a prefabricated indoor unit. Infrared saunas range from $1,200 for basic one-person units up to $10,000+ for premium full spectrum models. Both require installation considerations, though most infrared saunas plug into a standard or 240V outlet without special wiring.

Space and Installation

Indoor wooden saunas are ideal for finished basements or dedicated wellness rooms. Outdoor saunas suit larger properties with year-round Canadian weather protection. Infrared saunas are generally more compact and easier to install, with many models assembling in under two hours without professional help.

Our Recommendation

If you prioritize ease of use, lower operating temperatures, and a broader therapeutic range, an infrared sauna is your best bet. If you want the authentic, high-heat experience with steam and social capacity, a traditional sauna is the way to go. Many of our customers ultimately choose infrared for daily personal use and traditional for family or entertaining settings.

Browse Relaxacare's full sauna collection at our Burlington showroom or online. Our team can walk you through every model in person — no pressure, just expert guidance.