Home sauna and cold plunge buying guide
Love your local sauna and thinking about one at home? Here's what the options cost, what you need for space and power, and how to choose, before you spend thousands.
Start by trying both kinds
The best way to decide between infrared and traditional, or whether you'll really use a cold plunge, is a few visits to a local bathhouse or recovery studio. Find a sauna or cold plunge near you →
Home saunas
- Infrared saunas use panels to warm your body directly at lower air temperatures. Small one- or two-person units often plug into a regular outlet and fit in a spare room. Entry-level units run about $1,500–$4,000, and mid-range full-spectrum models about $4,000–$7,000.
- Traditional (Finnish) saunas heat the air with an electric or wood stove and rocks, get much hotter, and let you pour water for steam. Indoor kits and outdoor builds, including barrel saunas, usually need a dedicated high-power circuit or a wood stove setup, so plan for installation costs on top of the sauna.
- Overall budget: most buyers spend roughly $2,000–$15,000 on the sauna itself, before electrical work and installation.
Home cold plunges
- Ice tubs and inflatables are the cheapest way to start, from under $1,000, but you'll buy and haul ice for every session.
- Plunges with a chiller keep water cold and filtered on their own. Most quality home setups land around $3,000–$8,000, and the chiller is the biggest part of the price.
- Premium and commercial tanks can run well past $10,000.
Common questions
How much does a home sauna cost?
Most buyers spend roughly $2,000 to $15,000 on the sauna itself, depending on type, heater and installation. Small plug-in infrared saunas start around $1,500, while traditional saunas with a stove, and outdoor builds, usually cost more once electrical and installation work are included.
How much does a cold plunge cost?
From under $1,000 for an inflatable tub you fill with ice, to roughly $3,000 to $8,000 for most quality home setups with a chiller, and far more for commercial tanks. The chiller is the biggest cost driver.
Infrared or traditional sauna at home?
Infrared saunas run cooler, warm up faster, often plug into a standard outlet in smaller sizes, and fit indoors more easily. Traditional saunas get much hotter, let you pour water on the rocks for steam, and usually need a dedicated high-power circuit installed by an electrician. Try both at a local bathhouse before you buy.
Do I need a chiller for a cold plunge?
Not to start. Ice-filled tubs are the cheapest way in, but buying ice gets old fast. A chiller keeps the water cold and filtered so you can plunge any time, which is why most people who plunge regularly end up with one.
Price ranges are typical list prices from 2026 pricing guides (saunas, cold plunges), mostly published by sellers. Prices change often, so check current prices and installation costs. Some links on this page may be affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Saunas and cold plunges aren't for everyone: talk to your doctor first if you're pregnant or have heart or blood pressure concerns.