Saunas have advanced over the years—from burning wood to heat stones and the sauna to using electric heaters. With these heaters, you can reap the benefits of a sauna and enjoy your sessions without a problem. One electric heater can make or break your overall sauna experience, so choosing the right and perfect option for your home sauna is vital.
In this guide, you will learn about choosing the right electric sauna heater, specifically what important factors you need to consider. Discover the picks for the best heaters in the market as well. Read on and experience a more enjoyable path to rejuvenation with your sauna.
How to Choose the Right Electric Sauna Heater
An electric sauna heater is a component responsible for generating heat and warming the sauna. It offers better convenience and functionality since it uses electricity and other electric elements. However, this also means that you need to choose your heater correctly.
Aside from personal preferences, here are the most important factors to consider to ensure you’ll get the best electric heater for your needs:
Sauna Size
The first thing you need to look at is the space constraints of your sauna. Your heater should be able to heat the entirety of the sauna adequately. That’s why the size of the sauna will influence the size of the heater that you need.
Fortunately, some products or manufacturers indicate the cubic feet of space their heaters can heat. If there’s none, you can refer to this rule of thumb instead: about 1 kW of power is needed for every 50 cubic feet of sauna space.
Power
Since it's electronic equipment, you must ensure your house can safely support the heater without driving your electricity bill through the roof or blowing your circuit. Check the voltage rating of your options to see if it’s enough for your sauna and if your circuit at home can handle it.
Also, remember that the higher the voltage, the more complicated and dangerous electrical work is needed. So, it’s best to hire an expert to install it.
Budget
Electric heaters' prices vary from $200 to $2,000, sometimes even more. Before choosing and making a purchase, make sure to establish your budget. You don’t want to spend on something you can’t afford. Remember that balancing your budget and the heater’s features is important.
5 Best Electric Sauna Heaters This 2024
For your best options, here are our top picks and recommendations:
1. Harvia KIP Electric Heater with Xenio Digital Control
The Harvia KIP Electric Heater with Xenio Control is among the best and most popular electric heaters. It’s designed to heat sauna rooms of up to 425 cubic feet and already comes with 50 lbs of igneous sauna stone. It can generate intense and penetrating heat because of its high-quality build, where the rocks directly interact with the heating elements.
This heater has a built-in control for easy-to-use and simple operation. It even features a 60-minute timer and a pre-set heating option of up to 8 hours for added convenience. This is your top option if you’re looking for both functionality and convenience.
Specifications
- Power: 8 kW
- Stone Capacity: 50 lbs
- Sauna Size Capacity: up to 425 cubic ft
- Type of Installation: Wall-mounted
What We Like About It
- Made of durable stainless steel material
- 1-8 hr programmable timer clock
- Easy-to-use built-in controls
- Heats up quickly
- Comes with stones
2. HUUM HIVE Series Sauna Heater
HUUM is a famous and reliable brand in sauna heater manufacturing. The HIVE Series Sauna Heater can be a good option if you have a large sauna. It’s designed for large rooms, like saunas in health clubs, spas, hotels, and gyms.
Unlike the previous heater on the list, this can heat saunas with sizes of up to 1,236 cubic feet. This is possible because you can get it in three different power ratings. It also holds a massive 550 lbs of stones for thermal efficiency and good performance.
Specifications
- Power: 12.0 kW, 15.0 kW, or 18.0 kW
- Stone Capacity: 550 lbs
- Sauna Size Capacity: up to 1,236 cubic ft
- Type of Installation: Floor-mounted
What We Like About It
- Perfect for large saunas
- Suitable for commercial use
- SGS listed
- It has a modern-elegant design
- Has adjustable legs
- Comes with stones
3. Harvia Cilindro Half Series Stainless Steel Sauna Heater at 240V 1PH
You can choose the Harvia Cilindro Stainless Steel Sauna Heater for a luxurious build and quality. It’s made in Finland and is designed to offer the traditional sauna experience and modern convenience. It’s safe to use with water and can support up to 200 lbs of stone.
This heater is built with stainless steel, giving it a durable construction and good rock capacity. It can be preset and controlled via Wi-Fi if you use its digital control panel to adjust the nature of your sauna experience.
Specifications
- Power: 6.0 kW, 8.0 kW, 9.0 kW, or 10.5 kW
- Stone Capacity: 220 lbs
- Sauna Size Capacity: up to 636 cubic ft
- Type of Installation: Floor-mounted
What We Like About It
- It can be used in relatively large rooms
- Side-wall or corner of room install
- Stainless steel construction
- It can be controlled with Wi-Fi or phone app
3. VEVOR 6kW Sauna Heater
This VEVOR Sauna Heater is a good option for a small sauna. It’s a quick and efficient heater that’s highly affordable and perfect for saunas with sizes of up to 318 cubic feet. It’s made of stainless steel, so it’s rust-resistant.
It has an easy-to-use control system since it’s an internal-controlled heater. You can easily adjust the heat temperature and work time with its knobs on the front. It also comes with mounting holes at the back, making installation easy.
Specifications
- Power: 6.0 kW
- Sauna Size Capacity: up to 318 cubic ft
- Type of Installation: Wall-mounted
What We Like About It
- Perfect for smaller saunas
- Durable stainless steel construction
- Stones can be stimulated with water
- Affordable
- Easy to install
4. Amerec Designer Trend-80S Sauna Heater
The Amerec Designer Trend-80S is a wall-mounted sauna that uses olivine sauna stone and stainless steel heating elements. It’s designed to provide heat for saunas with sizes of up to 425 cubic feet. You can get it with the Amerec Pure 2.0 sauna control for easy use. This would allow you to control the temperature, sauna duration, and lighting.
Specifications
- Power: 8.0 kW
- Sauna Size Capacity: up to 425 cubic ft
- Type of Installation: Wall-mounted
What We Like About It
- Easy to use and install
- It can be bought with Pure 2.0 Control for the ultimate sauna control
- It comes with a thermostat that can be mounted at any distance from the sauna
- Good design
Conclusion
Electric sauna heaters are essential to enjoy the sauna to the fullest. With one, you can control the heat and experience your preferred temperature for the best benefits. When choosing the best product, consider the size of your sauna, the heater’s power rating, and your budget.
You can check out our electric sauna heater collection for more product options. We offer high-quality sauna needs from top brands to ensure a safe and comfortable experience.