Portable Infrared Sauna vs Sauna Blanket vs Traditional Steam Sauna: Which Should You Buy?
By the HEALTHandMED team, Cedar City, Utah. Updated October 21, 2026.
Choose a portable infrared sauna if you want a personal sauna for one that sets up in minutes and packs away after. Choose a sauna blanket, or lie-down infrared sauna, if you prefer to lie down and want the most compact option. Choose an infrared cabin for a wooden room that three or four people can share, or a traditional steam sauna for the classic hot room, with steam from the stones, for one to eight people.
HEALTHandMED sells every type, from a $361.98 lie-down sauna to an $8,547.98 outdoor cedar sauna. Below, we compare how each one heats, how much space and power it needs and what it costs, with our models in each group. Prices are as of October 2026.
How infrared and traditional saunas heat you
A traditional sauna heats the air and the stones on its heater, and the hot air warms you. Our traditional saunas reach up to about 200°F, and a ladle of water on the stones adds a burst of steam whenever you like, so the same room works as a wet or dry sauna.
An infrared sauna warms you directly with far infrared heaters, while the air around you stays cooler. That is why infrared saunas run at lower temperatures: 140 to 170°F in our Relax portable and lie-down saunas, and up to about 140 to 150°F in our infrared cabins. Infrared saunas are always dry.
Side by side
| Portable infrared sauna | Sauna blanket or lie-down sauna | Infrared cabin | Traditional steam sauna | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you use it | Seated in a zip-up tent | Lying down under a low cover | Seated in a wooden room | Seated or reclining in a wooden room |
| Heat source | Two far infrared radiators | A far infrared radiator, or a ceramic heater with a heated floor blanket | Carbon fiber panels or ceramic heaters | Electric heater with stones, or a wood-burning heater |
| Temperature (our models) | 140 to 170°F | Up to 113°F or 140 to 170°F, by model | Up to about 140 to 150°F | Up to about 200°F |
| People | 1 | 1 | 3 to 4 | 1 to 8 |
| Space | About 32 x 32 in when set up; packs into a carry bag | A mat about 78 in long; packs away | Permanent, outdoors | Permanent, indoors or outdoors |
| Power | Two 750 W radiators | 800 to 1,000 W at 110 to 120V | 220 to 240V | 4.5 to 9 kW heater at 220 to 240V, or wood-burning with no electricity |
| Set-up | Minutes | Minutes | Ships as a kit, built by a licensed contractor | Assembly, plus a licensed electrician for electric heaters |
| Steam | No | No | No | Yes, from water on the stones |
| Price at HEALTHandMED | $1,699.98 to $2,299.98 | $361.98 to $1,699.98 | $5,862.98 to $6,514.98 | $4,558.98 to $8,547.98 |
Portable infrared sauna
A portable infrared sauna is a soft, insulated tent with far infrared radiators and a folding chair inside. You sit down, zip it closed and enjoy the warmth, then fold it away when you are done. It is the easiest way to enjoy a personal sauna in an apartment, a spare room or a rented home.
The Relax Silver Elite ($1,699.98) has two 750 W radiators that keep the inside between 140 and 170°F, a 44 inch height that suits taller users, a folding nylon chair, a timer switch and a carry bag. The Relax Black Pro ($2,299.98) uses the same radiators in a tent of thicker black nylon, with extra silver oxide in its padding to reflect more far infrared inside, and comes with a 1-year warranty.
Sauna blanket and lie-down infrared sauna
A sauna blanket is a personal infrared sauna you use lying down. Our two lie-down models give you that experience with a low cover over a floor mat, so you can stretch out, rest your head on the included pillow and relax.
The Relax Lie Down Far Infrared Sauna ($1,699.98) uses an 800 W far infrared radiator at 140 to 170°F on standard 120V power, and the enclosure is wide enough to lie on your back or your side. It is built so the cover never touches your skin directly, sets up in a few minutes with no tools, weighs 18 lb and comes with a reflective mat, pillow, air pump, controller and handbag, plus a full 1-year warranty.
The Lie Down Far Infrared Sauna ($361.98) is our lowest-priced sauna and a simple way to enjoy infrared warmth at home. A ceramic infrared heater and a heated floor blanket have separate temperature controls, adjustable up to 113°F. The dome fits users up to 6.5 feet tall, has a waterproof, washable nylon cover, runs on 110V at 1,000 W, weighs 21 lb and carries a 1-year parts warranty.
Infrared cabin
An infrared cabin gives you infrared warmth in a proper wooden room, with space to share the session with family or friends. Both of our cabins are built for outdoor use, with shingled roofs, and run on 220 to 240V power.
The Canadian Red Cedar Far Infrared Outdoor Sauna for 3 ($5,862.98, or $6,251.98 with a canvas cover) uses carbon fiber heating panels with temperature settings up to 140°F, a Bluetooth sound system, color LED lighting with a remote and 77 inches of interior height for taller users. It needs 220 to 240V at 15 amps and comes with a 1-year parts warranty.
The Canadian Hemlock Far Infrared Outdoor Sauna for 4 ($6,514.98) uses 12 ceramic heaters with an operating range up to 65°C (about 149°F), dual-wall construction, tempered glass windows and door, a digital control panel and a sound system, on 220V at 2,400 W. Its five-sided shape fits neatly into a corner, and it includes a 1-year warranty on parts.
Both cabins ship as kits by freight, and a licensed contractor builds them so they are watertight and wired correctly.
Traditional steam sauna
A traditional Swedish or Finnish sauna is a wooden room with a heater and stones. It heats up to about 200°F, and a ladle of water on the stones adds steam whenever you like. It is the classic choice for sharing the heat with family and friends.
Our traditional saunas run from cozy one- and two-person indoor rooms to 8 ft outdoor barrels for six to eight people. Electric models use 4.5 to 9 kW heaters on 220 to 240V, with a 30, 40 or 50 amp breaker depending on heater size, installed by a licensed electrician. Many of our indoor models carry a 5-year structure warranty and a 1-year electrical parts warranty, and our 8 ft Canadian Pine barrel with a wood-burning heater needs no electricity at all.
Three popular starting points:
- Canadian Hemlock indoor sauna for 1 or 2 ($4,558.98): a Harvia Vega 6 kW heater, a digital control panel, tempered glass windows and door, and a built-in speaker system.
- Canadian Hemlock 72 inch indoor sauna for 4 ($5,602.98): a 6 kW heater and an extra-long 67 inch bench for lying down or stretching out.
- Canadian Cedar dome-top outdoor sauna for 4 to 6 ($8,547.98): a Harvia Vega 6 kW or 9 kW heater and a shingled roof kit.
Thinking about a barrel? Our Barrel Sauna Buying Guide compares all five of our barrel saunas by size, wood, heater and installation.
Which one fits your home?
Choose a portable infrared sauna if you want a personal sauna for one, have no room for a permanent cabin, or rent your home.
Choose a sauna blanket or lie-down sauna if you prefer to lie down, want the most compact option, or want the lowest-priced way to start.
Choose an infrared cabin if two or more people will use it often and you want infrared warmth in a wooden room in your backyard.
Choose a traditional steam sauna if you love high heat and steam, want room for family and friends, and have a permanent spot for it indoors or out.
Enjoying any sauna safely
- Start with shorter, cooler sessions and build up gradually, following your sauna's instructions.
- Drink water before and after each session.
- Skip alcohol before and during a sauna.
- Step out and cool down whenever you feel too warm or light-headed.
If you are pregnant, take medication or have a health condition, check with your doctor before using a sauna.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a portable infrared sauna and a sauna blanket?
In a portable infrared sauna you sit upright on a chair inside a tent. With a sauna blanket or lie-down sauna, you lie down under a low cover. Both use far infrared heat, set up in minutes and pack away after.
Is an infrared sauna as hot as a traditional sauna?
No. Infrared saunas warm you directly, so the air stays cooler: 140 to 170°F in our Relax portable and lie-down models, compared with up to about 200°F in our traditional saunas.
Can you use a portable infrared sauna indoors?
Yes. Portable and lie-down saunas are made for use at home. Set yours up on a flat, dry floor with a little space around it.
Do traditional saunas need special wiring?
Electric models do. Our electric traditional saunas run on 220 to 240V, with a recommended 30 amp breaker for a 4.5 kW heater, 40 amps for 6 kW and 50 amps for 9 kW, installed by a licensed electrician. Our wood-burning barrel needs no electricity, and comes with its own stainless steel vent kit.
Can a sauna be wet or dry?
A traditional sauna can be both: keep it dry, or ladle water onto the hot stones for steam. Infrared saunas are always dry.
Which sauna is easiest to move?
Our lie-down saunas weigh 18 to 21 lb, and the Relax Silver Elite packs into a carry bag that weighs 18 lb, so both are easy to store between sessions.
Find your sauna
Browse our portable saunas, infrared models in our saunas collection, and indoor rooms and barrels in our steam saunas collection. HEALTHandMED has served customers from Cedar City, Utah, since 2007. Call our US-based team at 1-888-649-3650 for help choosing the right sauna for your space.
More guides: Barrel Sauna Buying Guide: Size, Wood, Heater and Installation.