The short answer
A home sauna in the UK typically costs anywhere from about £1,500 to £12,000+, with premium garden builds climbing higher. Infrared cabins are usually the lowest-priced way in: small one- to two-person models often start around £1,500–£4,000, with larger three- to four-person versions roughly £4,000–£8,000. Traditional electric saunas commonly run from around £3,000 for a compact indoor cabin up to £13,000+ for a large fully installed model, and outdoor garden saunas often sit higher again. On top of the cabin you should budget for installation and electrical work, which for a hard-wired sauna is commonly around £300–£800, or more for an outdoor cable run. The main drivers are sauna type, the number of people it seats, indoor versus garden, and the electrics involved.
Price depends mainly on whether you choose infrared or traditional, how many people it seats, whether it goes indoors or in the garden, and the electrical work needed. The figures below are typical UK prices for guidance, not quotations.
Typical UK prices
- Compact infrared (1–2 person)~£1,500–£4,000
- Larger infrared (3–4 person)~£4,000–£8,000
- Traditional installed~£3,000–£13,000+
- Hard-wired install~£300–£800
- Outdoor cable runoften £600–£1,200+
What drives the price
- Type: infrared cabins are usually the lowest-priced and simplest to install; traditional electric saunas cost more and need more power.
- Size: you largely pay by the number of people it seats — a two-person cabin costs far less than a six- or eight-person one.
- Indoor vs garden: an outdoor cabin adds the structure, weatherproofing and a longer electrical run, all of which lift the total.
- Electrics & install: a hard-wired heater needs a dedicated supply fitted by a qualified electrician — budget for this on top of the cabin.
| Item | Typical figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compact infrared (1–2 person) | ~£1,500–£4,000 | often plugs into a standard socket |
| Larger infrared (3–4 person) | ~£4,000–£8,000 | may need a dedicated circuit |
| Traditional electric installed | ~£3,000–£13,000+ | size and indoor/garden dependent |
| Electrical / install work | ~£300–£800 | more for an outdoor cable run |
Indicative UK figures for guidance, drawn from UK supplier and trade guides. Your price depends on the sauna and your home.
Why infrared is usually the lower-priced route
Infrared saunas heat the body directly rather than the whole cabin of air, so they use lower-wattage heaters, warm up faster and — at the small end — often run from a standard 13-amp socket with no electrical upgrade. That makes a compact infrared cabin both the lowest-priced to buy and the simplest to install, which is why it is the common entry point. Traditional electric saunas reach higher temperatures and create the classic löyly steam, but the larger heaters need a dedicated supply and the cabins themselves cost more, so the all-in figure works out higher in cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home sauna cost in the UK?
Typically from about £1,500 for a compact infrared cabin up to £12,000+ for a large traditional or garden sauna. Larger infrared models often sit around £4,000–£8,000, and traditional electric saunas commonly run £3,000–£13,000+ installed, before electrical work.
Is an infrared or traditional sauna cheaper to buy?
Infrared is usually the lower-priced route, especially at the compact one- to two-person size, because the cabins use lower-wattage heaters and are simpler to install. Traditional electric saunas tend to cost more to buy and to wire in.
What does installation add to the cost?
A hard-wired sauna typically needs around £300–£800 of electrical and installation work, and an outdoor cabin with a longer cable run or a consumer-unit upgrade can push that to £600–£1,200 or more.
Sources & further reading
- Your Fitness Hub — home sauna cost UK 2026
- Finnmark Sauna — how much does a sauna cost in the UK (2026)
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific sauna, home and electricity tariff. Running costs assume about 27p per kWh. They are guidance, not a quotation.