Hot tub vs sauna comes down to how you like your heat and where you can put it. A hot tub surrounds you with warm water, seats two to nine people, and needs a strong, level base plus ongoing water care. A sauna heats the air (or, with infrared, warms you directly), fits indoors in a footprint about the size of a closet, and has no water to manage. In our listings, indoor infrared saunas start around $1,240, outdoor cedar barrel and cabin saunas run about $5,550 to $10,130, and hot tubs run from about $3,950 to $22,750. Prices can change.
How the heat works: water immersion vs hot air
In a hot tub, heated water does the work. You sit submerged to the shoulders while jets move the water around you.
A traditional sauna heats the air with an electric or wood stove. Cleveland Clinic says traditional saunas are typically heated between 150 F and 195 F with low humidity, while infrared saunas use infrared heaters and usually run between 110 F and 135 F. The red cedar two-person infrared model below can be set as high as 65 C (about 149 F).
Master Spas, which sells both, summarizes a University of Oregon study of 20 healthy adults: all three heat types raised body temperature, and the hot tub raised core temperature the most. That is one small study, so treat it as a starting point.
Hot tub vs sauna: side by side
| Factor | Hot tub | Sauna |
|---|---|---|
| Heat source | Electric heater (1.5 kW to 5.5 kW on our Canadian Spa listings) or a wood stove | Infrared panels, electric stove or wood stove |
| Typical temperature | Set by the spa controls; see our recovery guide for safe limits | 150 F to 195 F traditional, 110 F to 135 F infrared (Cleveland Clinic) |
| Session style | Seated soak with jets | Seated or reclining in dry heat; Harvard Health suggests no more than 15 to 20 minutes |
| People | 2 to 9 seats in our catalog | 1 to 6 or more, depending on model |
| Footprint | 84 x 40 in. (2 seats) to 79 x 79 in. (6 seats) | About 47 x 39 in. for a 2-person infrared; 7 ft diameter for a 4-person barrel |
| Electrical | 120V-15A plug and play or 240V-50A hardwired | 120V plug-in for many infrared units; outdoor heaters vary |
| Water care | Filters, ozone, sanitizer and water testing | None |
| Upkeep | Filter cleaning, draining and refilling, cover care | Wipe benches, check the heater, treat outdoor wood |
Hot tub vs sauna space and placement
Space is often the deciding factor. A filled hot tub is heavy. The Canadian Spa Yukon weighs 1,080 lbs filled and the six-person Cambridge weighs 2,850 lbs filled, so you need a level slab, pad or deck rated for that load, plus room to remove the cover and reach the equipment panel.
An indoor infrared sauna is a freestanding cabin. The red cedar two-person unit below measures 47.2 x 39.4 x 75.6 in., so it can fit in a basement, spare room or garage corner with a nearby outlet. Outdoor barrel saunas need a level base; the Dundalk Harmony has a 7 foot diameter and ships as a kit.
Indoor or outdoor?
For an indoor option, a sauna is the practical choice. For layouts, heater types and wood choices, see our home sauna buying guide.
Hot tub vs sauna cost to buy
A sample of what we carry, with specs from each listing. Prices can change.
| Product | Type | Seats | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Spa Yukon | Hot tub, 16 jets, 350 L | 2 | 120V-15A plug and play | $7,749 |
| Canadian Spa Richmond | Hot tub, 27 jets, 900 L | 6 | 120V-15A plug and play | $10,249 |
| Canadian Spa Cambridge | Hot tub, 34 jets, 1,000 L | 6 | 240V-50A | $7,999.99 |
| Dundalk Starlight CT372W | Wood fired hot tub, 233 gal | Not listed | None (wood stove) | $5,471 |
| Low EMF two-person red cedar infrared sauna | Indoor infrared, 1,750 W | 2 | 120V, 15A plug | $2,675.99 |
| Dundalk CT Harmony | Outdoor cedar barrel | 2 to 4 | Not listed | $5,555.16 |
| Dundalk CT Elation | Outdoor cedar barrel | 2 to 4 | Heater sold separately (wood or electric) | $6,976 |
The Yukon and Richmond plug into a standard 15A outlet, per their listings. The Cambridge is a 240V-50A model with a 5.5 kW heater. The Starlight needs no electricity; its listing says you can soak in less than 3 hours after lighting the stove. The Elation listing quotes heat up times of about 30 to 40 minutes, depending on conditions. Browse more Canadian Spa Company hot tubs for other sizes.
Electrical: 120V vs 240V
A plug and play tub or plug-in infrared sauna avoids a new circuit, while a 240V tub or electric sauna heater usually needs a dedicated one. A licensed electrician and your local code have the final word. Our home sauna electrical requirements guide covers the sauna side in detail.
Upkeep and running cost
A hot tub holds hundreds of gallons of water that has to stay clean. Our Canadian Spa listings include an ozone generator and antimicrobial Glacier filters, but you still test the water, add sanitizer, clean filters and drain and refill on a schedule. The tub also keeps water warm between uses. We worked through the power math in our hot tub running cost guide.
A sauna has no water to treat. You heat it for a session and turn it off after. Upkeep is mostly wiping benches, checking the heater and protecting outdoor cedar.
Sauna or hot tub for recovery?
Evidence for either is limited. Cleveland Clinic notes that sore muscles often respond to heat and that small studies suggest sauna use may ease chronic pain, while saying more research is needed. Master Spas says hot tub jets and buoyancy help sore joints; that is a manufacturer claim. For how hot water compares with cold water after exercise, see our cold plunge vs hot tub for recovery guide.
Check with your doctor first
Harvard Health says saunas appear safe for most people but that people with uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart disease should check with their doctors first, and it advises avoiding alcohol and medications that may impair sweating. Cleveland Clinic adds pregnancy, heart conditions, high or low blood pressure and taking medication to the list of reasons to ask your healthcare provider before use. The same caution applies to hot tubs. Drink water, keep sessions short and get out if you feel unwell.
Who each suits, and can you have both?
A hot tub suits households that want a shared outdoor soak with jets and don’t mind water care. A sauna suits smaller spaces, indoor setups and people who would rather skip water chemistry. You can have both: a barrel sauna and a hot tub can share a patio. On a tight budget, an indoor infrared sauna is the lower cost entry point in our catalog.
Frequently asked questions
Is a hot tub or sauna better for recovery?
Neither has strong evidence. Pick the one you will use consistently, and check with your doctor first.
What is the hot tub vs sauna cost difference?
In our listings, indoor infrared saunas start around $1,240 and outdoor Dundalk barrel and cabin saunas run about $5,550 to $10,130. Hot tubs run from about $3,950 to $22,750. Prices can change.
Which needs less space, a hot tub or a sauna?
Usually a sauna. A two-person infrared unit is about 47 x 39 in., while a six-person hot tub like the Richmond is 79 x 79 in. and much heavier when filled.
Questions about a hot tub or sauna for your space? Call us at 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. Orders of $999 or more ship free freight, and orders below that ship for a $200 flat rate. See our return and refund policy before you order.
