What temperature should a sauna be? For a traditional sauna, Cleveland Clinic gives a typical range of 150 to 195 F, and most first timers do well starting near 160 F. For an infrared sauna, the typical range is 110 to 135 F, and Cleveland Clinic suggests starting around 110 F. Below: how to set it, why your thermometer and controller rarely agree, and the maximum temperatures on our listings. For a full side by side of the two sauna types, see our infrared vs traditional sauna guide.
What temperature should a sauna be? Starting points by type
| Sauna type | Where to start | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional (electric or wood) | About 160 F, 10 to 15 minutes | 160 to 195 F | Almost Heaven |
| Traditional | Not listed | 150 to 195 F | Cleveland Clinic |
| Traditional (thermometer at upper bench head height) | Not listed | 80 to 90 C (176 to 194 F) called favorable | Fischer thermometer instructions |
| Infrared | About 110 F, 5 to 10 minutes | 110 to 135 F | Cleveland Clinic |
| Infrared | About 120 F | 120 to 150 F | Almost Heaven |
Best sauna temperature for beginners vs regular users
There is no single best sauna temperature. Almost Heaven suggests beginning a traditional sauna at 160 F and moving toward 185 to 195 F over time, with short 10 to 15 minute sessions at first. Cleveland Clinic’s advice for infrared is “start low and slow”: about 110 F for five to 10 minutes, then build from there.
- Change either temperature or session length, not both at once.
- Harvard Health advises staying in no more than 15 to 20 minutes, even once you are used to the heat.
Traditional sauna temp: why the thermometer and the controller disagree
Heat stacks up by height
Hot air rises, so a traditional sauna is never one temperature. Saunafin’s sauna temperature chart for a room with a typical 7 ft ceiling shows about 190 F at the ceiling, 160 F at head height, 140 F at the upper bench, 100 F at the lower bench and 85 F at the floor. The Fischer thermometer instructions give a similar picture: with 100 C at the ceiling, roughly 70 C at the top bench and only 40 C at a floor level bench.
In practice, the bench is your temperature dial: sit low for gentler heat and move up when you want more.
Where the sensor and the thermometer go
The control sensor sits near the hottest spot. The Harvia KIP manual says to mount the temperature sensor on the wall about 14 inches below the ceiling and 14 inches from the heater, and to keep supply air vents away from it because airflow throws off the reading. Fischer recommends hanging your thermometer at head height of people on the top bench, usually 20 to 30 cm (about 8 to 12 inches) below the ceiling, and notes set and measured temperature will always differ. Saunafin adds that infrared heat guns read the cooler walls, not the air.
The thermostat and the overheat protector
On the Harvia KIP, the thermostat dial turns the heater on and off around your setting. Harvia recommends starting with the dial at maximum, heating for 30 to 60 minutes, then turning it down if the room is too hot. A separate overheat protector shuts the heater off if the room gets too hot; find the cause before resetting it.
Humidity and loyly: why steam changes how hot it feels
Temperature is only half of the feel. The Harvia manual notes the air dries out as the sauna heats, and throwing water on the stones raises humidity. Fischer lists normal relative humidity of 15 to 30 percent at 60 C, 8 to 15 percent at 80 C and 3 to 8 percent at 100 C, with a short jump after each ladle of water. Almost Heaven points out that steam makes the room feel hotter. If you like plenty of loyly, try a slightly lower setting. Harvia says to use a ladle of no more than 0.2 liters (6.8 oz), throw water only on the stones and never when someone is next to the heater.
Infrared sauna temperature: the setting is not the air temperature
Infrared panels warm you directly, so air temperature matters less. The Clearlight Sanctuary outdoor manual tells owners to preheat 10 to 15 minutes, then set the thermostat to its maximum so the heaters stay on. Even then, the air reaches about 115 to 125 F in a 30 minute session, depending on the starting air temperature. A cabin set to 149 F may never read 149 F. For session lengths, see how long to stay in an infrared sauna.
Maximum temperatures and heaters on our listings
Specs below come from our product pages and can change. “Not listed” means the listing does not publish it, so call us to confirm.
| Sauna or heater | Type | Stated temperature or heater | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low EMF two person hemlock | Far infrared | Max 65 C (149 F); temperature protection 110 C | $2,269.99 |
| Lucia 1 person | Far infrared | Up to 151 F, up to 90 minutes | $1,799.99 |
| Tremblant 1 person | Far infrared | Set between 67 and 140 F | $3,000 |
| Infrared single room | Infrared | 30 to 65 C; surrounding air range minus 5 to 40 C | $1,384.99 |
| Double person 3000W sauna room | Traditional, 3 kW | Max 90 C (194 F) | $3,184.99 |
| Dundalk CT Element Nook kit | Traditional, indoor | 4.5 to 5 kW heater recommended | $8,435 |
| Dundalk CT Georgian CTC88 | Traditional, outdoor | 8 kW heater recommended, or wood burning | $7,647 |
| Harvia KIP electric heater | Heater | Built in thermostat and 1 hour timer | $1,214 |
See more from Dundalk Leisurecraft. If your sauna has no thermometer, the Dundalk Leisure Craft cedar thermometer ($19) can hang at top bench head height.
When the sauna will not get hot enough
A heater that is too small for the room preheats slowly and may never reach your setting. Sizing by cubic feet, glass and wall type is covered in our sauna heater size guide.
Outdoor saunas also fight the weather. The Dundalk CT Elation barrel ($6,976, heater sold separately) lists heating times of about 30 to 40 minutes depending on conditions, and Harvia allows 30 to 60 minutes. In winter, preheat longer and check the top bench thermometer before going in. For infrared, check the surrounding air range on the listing before placing a cabin in an unheated garage or porch. A licensed electrician and local code have the final word on heater wiring.
Safety at any temperature
- Drink water. Harvard Health suggests two to four glasses of cool water after each sauna, and Cleveland Clinic says to bring water in with you.
- Skip alcohol and medications that may impair sweating, per Harvard Health.
- Head for the door if you feel unwell, per Harvard Health. The Harvia manual adds: do not sleep in a hot sauna, and do not leave someone with a health condition alone.
Harvard Health says saunas appear safe for most people, but people with uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart disease should check with their doctors first. If you are pregnant, take medication or have any health condition, talk to your doctor before choosing a temperature or session length. This is not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is 200 F too hot for a sauna?
Saunafin’s chart says the hottest spot, the ceiling above the heater, should not exceed 194 F (90 C). Cleveland Clinic’s traditional range tops out at 195 F, and the 3 kW traditional sauna room in our table states a 90 C maximum.
What is a good infrared sauna temperature?
Cleveland Clinic gives 110 to 135 F. Our infrared listings top out at about 140 to 151 F.
What traditional sauna temp should a beginner use?
Almost Heaven suggests about 160 F for 10 to 15 minutes.
Why does my thermometer read lower than the setting?
The control sensor sits near the ceiling by the heater, the hottest spot, while your thermometer should sit at bench head height. A gap is normal.
Questions about a specific sauna or heater? Call us at 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. We offer free freight shipping on orders of $999 or more, and a $200 flat rate below that. Returns follow our return and refund policy. Start with our home sauna buying guide if you are still choosing a sauna.
