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Electric sauna heaters are the most popular heating method for both residential and commercial saunas. They heat a bed of sauna rocks using electric elements, and you pour water over the hot rocks to create steam (löyly). We carry electric heaters from Harvia, HUUM, Saunum, Amerec, Narvi, Finlandia, and Scandia in sizes from 2kW to 36kW+. Every heater ships free with 0% APR financing.
Not sure what size you need? Our Sauna Heater Sizing Calculator gives you the exact kW rating for your room in seconds. Or read on for a breakdown of how to choose the right electric heater for your sauna.
Electric sauna heaters are rated in kilowatts (kW), and the right size depends on your sauna room's cubic footage. The standard rule is 1 kW per 50 cubic feet of sauna space. A typical 4' × 6' × 7' home sauna (168 cu. ft.) needs roughly a 4.5kW heater, while a 6' × 8' × 7' room (336 cu. ft.) calls for a 6–8kW unit.
Several factors push the requirement higher: glass doors and windows (add 25–50% more kW per square foot of glass), uninsulated or exposed stone/concrete walls, ceilings over 7 feet, and exterior wall exposure. Under-sizing means slow heat-up and trouble holding temperature; over-sizing wastes energy and can make the room uncomfortable.
Use our Sauna Heater Sizing Calculator for a precise recommendation, or see our complete heater sizing guide and sizing chart for detailed calculations.
120V (Plug-In) Heaters — These plug into a standard household outlet with no electrician needed. Limited to small saunas under about 150 cubic feet (typically 1–2 person). Good for compact builds where running a dedicated circuit isn't practical. See our complete 120V sauna heater guide.
240V Heaters — The standard for most residential saunas. Requires a dedicated circuit with the appropriate breaker size, installed by a licensed electrician. Covers the widest range of heater sizes from about 4.5kW up to 18kW+ for residential use. Most Harvia, HUUM, Saunum, and Amerec residential models run on 240V single-phase.
208V Commercial Heaters — Built for commercial buildings running 208V three-phase power. The right choice for gyms, spas, hotels, and wellness centers. Available in large capacities up to 36kW+ for commercial-sized sauna rooms.
For wiring specs, breaker sizing, and code compliance details, read our sauna electrical code by state guide and GFCI requirements article. Need a local electrician? Check our sauna electrician directory.
Wall-Mounted Heaters — The most popular option for home saunas. Wall-mount heaters save floor space by attaching directly to the wall behind the bench. Compact models like the Harvia KIP, Harvia Spirit, and HUUM Drop are all wall-mount designs. Best for saunas up to about 300–400 cubic feet.
Floor-Standing Heaters — Sit on the sauna floor and hold significantly more rocks than wall-mount models, producing bigger, softer steam. The Harvia Cilindro and Club series, HUUM Hive, and Saunum models are floor-standing designs. Better for medium to large saunas where rock mass and steam quality are priorities.
Built-In Knob Controls — Simple and affordable. Temperature and timer dials are mounted directly on the heater body. No separate controller to wire or install. Models like the Harvia KIP and Harvia Vega use built-in knobs.
External Digital Controllers — Mount outside the sauna for precise temperature settings, programmable timers, and easier adjustments (no reaching behind the bench). Required for higher-kW heaters. Browse our sauna heater controllers.
WiFi-Enabled Controllers — Preheat your sauna from your phone, set schedules, and monitor temperature remotely. Harvia uses the MyHarvia app and HUUM uses the HUUM app. WiFi control is quickly becoming the standard for new builds.
Harvia — The world's largest sauna heater manufacturer, based in Finland. Harvia offers the widest product range of any brand, from the affordable KIP series (built-in controls, wall-mount) to the premium Spirit (WiFi-ready, wall-mount) to large-capacity floor models like the Cilindro and Club series. See our full Harvia electric heater guide and comparison chart.
HUUM — Estonian brand known for minimalist Scandinavian design and one of the best sauna apps on the market. The Drop is their most popular wall-mount model — sleek teardrop shape, WiFi control, and excellent steam quality. The Hive is a striking cylindrical floor-standing pillar that holds a large volume of rocks. See our HUUM electric heater guide, Drop review, and Drop vs. Hive comparison.
Saunum — Unique air circulation technology that evenly distributes heat and humidity throughout the sauna room instead of stratifying hot air near the ceiling. The result is softer, more comfortable heat at every bench level. See our Harvia vs. Saunum comparison.
Amerec — North American brand offering commercial-grade electric heaters with straightforward designs. The Laava and Himalaya series are popular for both residential and commercial installations.
Narvi — Finnish manufacturer with a 100+ year heritage. Narvi heaters are known for heavy-duty construction and excellent steam quality, particularly popular in traditional Finnish sauna builds.
Finlandia — Long-established brand in the North American sauna market. Finlandia heaters are reliable, straightforward commercial and residential models with a loyal following.
Not sure which accessories you need alongside your heater? Our complete heater packages bundle the heater, controller, and sauna stones together at a package price — everything you need to install, minus the electrical wiring. Packages are available for most Harvia models and are the easiest way to buy if this is your first sauna build.
Choosing between brands and models is the hardest part of buying a sauna heater. These are our most-read comparison guides:
HUUM vs. Harvia — The two most popular brands compared on design, build quality, steam, and app features.
Harvia vs. Saunum — Traditional heating vs. Saunum's air circulation approach.
Harvia KIP vs. Spirit — Budget-friendly KIP vs. premium Spirit: Harvia's two best-selling wall mounts.
Harvia KIP vs. The Wall — Compact KIP vs. the ultra-slim Wall series.
HUUM Drop vs. Hive — HUUM's wall-mount vs. their statement floor pillar.
Harvia Spirit vs. HUUM Drop — The premium wall-mount showdown.
Harvia Cilindro vs. Club — Harvia's two floor-standing heavyweights compared.
Harvia KIP vs. HUUM Drop — Entry-level cross-brand wall-mount comparison.
Complete your electric heater setup with the right accessories: sauna rocks (including decorative stones), external controllers, heater guard rails, heat shields and floor panels, and embedding flanges for recessed installations. When it's time for maintenance, we carry replacement heating elements and other replacement parts for Harvia and other brands.
Use the 1 kW per 50 cubic feet rule as a starting point, then adjust up for glass, high ceilings, or poor insulation. Our sizing calculator handles all the variables automatically.
Only 120V models designed for plug-in use. These work for small saunas under about 150 cubic feet. Most residential heaters are 240V and must be hardwired on a dedicated circuit by a licensed electrician. See our 120V heater guide for plug-in options.
Wall-mount heaters are the best choice for most home saunas. They save floor space, are easier to install, and work well for rooms up to about 300–400 cubic feet. Floor-standing heaters hold more rocks for better steam quality and are better suited for larger saunas or builds where steam experience is a top priority. Our best electric heaters guide covers both styles.
You don't need it, but it's a quality-of-life upgrade most people appreciate. WiFi lets you preheat your sauna from your phone so it's ready when you are, instead of waiting 30–45 minutes after manually turning it on. It also enables scheduling and remote monitoring. Most new Harvia and HUUM models support WiFi either built-in or with an add-on controller.
Harvia has the widest selection with models at every price point and the most extensive accessory ecosystem. HUUM focuses on modern design with fewer models but excellent build quality and a standout app experience. Both are premium Finnish/Estonian brands with excellent track records. Read our full HUUM vs. Harvia comparison.
Depends on your local electrical code. Some jurisdictions require GFCI protection for sauna circuits, others don't. Our GFCI requirements guide and electrical code by state guide cover the specifics.
A quality electric heater typically lasts 10–20 years with proper maintenance. Heating elements are the main wear item and can be replaced individually. Read our guides on signs your heater is failing and extending heater lifespan.
Our Sauna Heater Learning Center has in-depth guides on how sauna heaters work, heat distribution, sensor placement, the role of sauna rocks, and hiring an electrician. Questions? Call or text us at (360) 233-2867.
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