How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Sauna Heater in California? (2026)
Sauna heaters are among the most powerful appliances in a home, drawing 4.5 to 9 kW while heating. A one hour session including warm-up uses 6 to 10 kWh, similar to a full day of air conditioning.
A typical electric sauna heater (6,000 W) costs $2.08 per hour, or about $62.53 per month at 1 hour a day in California. Expensive to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 3,000 W | $1.04 | $1.04 | $31.27 | $380.40 |
| Typical 6,000 W | $2.08 | $2.08 | $62.53 | $760.81 |
| High 9,000 W | $3.13 | $3.13 | $93.80 | $1,141 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 1 h/day ≈ 2,190 kWh per year.
One hour of an electric sauna heater (6.0 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 2.0dryer loads
- 60kettle boils
- 133hours of a laptop
- 667hours of an LED bulb
In California, with electricity at 34.7¢ per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical electric sauna heater costs $2.08 per hour and about $760.81 per year at 1 hour a day. That is about 89% more than the national average for the US ($33.01 per month), because electricity in California costs 34.7¢ per kWh against 18.3¢ nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 0.5 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running an electric sauna heater
- Preheat for 30 to 45 minutes, not longer. Well-insulated saunas reach temperature quickly.
- Keep the door closed and the vent adjusted.
- Use the sauna in shorter sessions with the heater cycling on its thermostat.
Is an efficient electric sauna heater worth it?
Traditional electric sauna stove, 6 kW: about 2,190 kWh a year. Infrared cabin, 1.8 kW, short warm-up: about 493 kWh. The difference is worth $589.54 a year in California.
- Replacing one that still works pays back in 4.2 years.
- When yours needs replacing anyway, the extra cost of the efficient model pays back in 4.2 years.
Usage assumed: one session a day. Typical prices: $2,500 for the efficient model, $2,500 more than a basic one. Work it out with your own prices
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a sauna for an hour?
About 6 kWh for a typical 6 kW heater including warm-up. Pick your region.
Are infrared saunas cheaper to run?
Yes, typically 1.5 to 2 kW and little preheat, so about a third of the cost.
How much does a sauna add to the monthly bill?
Three sessions a week at 6 kWh each is about 80 kWh a month.
Compare with
Cost by region
US states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Canadian provinces
Related appliances
- Electric Lawn Mower (Corded or Battery)1,200 W typical
- Electric Pressure Washer1,800 W typical
- Infrared Sauna1,800 W typical
- Electric Grill or Griddle1,600 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz