Saunas vs Steam Rooms: What’s the Difference?

Saunas and steam rooms are growing increasingly popular for their potential health and relaxation benefits. But amidst all the buzz, you may be wondering: is there really that much of a difference between them? Yes!

While they both offer potential wellness and heat therapy benefits, they don’t work the exact same way. They also have different installation requirements, costs, maintenance and energy needs, and more.

In this guide, we provide a side-by-side comparison of saunas and steam rooms to help you decide which option is right for you.

What Is a Sauna?

Saunas are small rooms or standalone units that use heat to trigger an intense, therapeutic sweat. They can be installed indoors or outdoors, and are typically made from moisture-resistant wood such as cedar, hemlock, or spruce. While the main focus is heat therapy, traditional saunas can also produce steam when you pour water over heated rocks.

There are several different types of saunas, including:

• Traditional Saunas: Traditional Finnish saunas use electric or wood-burning heaters to warm the air around you, reaching about 150–195 °F.¹ You can add humidity to your sauna session by pouring water over heated rocks, creating steam called löyly.
• Infrared Saunas: Instead of heating the air around you, these saunas use infrared light panels to heat your body directly, giving you an intense sweat from within. They only reach about 104–140 °F and are not designed for steam.²
• Hybrid Saunas: These saunas combine a traditional heater with infrared panels in one unit, giving you the option to switch between the two heat sources.

Whether you prefer the intensity of a classic sauna, the warmth of infrared, or the flexibility of a hybrid model, there is a sauna for nearly every space, preference, and budget.

What Is a Steam Room?

A steam room is an enclosed space designed to surround you with warm, moist heat. They use a steam generator to boil water and produce hot vapor steam, creating an environment with nearly 100% humidity and temperatures typically ranging from 100°F to 120°F.¹  

If you’re considering adding a steam room to your home, there are two main types to choose from: 

• Prefabricated Kits: These are factory-built steam rooms that arrive as ready-to-assemble kits, available in a variety of sizes and designs. Generally, they are permanent features that need to be installed indoors in a properly enclosed space and require the necessary plumbing, electrical connections, waterproofing, and ventilation to safely operate. 
• Custom-Built Rooms: A custom steam room is built directly into your home, often as part of a bathroom renovation or dedicated wellness space. These rooms are fully enclosed and constructed with waterproof, non-porous materials such as tile, stone, or glass.  

Whether you choose a prefabricated unit or a custom-built room, both provide the same signature steam experience of warm, humid heat. However, it is important to note that unlike a sauna, a steam room is generally not a standalone unit, but rather a permanent feature or room that requires all waterproof surfaces, proper drainage, and vapor-tight construction.

What Are the Differences Between Saunas and Steam Rooms?

Saunas and steam rooms offer similar benefits, but there are some key differences to keep in mind when deciding which is right for your needs.

Here is an overview of how saunas and steam rooms compare:

FEATURES	SAUNAS	STEAM ROOMS
Heat Type:	Dry heat	Wet heat
How it Heats:	Electric or wood-burning heaters, and/or infrared heater	Steam generator
Humidity:	5–20%	Near 100%
Temperature:	104–195 °F	110–120 °F
Wellness:	Muscle recovery, relaxation, post-workout recovery	Skin health, relaxation, and congestion benefits
Installation:	Can be installed indoors or outdoors	Typically built as a permanent indoor feature with plumbing and drainage
Structure:	Wood-lined room or standalone unit	Enclosed, waterproof room with tile, stone, glass, or other non-porous materials
Size:	Smaller, fewer seats	Larger, more seats
Maintenance:	Periodic cleaning and wood care	Regular cleaning to prevent mold, mildew, and mineral buildup
Energy Usage:	Generally lower and more energy-efficient	Typically higher due to steam generation and moisture management
Overall Cost:	Lower upfront and ongoing costs	Higher upfront and ongoing costs

Below, we break down the core differences between saunas and steam rooms in more detail.

Heat Type and Humidity

Heat therapy (thermotherapy) raises your core temperature to support relaxation and recovery, but how that heat reaches your body makes all the difference in comfort and potential wellness benefits.

Saunas and steam rooms use heat in separate ways:

• Saunas: Saunas typically use dry heat from a wood-burning or electric heater, hot rocks, or infrared panels. This keeps the humidity relatively low, unless water is added to create steam. Infrared panels heat your body directly, allowing for a deeper, more detoxifying sweat response.
• Steam Rooms: Steam rooms use a water-filled generator that heats the air while filling it with steam, which keeps humidity at close to 100%. This intense steam can be relaxing for some but may be overwhelming to others.

Humidity makes a surprising difference in how your session feels. Humid air slows water evaporation, allowing heat to build up on your skin faster, even at a lower temperature. This is why saunas and steam rooms can both feel intense, despite the temperature gap between them.

Temperature Range

Temperature determines how quickly you start sweating in a sauna or steam room, and how long you can comfortably stay inside. Both options have different temperature ranges:

• Saunas: Saunas typically have a higher temperature range, with traditional saunas reaching about 150–195 °F and infrared saunas reaching about 104–140 °F on average.^1,2
• Steam Rooms: Steam rooms provide therapeutic heat at a lower range compared to saunas, typically about 110–120 °F.¹ However, the high moisture content can make the perceived temperature feel just as warm as a sauna.

If you’re looking for a deeper, more intense sweat, a sauna may be the ideal choice for your needs, while a steam room is better suited for a gentler approach to thermotherapy.

Wellness Benefits

Saunas and steam rooms both offer potential support for relaxation, circulation, and recovery. However, the specific benefits linked to each one differ based on temperature and humidity levels.

Below is an overview of how their wellness benefits compare:

• Saunas: Dry heat raises your core body temperature, increasing circulation and promoting deep relaxation. Many people use saunas to ease muscle soreness, support post-workout recovery, reduce stress, and encourage better sleep. Regular sauna use has also been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, fewer common colds, reduced symptoms of depression, and improvements in sleep quality, pain, and fatigue.^3,4,5 Infrared saunas add an extra skin health benefit, improving texture and reducing facial lines.⁶
• Steam Rooms: The warm, moist environment can help loosen mucus, open airways, and provide temporary relief from congestion.⁷ Steam also hydrates the skin’s surface, making many people feel refreshed after a session. Like saunas, steam rooms can help relieve muscle tension, reduce stress, and promote relaxation.

If your priority is long-term support for your heart, immunity, or mood, saunas offer the most well-rounded range of potential benefits. However, if you’re more interested in skin hydration or relieving a stuffy nose, a steam room can leave you feeling more refreshed and breathing easier. You can also incorporate steam into your sauna bathing to enjoy these additional benefits.

Installation and Structure

Saunas and steam rooms both have drastically different installation requirements. While both create a dedicated heated wellness space, saunas are generally simpler to install because they do not require waterproof construction and can be installed either indoors or outdoors. Steam rooms, on the other hand, are generally installed indoors and must be carefully designed to contain moisture and prevent water damage, making installation more complex.

Here is an overview of how their installation and structure differ:

• Sauna: These are pre-built, standalone units constructed from moisture-resistant wood. They can be installed quickly almost anywhere with electrical access, both indoors and outdoors.
• Steam Rooms: These require a fully enclosed, moisture-resistant structure designed to contain high humidity. They are typically built with non-porous materials such as ceramic tile, stone, or glass and require waterproofing behind the walls, proper drainage, plumbing connections, and ventilation.

If you’re looking for a quick, simple, and non-invasive installation, a sauna offers just that. On the other hand, a steam room is a more permanent decision that requires more time, resources, and remodeling to install.

Size and Seats

Saunas and steam rooms both come in a wide range of different sizes, affecting where you install them and how many people can comfortably fit inside:

• Saunas: Saunas generally have a smaller footprint than steam rooms. Tylö offers a range of different sauna sizes, with the largest fitting up to 4 people. However, this smaller size opens the door to more installation flexibility and efficiency.
• Steam Rooms: Steam rooms tend to be larger than saunas, offering plenty of space for multiple people to enjoy sessions at once. Since they are custom-built, they can accommodate a wider range of size and seat needs, with some fitting up to 12 people.

If you have less square footage to work with, a compact sauna may fit your existing space more easily. If you have the space for it, installing a steam room lets you accommodate more people at once.

Maintenance and Upkeep

Just like any part of your home, saunas require routine maintenance and cleaning to remain safe and functional. However, steam rooms typically need more upkeep in comparison:

• Saunas: After each use, wipe down the wood and air out the sauna to prevent moisture buildup. More intense cleaning like sanding, scrubbing, and waxing is only done annually or as needed.
• Steam Rooms: Steam rooms operate at 100% humidity, creating the ideal environment for mildew, mold, and bacterial growth. They require daily sanitation, weekly scrubbing, and moisture management to stay hygienic.

While both options require regular upkeep, saunas may be a better option for you if low maintenance is a priority.

Energy Usage

Saunas and steam rooms both require energy to create a heated environment, but they do so in different ways. A sauna uses a heater to create a heated environment or an infrared light to warm your body from within, while a steam room relies on a steam generator to continuously boil water and pump hot vapor into the room.

Here’s a comparison of how energy usage differs between saunas and steam rooms:

• Saunas: Most residential saunas are incredibly energy-efficient and use electric heaters ranging from 3 to 9 kilowatts (kW). Once the sauna reaches the desired temperature, the heater cycles on and off to maintain it, making energy use relatively efficient, especially in well-insulated models. Infrared saunas are even more energy-efficient because they heat your body directly rather than heating the surrounding air.
• Steam Rooms: Steam rooms are generally less energy-efficient and typically use a steam generator between 6 and 15 kW, depending on the room’s size. Because the generator must continually boil water to maintain nearly 100% humidity, steam rooms generally consume much more electricity than saunas. They also use water, adding additional utility requirements to their overall operating cost.

Overall, saunas tend to be the more energy-efficient option for most homeowners, particularly infrared models.

Overall Cost

The overall cost of a sauna vs a steam room goes beyond the initial purchase price. You’ll also want to consider installation, operating expenses, maintenance, and any structural modifications your home may require. In general, saunas are much more affordable to install, use, and maintain, while steam rooms typically require a larger upfront investment due to their construction requirements as well as higher utility and maintenance costs.

• Saunas: Most residential saunas cost $1,500–$10,000+, depending on the size, heater type, and whether you choose a prefabricated or custom-built model.⁸ Installation is often simpler, especially for standalone or outdoor units, which can help reduce labor costs. Ongoing expenses are generally lower thanks to low energy usage and minimal maintenance requirements.
• Steam Rooms: Residential steam rooms typically cost around $3,000–$30,000+ depending on the size, materials, and features.⁹ Small, prefabricated units start on the lower end of the price range, while more custom or large built-in rooms can greatly increase the price. Overall, steam rooms are generally more expensive because they require waterproof construction, tile or other non-porous finishes, a steam generator, plumbing, drainage, ventilation, and additional features. Maintenance is also more involved, as regular cleaning is needed to prevent mold, mildew, and mineral buildup. Operating costs are usually higher due to greater energy usage.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly addition to your home, a sauna is generally the more cost-effective choice when it comes to both upfront and ongoing costs.

Which One is Right for Your Home?

The choice between a sauna and a steam room ultimately comes down to your personal preferences, wellness goals, budget, and available space. Both offer an excellent way to relax, unwind, and support your overall well-being, but they create very different experiences. 

Whether you choose a sauna or a steam room, consistent use as part of a healthy lifestyle can provide lasting relaxation and wellness benefits. The best option is the one that fits your lifestyle and encourages you to make self-care a regular habit. 

Upgrade Your Wellness Routine with a Tylö Sauna

Since 1976, Creative Energy has been a trusted retailer of premium wellness products throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. We proudly offer a wide range of Tylö traditional, infrared, and hybrid saunas, along with expert guidance and professional installation to help you create the perfect spa setup right at home.

Ready to experience the benefits of saunas for yourself? Contact us online or visit a showroom near you to explore our selection in person.