Sauna Heaters

Your sauna heater choice is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. The heater is the heart of the sauna, setting the tone for how you’ll use and enjoy it. Let’s break down the key differences between wood and electric heaters so you can choose the one that best fits your lifestyle.

Experience & Atmosphere

This is the best place to start because it defines the kind of sauna session you want every time you step in.

Wood-burning stoves bring the full ritual of fire with stacking logs, striking a match, listening to the crackle, and enjoying the gentle aroma of burning wood. It’s a sensory experience that feels timeless and deeply connected to classic sauna tradition. 

Electric heaters, by contrast, deliver a clean and modern atmosphere. They heat with precision, provide consistent warmth, and let you focus on relaxation without the task of tending a fire.

Power & Installation

Electric heaters require access to reliable power, often with a dedicated 240V circuit for higher-output models. Once installed, they’re simple to use and integrate seamlessly into most modern homes. 

Wood-burning stoves, on the other hand, are perfect for cabins, outdoor setups, or off-grid living. They require chimney installation, safe clearances, and a steady supply of firewood. 

Both options need careful planning, but the choice largely comes down to your setting and whether electricity or wood is more accessible.

Heating & Performance

Electric heaters deliver predictable, consistent heating times and are designed for specific sauna room sizes. To find the right fit, just calculate your sauna’s cubic footage with our size calculator. That way you’ll know exactly how powerful a heater you need. Controls vary by model from simple built-in dials to advanced external panels, many with Wi-Fi connectivity for remote preheating and programmed sessions. Their steady output and ease of use make them especially well-suited for daily sauna routines.

Wood-burning stoves can also be sized to match your sauna, but their output is more flexible as the more wood you feed the fire, the hotter they can run. This means they can often be pushed beyond the limits of electric heaters, creating powerful heat when desired. They also provide longer-lasting warmth and a rich, steam-heavy löyly when water is poured over the stones. While wood stoves typically take a bit longer to heat up than electric heaters, many sauna enthusiasts value the depth and character of the heat they produce.

Convenience & Control

Electric heaters are built for ease. With the push of a button or a tap on your phone, you can preheat your sauna, set timers, or fine-tune the temperature to your liking. For busy lifestyles or daily sauna use, that kind of convenience is hard to beat. Wood-burning stoves demand more hands-on care such as chopping or storing wood, starting the fire, adjusting the burn, and cleaning out the ashes. But for many, that process is part of the relaxation, a meditative ritual that makes the sauna feel earned.

Cost & Maintenance

Upfront costs can vary. Electric heaters often require a larger installation investment, especially if new wiring or a subpanel is needed, but ongoing maintenance is minimal. Wood stoves may cost less to buy and install in the right setting, but long-term costs include firewood, chimney maintenance, and more regular upkeep. Think of it this way: electric heaters trade higher upfront costs for ongoing convenience, while wood stoves balance lower initial expense with a more active relationship in maintaining them.

What should I choose?

If you want everyday convenience with modern controls, an electric heater is often the best fit. If you’re drawn to tradition, ritual, and off-grid authenticity, a wood-burning stove may be right for you. Both deliver a rewarding sauna experience and  the choice comes down to lifestyle, setting, and personal preference.

Sauna Heater Brands

HUUM

Design, heat, and steam-forward open mesh heaters.

HUUM Electric

Design-first heaters with large open rock chambers for soft, steam-rich löyly. SGS certified to reach up to 230°F. Their intuitive Wi-Fi controls make remote pre-heating and scheduling easy. Open mesh design may mean slightly longer heat-up times, but the payoff is exceptional heat, steam, and aesthetics.

HUUM Wood

Efficient wood stoves (like the HIVE Flow) available in multiple sizes, even compact versions. Their open mesh design maximizes rock capacity for rich steam. Flexible chimney options allow for top or rear flue exits. 

Harvia

The world’s largest sauna heater manufacturer, known for reliability and safety over 75 years.

Harvia Electric
From simple knob-controlled models like the KIP-B to app-controlled luxury units like the Spirit, Harvia offers something for every sauna. They provide both built-in and external control options, plus a sturdy lineup of commercial-grade models like the Virta and Club. All are UL listed and heat safely up to 194°F. Reliable, safe, and built to last.

Wood Fired Heaters

Harvia’s wood-burning stoves are trusted worldwide for their solid steel construction, timeless Finnish design, and decades of reliable performance. With efficient fireboxes that maximize heat while minimizing wood use, they’re available in sizes ranging from compact cabin models to large family heaters. 

Saunum

Saunum Electric

Best saunas heat you equally from head to toe. However, thanks to physics, equal temperatures are sometimes difficult to achieve inside a sauna room. That’s where Saunum comes to play. This Estonian tech company has an air circulation system integrated into every single heater of theirs.

By choosing Saunum, you’re choosing an equally heated sauna no matter the height of your benches or other variables your sauna build has.

Saunum only manufactures electric heaters.

Narvi

Narvi produces exclusively wood-burning stoves, crafted in Finland with durable stainless steel and high build standards. Every product carries the prestigious Finnish Key Flag Symbol as a mark of domestic origin and quality. Built to last, Narvi stoves are a favorite among Finnish sauna traditionalists.

What brand should I choose?

• HUUM: For modern design, large stone capacity, and powerful steam.

• Harvia: For time-tested reliability and a wide product range.

• Saunum: For cutting-edge technology and perfectly balanced heat.

• Narvi: For authentic Finnish craftsmanship and wood-fired heritage.

Conclusion

Where do I go from here?

1. Decide whether you want an electric or wood-fired sauna heater.

2. Choose which sauna heater brand fits your preferences the best.

3. Calculate your sauna room's cubic footage with our sauna heater size calculator to find how powerful heater you need in your sauna room.

4. Select the model that fits your space and needs.

5. Make sure you get the right heater/stones and accessories that will allow you to get the most out of your desired sauna looks and experience.

If you want our friendly US based sauna experts to help you, don’t hesitate to contact us and we will go through all of this together.