This is the question we hear most often when people come into our sauna showroom: traditional or infrared? It’s a genuinely good question, and the honest answer is that neither is universally better; they’re different tools built around different experiences and goals.
What follows is a straightforward breakdown of how each type works, what the real differences feel like, and how to figure out which one makes more sense for your life. We carry both at Beninati, so we have no stake in pushing you toward one or the other, but rather just in making sure you end up with the right one.
How each one actually works
Traditional sauna: Heat and Finnish steam
A traditional sauna heats the air around you using a heater loaded with rocks. The room temperature climbs to 150–195°F. When you pour water over the heated rocks, you create a burst of steam called löyly, which is the defining ritual of Finnish sauna culture that has been practiced for thousands of years. Your body heats from the outside in as the hot air raises your core temperature, dilates blood vessels, and triggers a deep, intense sweat.
The humidity is fully in your control. A dry session at 180°F feels very different from a steam burst at the same temperature. That flexibility and the social, ritual quality of the löyly ceremony is part of what makes traditional sauna such a distinctive experience.
Infrared sauna: direct body heating
An infrared sauna uses infrared light panels to heat your body directly, without heating the air around you significantly. Room temperature stays between 120–150°F which is considerably lower than a traditional sauna, but the infrared waves penetrate 1–2 inches beneath the skin’s surface, creating a deep tissue warmth that feels very different from ambient air heat.
Because the air temperature is lower, most people find infrared more comfortable to stay in for longer periods. The sweat response is still substantial despite the lower room temperature, and many users describe the sensation as a gentler, more sustained warmth rather than an intense heat blast.
Side-by-side comparison
| Traditional (Finnish) | Infrared | |
| Heat source | Electric/wood heater + rocks | Infrared light panels |
| Room temperature | 150–195°F | 120–150°F |
| Heating method | Heats the air, then your body | Heats your body directly |
| Humidity | Adjustable and dry or steam (löyly) | Low and dry only |
| Heat-up time | 30–45 minutes | 20-30 minutes |
| Session length | 10–20 minutes typical | 20–40 minutes typical |
| Installation | Requires 240V, often outdoor capable | Often 120V plug-in capable |
| Space required | Larger room or outdoor cabin | Compact, indoor units available |
| Cultural tradition | Finnish, 2,000+ years of history | Modern, developed more recently |
| Research base | Extensive long-term cardiovascular studies | Growing, especially for pain/recovery |
Health benefits
Both types of saunas offer real, documented health benefits. The key difference is that traditional sauna has much longer research history with decades of large-scale studies, while infrared research is newer but showing promising results in specific areas.
Traditional sauna
- Long-term Finnish studies tracking thousands of participants found that regular traditional sauna use (4–7 sessions per week) was associated with lower rates of heart disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality
- Raises heart rate in a way that mimics moderate cardiovascular exercise and often is called “passive cardio” for its circulatory benefits
- The intense heat triggers heat shock proteins which are cellular repair mechanisms linked to longevity and disease resistance
- Deep, intense sweat opens pores, improves circulation, and relieves muscle tension effectively
- The social and ritual aspect, like gathering in a sauna and the löyly ceremony, has documented mental health and stress reduction benefits
Infrared sauna: strong evidence for pain and recovery
- Infrared penetration of 1–2 inches into tissue can make it effective for chronic pain and post-workout muscle recovery
- Lower operating temperatures make it accessible to people who find traditional sauna heat too intense and those with heat sensitivity or lower heat tolerance
- May support detoxification at the cellular level: some research suggests infrared sweat contains a higher concentration of toxins per volume than traditional sweat
- Many users report deeper relaxation and longer sessions due to the gentler heat environment
- Faster heat-up and lower operating costs make it easier to use daily as part of a routine
What they actually feel like: the experience
This is something no research paper can capture, and it’s one of the most important factors in choosing a sauna you’ll actually use consistently.
Traditional sauna
Stepping into a traditional sauna at 180°F is a full-body sensory experience. The heat hits you immediately. When you pour water over the rocks, the steam burst, löyly, changes the entire feeling of the room in an instant. It’s intense and deeply satisfying in a way that’s hard to describe until you’ve done it. Many people find it deeply meditative. Others love the social aspect like gathering with family or friends in the heat, conversation at a slower pace.
Sessions tend to be shorter, 10–20 minutes at a stretch, with cooling-off periods between rounds. The ritual of heat-cool-heat-cool is part of what makes traditional sauna so effective and so distinctive.
Infrared sauna
An infrared sauna feels gentler from the moment you step in. The air is warm but not overwhelming. The warmth builds gradually as the infrared penetrates your body and it’s more of a sustained, even heat than a sharp contrast. Many people find it easier to relax, breathe slowly, and stay in longer without discomfort.
It’s a quieter, more private experience by nature. There’s no steam ritual, no löyly and it’s more individual wellness tool than cultural ceremony. That’s not a criticism; it’s just a different kind of value that suits different kinds of people.
Practical considerations for Michigan homeowners
Installation and electrical
- Traditional sauna: Requires 240V dedicated electrical service regardless of size. If you’re going outdoors with a barrel, cube, or cabin sauna, then you’ll need a licensed electrician to run power to your installation site. Add $1,500-2,500 for electrical in most southeast Michigan homes.
- Infrared sauna: Smaller models often run on standard 120V household outlets, just plug in and go. Larger multi-person models may require special electrical installation. This makes infrared significantly easier and less expensive to get running quickly.
Space requirements
- Traditional sauna: Models typically require more space like a dedicated room, garage conversion, or outdoor structure. Outdoor options like barrel saunas, cube saunas, and cabin saunas from Finsauna can be placed in most Michigan backyards with proper site prep.
- Infrared sauna: Compact units fit in a spare bedroom, basement, home gym, or even a large bathroom. The Finsauna Radia Series, for example, comes in 1–4 person configurations designed for indoor residential use.
Operating costs
- Traditional sauna: A 6kW heater running three times per week typically costs $20–$40/month in electricity at Michigan utility rates. Higher if you’re running larger sessions frequently.
- Infrared sauna: Generally lower operating costs — roughly $10–$25/month for typical residential use.
Michigan winters
Both types work year-round in Michigan and in fact, winter is when most of our sauna customers use theirs most. Outdoor traditional saunas from Finsauna are built with thermally modified wood and weatherproof construction specifically designed for Nordic climate conditions. Infrared saunas are indoor so they’re unaffected by winter.
Who should choose traditional and who should choose infrared
| Choose TRADITIONAL |
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| Choose INFRARED |
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The third option: infrared + traditional combo saunas
This is something a lot of people don’t know exists until they come into our showroom. The Finsauna Radia TIR Series combines infrared panels with a traditional sauna heater in a single unit, giving you both experiences in one sauna. You can run it as a pure infrared session, a traditional steam session, or both simultaneously.
For buyers who genuinely can’t decide, or who want the flexibility to use their sauna differently depending on the day, the combo option is worth a serious look. The TIR 200 seats 2 and the TIR 400 seats 4 — both available at Beninati.
| If you’re torn between the two and don’t want to commit to just one, the combo unit eliminates the decision entirely. |
The honest bottom line
Traditional sauna is the deeper cultural experience with the stronger long-term health research, particularly for cardiovascular health. Infrared sauna is the more accessible, space-efficient option with a strong case for pain relief, recovery, and daily routine use. Neither is wrong.
The best sauna is the one that fits your life well enough that you’ll actually use it regularly. Consistent use of either type delivers real, meaningful benefits while occasional use of either type delivers very little.
We carry saunas at our Utica and Clinton Township showrooms. We have both traditional and infrared models from Finsauna and you can see them in person and ask as many questions as you need. Come in, and we’ll help you figure out which one is actually right for you.
