Traditional Sauna vs. Steam Room: Benefits, Comparison & Cost

Casa Blui Blog

Traditional Sauna vs. Steam Room

January 25, 2025 By andrei newman

Are you trying to compare a traditional sauna vs. a steam sauna? The proper luxury outdoor sauna can improve your wellness routine, offering unique ways to relax, rejuvenate, and improve your health. Your choice depends on your preferences. Let's explore the key similarities and differences between traditional and steam saunas to help you select the right fit for your home and lifestyle.

What Is a Traditional Sauna?

A traditional sauna produces heat by warming the air within an enclosed space using a heating element, often containing rocks. These saunas operate at high temperatures, typically ranging from 150°F to 195°F. Many custom sauna designs let you tailor the experience, including adding water to the heated rocks to generate steam and boost humidity. Traditional saunas use convection heating, where the heated air warms your skin and stimulates sweating, delivering a classic and immersive sauna experience.

What Is a Steam Room?

Steam rooms, or steam saunas, provide a high-temperature, high-humidity environment by using steam generators to fill the space with moist heat. With temperatures typically between 170°F and 200°F and 100% humidity, they create a soothing, steamy atmosphere. Custom sauna designs let you personalize the size, materials, and features to match your preferences. These saunas enhance your respiratory health, promote relaxation, cleanse your pores, and deliver a traditional, immersive sauna experience.

Traditional Saunas vs. Steam Rooms: Similarities

While traditional saunas and steam rooms differ in their heating methods, they share several similarities that make both excellent options for heat therapy:

Both deliver detoxification benefits: Both sauna types encourage sweating to help you eliminate toxins and leave you feeling refreshed.
Both generate heat for relaxation: Both saunas create a warm environment to relax your muscles and ease tension.
Both pair well with luxury amenities: Traditional and steam saunas alike pair beautifully with features like luxury hot tubs and luxury ice baths or even luxury fire pits. Together, these elements can create a luxurious home spa experience.
Both are customizable. You can Bring to life whatever sauna design ideas you want by tailoring the size, materials, and features of both sauna types to fit your space and preferences.
Both offer wellness support: Both saunas help improve circulation, promote relaxation, and support a healthier lifestyle.

Traditional Saunas vs. Steam Rooms: Key Differences

Traditional and steam saunas make fantastic additions to your home, but they deliver distinct experiences. Here's how they compare.

Heat Source and Temperature

A traditional sauna generates dry heat by warming rocks on a heating element, ranging from 150°F to 195°F. This type of sauna gives you an intense, dry heat that promotes heavy sweating.

In contrast, a steam sauna uses steam generators to produce moist heat, operating at slightly lower temperatures of 170°F to 200°F. The added humidity in a steam sauna makes the heat feel less harsh, even at higher temperatures.

Humidity Levels

Traditional saunas maintain a low humidity level, typically between 10% and 30%, which creates dry, intense heat. This is nice if you prefer a more breathable and less steamy environment.

Steam saunas, however, offer 100% humidity, enveloping you in warm, moist air. This high humidity helps hydrate your skin and creates a soothing ambiance.

Experience

Traditional saunas offer a classic sauna experience with dry heat, making them ideal for enjoying a more intense and invigorating environment. You can add water to the rocks to create occasional bursts of steam, providing some flexibility.

Steam saunas, by contrast, immerse you in a steamy, spa-like atmosphere to hydrate your skin and help you unwind after a long day. The moist air can feel gentler, especially if you're sensitive to dry heat. If you enjoy a sauna that feels like a spa, steam saunas deliver a more luxurious, relaxing experience.

Electrical Requirements

Traditional saunas need a 240V outlet with 30-40 amps to power the heating elements and keep the temperature high during your session.

For steam saunas, you'll need a 240V outlet with 20-50 amps, depending on the size of the steam generator. Larger steam saunas or generators producing more steam require higher amperage to operate smoothly.

Cost

Traditional saunas generally cost between $6,000 and $11,000 or more, depending on their size, materials, and features. They may be more expensive upfront due to their high-quality wood and heating systems.

Steam saunas typically cost $5,000 to $15,000 or more, with additional plumbing and steam generator costs. They also need a water supply line to connect to the steam generator, a drainage system to manage condensation and excess water, and high-quality moisture-resistant materials like tile or glass to prevent damage from the constant humidity. This additional sauna installation cost makes steam saunas the pricier option.

Remember that home sauna costs can significantly increase if you customize or use premium materials.

Maintenance

Traditional saunas require regular cleaning of the wood surfaces, proper ventilation to prevent mold and occasional replacement of the rocks and heating elements. However, if used correctly, they are relatively low-maintenance.

Steam saunas, on the other hand, demand more upkeep. You'll need to clean the steam generator, regularly wipe down surfaces to prevent mold and mildew and ensure proper drainage and ventilation. Steam saunas also require periodic descaling of the steam generator, especially if you live in an area with hard water.

Health Benefits of Traditional and Steam Saunas

A steam or traditional sauna is perfect for your outdoor wellness retreat. They both offer similar health benefits due to their combination of high humidity and heat:

Improved cardiovascular health: Regular use of saunas can reduce your blood pressure, improve your circulation, lower your risk of heart disease, and increase your lifespan.
Improved respiratory function: The steam generated in traditional and steam saunas can help clear your airways, making them ideal for respiratory concerns.
Reduced stress: The ritual of sitting in a traditional sauna can be meditative, reducing your cortisol levels and promoting relaxation. Steam saunas' soothing, steamy environment promotes relaxation, helping you feel more balanced and rejuvenated.
Improved skin health: Sweating in a traditional or steam sauna cleanses your pores, exfoliates your skin, and stimulates collagen production for a glowing complexion.
Enhanced detoxification: Steam saunas' high humidity encourages intense sweating, which may help flush out toxins more effectively.

Safety Considerations When Using Saunas

Saunas are safe if you use them responsibly, but following a few key precautions is essential to ensure you have a positive experience:

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your session to prevent dehydration and avoid dizziness or fatigue.
Know your limits: Use steam and infrared saunas for 20 to 30 minutes per session. Use a traditional sauna for 15 to 20 minutes to avoid overheating and dehydration. If you're new to saunas, start with 10 to 15 minutes and gradually increase your time as your body gets used to the heat.
Consult your doctor: If you're pregnant or have conditions like heart problems or high blood pressure, consult your doctor before using a sauna.
Cool down properly: After your session, rest for 5 to 10 minutes and take a lukewarm shower to help your body adjust and cool down gradually.
Use the correct sauna outlet: Plug your sauna into the proper outlet. Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines and consult an electrician to ensure a safe installation and prevent overheating.

Traditional Sauna vs. Steam Sauna: Which Is Better for You?

Choosing between a traditional sauna and a steam room depends on your preferences, wellness goals, and the experience you want to create at home.

When to Choose a Traditional Sauna

Choose a traditional sauna if you enjoy intense dry heat and the classic sauna experience. It's perfect for heavy sweating, improving circulation, and creating a quiet, meditative retreat.

Traditional saunas are also an excellent option if you have a larger communal space or want to replicate a timeless Finnish sauna setup. Traditional saunas are long-lasting and reliable if you prioritize durability and a permanent home spa installation.

When to Choose a Steam Sauna

A steam sauna is the better choice if you love the soothing warmth of high humidity. It's also a great option if you want a spa-like environment and want to improve your respiratory health and skin hydration. A steam sauna is ideal if you value a soft and luxurious sauna, especially after a long day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, steam or sauna?

The choice depends on your goals—steam saunas are better for respiratory health and skin hydration. In contrast, traditional saunas excel at promoting circulation and offering an intense, dry heat experience.

What is the healthiest type of sauna?

The healthiest sauna depends on your needs, but steam saunas benefit respiratory health and skin. In contrast, traditional saunas improve cardiovascular function and relaxation.

What is the difference between a steam sauna and a traditional sauna?

A steam sauna uses moist heat at 100% humidity. In contrast, a traditional sauna relies on dry heat with low humidity, creating distinct experiences and benefits.