How Much Does a Home Sauna Cost in 2023?

A home sauna is the ultimate luxury, giving you the opportunity to have a spa experience from the comfort of your property. In the UK, most home saunas are installed outside, but if you have the space there's no reason why you can't have one indoors. A home sauna could cost anywhere between £1,000-£17,000, but what factors make up this cost?

How much does a home sauna cost?

Home sauna costs vary so widely as you can buy in-home sauna kits that are easier to install, or you can get plans drawn up and get your own custom home sauna built.

You'll also need a qualified electrician, and hourly costs vary across the country – take a look at HaMuch's electrician rates based on location further down the page to get an idea of how much the electrical part of the job will cost you in your area.

Item	Average cost
Home sauna kit	£1,000-£16,000
In-home sauna	£4,000-£15,000
Electrician	£50 per hour
Total installation costs	£2,000-£2,500

What is the cost of installing a steam room at home?

Some people don’t like the dry heat of a sauna, but prefer steam rooms instead – you can install these at home, too. While saunas use heat from hot rocks or a stove, steam rooms use a generator that’s filled with boiling water.

You’ll still need an electrician to help you install a steam room. Here are the average costs for installing a steam room at home:

Steam room type	Average cost
Bespoke steam room with installation	£3,250
Pre-made steam unit	£2,150
Pre-made steam unit with installation	£4,000

Where can I install a sauna?

While home saunas generally refer to saunas installed within the house, lots of UK properties don't have the space. Therefore, it's common for home saunas to be installed in a garage, specially-designed outbuilding or shed.

If you do have room inside, you can add one to your bathroom or any other room. Lots of people choose to build a sauna in their basement, if they have one.

Do you need planning permission to build a sauna in the UK?

Generally, you won't need planning permission to build a sauna in the UK. An outbuilding to house a sauna is considered to be permitted development, so unless you live in a conservation area or are planning a particularly big home sauna, you shouldn't need planning permission.

However, there may be other building regulations that you need to adhere to, so it’s always worth getting in touch with your local Building Control if you’re unsure.

Does a sauna add value to your home in the UK?

A well-installed sauna that complements your home’s style and space will add value to your home – they’re a luxurious addition to a house, and if a prospective buyer doesn’t have to shell out the cash to install one themselves, that can only be a benefit.

It’s worth looking through a potential buyer’s eyes when you install a home sauna or steam room. If you’re building it outdoors, does it still leave enough space for your garden to be enjoyed? Most buyers would be put off if the only thing in the garden is a shed for a sauna.

If you’re installing your home sauna inside, does it work with the rest of the rooms? Is it in or close to the bathroom, so everything flows nicely? If your home sauna feels like it’s been ‘shoe-horned’ in, it might not add as much value as you’d hoped.

How much electricity does a sauna use?

Saunas use a moderate amount of electricity. It depends on the output of your sauna’s heater, but an average sauna heater is 4.5kW.

Assuming you use your sauna for 90 minutes twice a week on average settings, the power consumption would be around 8kWh. That means that at March 2023 electricity prices of around 34p per kWh, your sauna would cost you around £2.72 per week.

Does a sauna require plumbing?

No, a sauna doesn’t require plumbing, since a sauna produces dry heat. This makes them easy to install in a variety of places, which is why home saunas are more popular than steam rooms.

Steam rooms do require plumbing, and therefore drainage as well, so there’s more to think about – and it makes them easier to install in existing bathrooms.

Are saunas a lot of maintenance?

Saunas don’t require a lot of maintenance, but it's still important to keep them clean. You should clean it at least once a month using a chemical-free, mild detergent. It goes without saying that household cleaners might react with high temperatures, so never clean your sauna while it's running. Also, keep the door open while you're cleaning to keep air circulating.

Make sure you always use a towel in your home sauna to help keep it free from stains from sweat and dirt. If you do find that you have some stains, you can use a mild washing up liquid with warm water to clean them off.

You should also take a look at your sauna’s heater or stones once a year to check that you’ve got good air flow and heat distribution.

If you want a more accurate idea of home sauna cost, post your job on HaMuch. We’ll put you in touch with qualified electricians that can help connect your sauna or steam room.

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