How much does it cost to maintain an electric sauna at home in Europe, and how Saunamo optimizes your operating costs

If you are considering an electric sauna at home, there is one question that is worth more than any generic promise: how much will each session actually cost and how much will it add to your monthly bill? In 2026, this is an even more relevant question, because electricity prices continue to vary widely between European countries, and the differences can be large enough to double the cost of use between two homes with the same sauna.

The reliable starting point is Eurostat: in the first half of 2025, the average price of electricity for domestic consumers in the European Union (including taxes, fees, and VAT) was €0.2872 per kWh, with significant variations between countries (Eurostat, 2025). In other words, the same sauna session can cost much more or much less depending on where you live and what type of tariff you have.

This article was written to serve as a decision-making tool. You will learn how to accurately calculate costs, interpret what really affects the sauna's electricity consumption, and understand how, at Saunamo, we plan the installation to reduce waste and make costs predictable from the outset.

Because this calculation gives the buyer confidence

The "cost of maintaining an electric sauna" is not a marketing issue. It is a planning issue. When customers understand the numbers, the decision becomes easier and more peaceful. And for a premium product, peace of mind counts.

• Helps you choose a size that is appropriate for actual use, without paying for unnecessary volume

• Avoid poorly sized heaters, which increase heating time and consumption.

• Allows you to predict a monthly budget based on your rate, not the European average

• Provides clarity on what is worth optimizing: insulation, glass, control, and usage habits.

• Reduces uncertainty before purchase and avoids surprises after installation

How much energy does an electric sauna actually consume?

A common mistake is to look at the heater's power rating, for example 6 kW, 8 kW, or 9 kW, and assume that this value is the permanent consumption throughout the entire session. This is not the case.

The sauna's electricity consumption occurs in two phases.

During the initial heating phase, the heater operates at near maximum power to raise the temperature of the air, interior surfaces, and stones. During the maintenance phase, after reaching the set temperature, the system cycles on and off to maintain the heat.

That is why the most realistic way to estimate costs is to work with total energy per session, in kWh, instead of multiplying nominal power by total time the “sauna is on.”

Motiva, a Finnish entity focused on energy efficiency, describes that in an electric sauna, a significant portion of energy is consumed in preheating, and the rest in maintaining the temperature. Motiva also emphasizes that keeping the sauna warm without use is a direct waste (Motiva, 2025). This observation is central to reducing costs without compromising the experience.

What varies most between countries: the price per kWh

Before calculating the cost of maintaining an electric sauna, you need to know your actual kWh price. Not just the price of "energy" alone, but the final price you pay, including network and taxes, because that is what determines the cost per session.

Eurostat explains that the prices presented for domestic consumers include taxes, fees, and VAT, and that the structure of components varies from country to country, including changes in subsidies and temporary measures (Eurostat, 2025). The European Commission also publishes regular analyses of energy prices and costs in Europe, focusing on how these costs impact households and markets (European Commission, 2025).

To give practical examples with comparable figures, we can use data by country for mid-2025. A set of values often cited in European data compilations for domestic prices per kWh, including taxes, includes: Portugal €0.2390, Spain €0.2608, France €0.2664, Sweden €0.2654, Germany €0.3835 (Countryeconomy, 2025). Eurostat itself confirms Germany as the country with the highest prices in the EU in the first half of 2025, providing a figure of €0.3835 per kWh (Eurostat, 2025).

If you are in Portugal, it is also useful to be aware of the regulatory context: ERSE publishes documentation and decisions on regulated tariffs and tariff structures, including components such as network access and time periods (ERSE, 2025). Even when consumers choose a supplier in the liberalized market, part of the total cost reflects regulated components.

The basic formula that never fails

The math is simple. The hard part is choosing good assumptions.

Energy consumed (kWh) = power (kW) × time (hours)
Cost (€) = energy (kWh) × price per kWh

Since electric saunas do not continuously consume maximum power, the most robust method for estimating costs is to use kWh per session scenarios. Then, apply the kWh price from your contract.

A set of realistic scenarios, consistent with Finnish references on consumption and practical experience with home saunas, is:

Efficient session: 8 kWh
Typical session: 12 kWh
Demanding session: 16 kWh

The difference between these scenarios can be explained by size, insulation, glass area, set temperature, duration, and preheating.

If you want the "cost of maintaining an electric sauna" to be predictable, these scenarios are your starting point.

How much does it cost per session: examples from European countries

Below, we apply the scenarios to electricity prices by country, using reference values from mid-2025 for domestic consumers (Countryeconomy, 2025) and confirming the European framework with Eurostat (Eurostat, 2025).

Portugal, €0.2390 per kWh (Countryeconomy, 2025)
8 kWh: approximately €1.91
12 kWh: approximately €2.87
16 kWh: approximately €3.82

Spain, €0.2608 per kWh (Countryeconomy, 2025)
8 kWh: approximately €2.09
12 kWh: approximately €3.13
16 kWh: approximately €4.17

France, €0.2664 per kWh (Countryeconomy, 2025)
8 kWh: approximately €2.13
12 kWh: approximately €3.20
16 kWh: approximately €4.26

Germany, €0.3835 per kWh (Eurostat, 2025)
8 kWh: approximately €3.07
12 kWh: approximately €4.60
16 kWh: approximately €6.14

The correct interpretation of these figures is not "a sauna costs X." The correct interpretation is: the cost per session can be low and predictable when consumption is controlled and when the price per kWh is known. That is why, in a good purchasing process, talking about the sauna's electricity consumption is not a technical detail. It is part of the decision.

How much does it cost per month: three realistic profiles

Next, we convert the cost per session into a monthly cost. The goal is to give a realistic idea of the impact on the bill, with transparency.

Light use: 1 session per week
4 sessions per month

If each session is 12 kWh:
Portugal: 4 × 12 × $0.2390 = approximately $11.47
Spain: 4 × 12 × 0.2608 € = approximately 12.52 €
Germany: 4 × 12 × €0.3835 = approximately €18.41

Regular use: 3 sessions per week
13 sessions per month

If each session is 10 kWh:
Portugal: 130 kWh × $0.2390 = approximately $31.07
Spain: 130 kWh × $0.2608 = approximately $33.90
Germany: 130 kWh × $0.3835 = approximately $49.86

Frequent use: 5 sessions per week
22 sessions per month

If each session is 12 kWh:
Portugal: 264 kWh × $0.2390 = approximately $63.10
Spain: 264 kWh × $0.2608 = approximately $68.85
Germany: 264 kWh × $0.3835 = approximately $101.24

In Portugal and Spain, for many users, the cost of maintaining an electric sauna with regular use tends to remain within a predictable range, provided that the sauna is properly sized and that the routine avoids obvious waste, such as prolonged preheating without need.

Putting the cost into perspective without "selling dreams"

There are two ways to look at these figures. One is to look at the isolated monthly total. The other is to look at the cost per session and predictability.

A cost per session of €2 to €4 in many European markets is comparable to everyday habits. And unlike other wellness equipment, an electric sauna has a very controllable usage pattern: you turn it on, use it, and turn it off. There is no inevitable continuous operation.

This predictability is a confidence booster because it reduces the sense of financial risk. What makes a sauna “expensive to maintain” is not the sauna itself. It is a combination of size choices, heat loss, and usage habits.

What determines whether your sauna costs €30 or €80 per month

This is the section that most influences customer satisfaction. The same price per kWh can generate very different costs due to design decisions.

Volume and proportions

The greater the volume in cubic meters, the more energy is needed to heat and maintain it. And there is a secondary effect: large saunas take longer to "stabilize" the sensation of heat, because it is not only the air that matters, but also the surfaces and stones.

Isolation and continuity

Eurostat explains that prices include network components and taxes, but how consumers "transform" kWh into comfort depends greatly on the building and its insulation (Eurostat, 2025). In practical terms: well-done insulation reduces the need for long cycles and improves thermal stability.

Balanced ventilation

Ventilation means health and comfort, but excessive ventilation means energy loss. This balance is a design issue, not a detail. When discussing efficiency in home saunas, Motiva draws attention to avoidable waste in the way the sauna is heated and maintained (Motiva, 2025). Excessive ventilation can cause the sauna to "fight" against a constant influx of cold air.

Control and habits

The biggest waste is usually time. Overheating, leaving the sauna on "just a little longer," or heating the sauna for one person at a time at separate times, rather than concentrating sessions, increases total consumption. Motiva recommends heating for several people at once, because a significant part of consumption is in preheating (Motiva, 2025).

Comparison: where the cost really changes

• Well-sized sauna vs. oversized sauna: the latter may consume more per session because it heats unnecessary volume and has greater heat loss associated with its size.

• Little glass vs. lots of glass: glass increases losses and may require more power and energy, especially in outdoor installations or cold areas.

• Simple control vs. well-configured control: programming and operating limits reduce "idle" time and make the sauna's electricity consumption more predictable.

How to reduce costs without compromising the sauna experience

Efficiency should not mean a "lukewarm" or uncomfortable sauna. On the contrary. The goal is to reach the right temperature faster and maintain it with less waste.

The first measure is correct size. A well-designed sauna for 2 to 4 people can deliver an excellent experience without excessive volume. The second measure is a well-chosen heater. An inadequate heater can increase the time it takes to reach the desired temperature and, consequently, increase consumption. The third measure is proper construction. Insulation, vapor barrier, and assembly details influence both comfort and costs.

Then there is the operational side, where savings are easy and require no work: concentrate sessions, avoid excessive preheating, and turn off the sauna when you are finished.

Here's an important point: many people don't need to "optimize energy" every day. They need to avoid obvious waste and have a well-designed system. That's what gives them confidence.

As at Saunamo, we optimize operating costs prior to installation.

As a specialist retailer, our job is not to sell “a wooden box.” It is to ensure that the customer receives a sauna that works well in their home, with predictable costs. The most important chapter for us is this: optimization begins before the purchase.

Calculation of volume and thermal load

We don't just look at the "external size." We calculate the internal volume in cubic meters and analyze surfaces that increase heat loss, such as glass or colder exterior walls. This step avoids two common situations: saunas that are too large for actual use and heaters that are sized by approximation.

Matching the heater to volume and usage

The goal is to balance heating time, stability, and consumption. An inadequate heater increases usage time and cost. Here, our approach is practical: size for actual use, for the desired temperature, and for the cabin construction.

Review of insulation and construction details

When it comes to sauna efficiency, the details matter. A Insulated sauna Insulated only consumes less energy, but also provides a more uniform thermal sensation. This step is where problems are solved that the customer would only discover later, when the sauna takes too long to heat up or loses heat quickly.

Electrical planning and safety

A sauna is a demanding electrical environment. The Finnish authority Tukes explains that electrical installations in saunas must comply with specific requirements (in Finland, referring to standard SFS 6000 part 7-703), and also distinguishes between cabins built on site and prefabricated saunas with their own product standard (Tukes, 2026). The message to European consumers is clear: professional electrical planning is not optional. It is what protects the safety, performance, and service life of the equipment.

In Portugal, the final cost per kWh and time periods are influenced by tariff structures and regulated components published by ERSE (ERSE, 2025). Therefore, when customers want to control costs, we also consider the type of tariff and usage profile, so that the sauna fits into their routine and does not cause any surprises.

This process builds confidence because it turns purchasing into an informed decision. And in practice, it reduces waste from day one.

Because saunas are more predictable than other wellness equipment

Many people compare the cost of maintaining an electric sauna with other home wellness systems, and here there is a structural difference: a sauna is typically "session by session." It does not depend on pumps running 24 hours a day, does not require continuous circulation, and does not need to keep water hot constantly.

This does not mean that it is "cheap." It means that it is predictable. And predictability is exactly what buyers value when investing in a premium product.

Conclusion: the actual cost is transparent when it is well planned.

The cost of maintaining an electric sauna at home in Europe depends on the price per kWh, the volume, the insulation, and the size of the heater. Eurostat confirms significant differences between countries and a European average of €0.2872 per kWh in the first half of 2025 (Eurostat, 2025). Motiva emphasizes that preheating accounts for a significant share of consumption and that keeping the sauna warm when not in use is a direct waste (Motiva, 2025). And Tukes points out that temperature and humidity conditions require strict criteria for electrical installations in sauna environments (Tukes, 2026).

In practice, for many households, a session can cost between around €2 and €5, depending on the country and consumption per session. The monthly cost, with regular use, can be in the tens of euros and vary greatly between markets with cheaper and more expensive electricity.

What gives buyers confidence is simple: accurate calculations and a well-designed project. This is exactly where Saunamo adds value, optimizing volume, heating, insulation, and electrical planning before installation.

Quick takeaways

• Use scenarios of 8, 12, and 16 kWh per session to realistically estimate the sauna's electricity consumption.

• Always apply your final kWh price, including network and taxes, because that is what you pay.

• Price differences between countries can double the cost of maintaining an electric sauna with the same usage pattern.

• The biggest waste is usually time: excessive preheating and leaving the sauna on when not in use.

• Solid technical planning prior to installation is the safest way to ensure predictable costs.