Infrared vs. Traditional: Two Ways to Sweat Solo
A 1 person sauna isn't one-size-fits-all. The two main types heat your body differently, feel different in use, and have different space and electrical requirements.
Infrared saunas use panels that emit light waves absorbed directly by your skin and tissue. Air temperature stays lower (typically 120–150°F), but you'll still be drenched within 20–30 minutes. Most single-person infrared cabins plug into a standard 120V household outlet, heat up in 15–20 minutes, and draw about as much power as a space heater. If you're in an apartment or condo with no room for electrical work, this is your path.
Traditional saunas heat the air around you with an electric stove and sauna stones. Temperatures reach 150–185°F, and you can toss water on the stones for löyly (steam). The 1 person traditional sauna options we carry need a 240V dedicated circuit installed by a licensed electrician. The trade-off is worth it if you want the experience you'd find in a Finnish sauna or a high-end spa.
Not sure which style fits? A full-spectrum infrared sauna covers near, mid, and far wavelengths in one cabin. If you want both infrared and traditional steam in the same unit, our hybrid saunas start at 2 person capacity.
How to Choose the Right 1 Person Sauna
Measure your space first
A typical single-person sauna needs roughly 3’ × 3’ of floor space, plus a few inches of clearance on each side for airflow. The Finnmark FD-1 fits a 38" × 38" footprint. The SunRay Sedona is 36" × 42". Both slide into a bedroom corner, walk-in closet, or basement nook without renovation. If you've got outdoor space, the SaunaLife CL3G cube sauna has a 53" × 51" footprint and works on a patio or small deck.
Check your electrical before you buy
This is the detail that catches most first-time buyers off guard. Infrared models from SunRay and Finnmark run on a standard 120V outlet. Plug in and go. Traditional saunas with a stove and stones require 240V hardwired by a licensed electrician. Every product page lists exact voltage, amperage, and breaker requirements so your electrician has what they need before the sauna arrives. Always consult a licensed electrician before any electrical work. Requirements vary by local code and jurisdiction.
Think about what you actually want from a session
If you're after quiet, radiant heat you can use daily with almost zero warmup time, infrared makes sense. If you want the ritual of stones, steam, and high air temperatures, go traditional. Some people own both. There's no wrong answer; it comes down to how you like to sweat.
Indoor or outdoor placement
Every sauna on this page works indoors. The SaunaLife CL3G is our only 1–2 person option built specifically for outdoor use, constructed from thermo-treated spruce and aspen designed to handle rain, snow, and UV exposure. If you're leaning toward an outdoor setup for one person, the CL3G is worth a close look. For a broader range of backyard options, browse our outdoor sauna collection.
Brands We Carry for 1 Person Saunas
Finnmark Designs: The FD-1 is a full-spectrum infrared cabin built from thermo-aspen with built-in red light therapy panels and Bluetooth audio. It's 78" tall, 38" wide, and 38" deep. Full spectrum means near, mid, and far infrared wavelengths in every session, and it plugs into a standard household outlet. If you want the most capable single-person infrared sauna we sell, this is it. Browse all Finnmark saunas to compare sizes across the line.
SunRay Saunas: Two options here. The Sedona HL100K is a 1–2 person far infrared cabin in red cedar with ultra-low EMF heaters and Bluetooth. Compact, affordable, and plugs into a 120V outlet. The Aston HL100TN is a 1 person traditional steam sauna in hemlock with a built-in heater and sauna stones — a true traditional experience in a footprint that fits most rooms. SunRay builds solid entry-level saunas for people who don't want to overthink it.
SaunaLife: The CL3G cube is a 1–2 person outdoor traditional sauna with a glass front, two-tier seating, and thermo-spruce construction. It doesn't include a heater, so you choose one separately from our heater collection. That means you can pair it with the exact stove that fits your preferences. The cube design gives you more usable interior space than a barrel in a similar footprint.
What's Included and What You'll Need
Every sauna ships as a kit with the cabin structure, benches, door, and hardware. The Finnmark FD-1 and SunRay Sedona include their infrared heaters built in. The SunRay Aston includes a traditional heater and stones. The SaunaLife CL3G ships without a heater so you can pick the right one for your setup.
Assembly is straightforward for all models here. Indoor infrared saunas like the FD-1 and Sedona use snap-together or buckle panels — two people can have them up in under an hour with a screwdriver. The Aston and CL3G take a bit longer, closer to 2–4 hours. No special tools required for any of them.
Electrical: infrared models plug into a standard 120V wall outlet on a dedicated 15A or 20A circuit. Traditional saunas (Aston, CL3G with electric heater) need a dedicated 240V circuit installed by a licensed electrician. Each product page spells out the exact specs.
Foundation for outdoor placement: the CL3G needs a level surface, whether that's a compacted gravel pad, concrete slab, or rated deck. Check the product page for weight and footprint dimensions before prepping your site.
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