Comparison
Electric vs wood-burning sauna
Most Finnish homes have an electric heater; most summer cottages burn wood. Both give real löyly. The choice is mostly about where the sauna is and how much work you want to put in.
| Electric | Wood-burning | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting it hot | Press a button or use a timer or app. Heats itself. | Light the fire and feed it. Part of the ritual, or a chore, depending on who you ask. |
| Löyly | Good, especially with a large stone mass. | Many Finns find it softer and livelier, with the crackle and smell of the fire. |
| Installation | A dedicated circuit by an electrician. Breaker sizes. | A certified chimney, safety distances and a non-combustible floor. Indoors, local codes and insurers may restrict it. |
| Where it suits | Homes, basements, apartments, anywhere with power. | Cabins, garden and lakeside saunas, places without a big electrical supply. |
| Running cost | Electricity: about $1.50 a session in a typical home sauna. Calculate yours. | Firewood: cheap or free if you have your own, otherwise depends on local prices. |
| Upkeep | Re-stack or replace stones; elements rarely. | Stones, ash, chimney sweeping, and keeping a stock of dry wood. |
The middle ground
Heat-storing wood stoves are heated once and give löyly for hours without feeding the fire. They are what many Finns consider the best sauna short of a smoke sauna. Smoke saunas and heat-storing stoves →
Sizing
Both are sized by room volume, with extra for glass and log walls. The calculator does electric and wood; the wood stove guide lists rated ranges.