One of the first questions we hear at the showroom is "what will it do to my power bill?" The good news: it's easy to work out, and for most households a daily session costs less than a takeaway coffee.
The simple formula
Cost per session = heater power (kW) × hours running × your electricity rate ($ per kWh)
You'll find your electricity rate on your bill. Most Australian households pay somewhere around 25–45c per kWh, depending on your state, retailer and plan.
Why the real cost is lower than the maximum
A heater only draws full power while it's heating up. Once the sauna reaches your set temperature, the thermostat cycles the heaters on and off to hold it there. So the formula above gives you the worst case, and your actual usage will usually be lower.
Worked example: outdoor infrared sauna
The Chill Bunny 4 Person Outdoor Infrared Sauna is rated at 5,890W (5.89kW).
- Warm-up of 20 minutes plus a 40-minute session = 1 hour
- Worst case: 5.89kW × 1 hour × $0.35 = about $2.06
- With thermostat cycling, expect less than that in practice
Worked example: outdoor traditional sauna
The Chill Bunny 4 Person Outdoor Traditional Sauna uses a 6.8kW Harvia heater. Traditional saunas heat the air to higher temperatures, so they usually take a little longer to warm up.
- Warm-up of 40 minutes plus a 30-minute session ≈ 1.2 hours
- Worst case: 6.8kW × 1.2 hours × $0.35 = about $2.86
Worked example: indoor infrared sauna
The Chill Bunny 4 Person Indoor Infrared Sauna is rated at 4,850W. An hour of running at full power on a 35c rate is around $1.70, and usually less in practice.
Five ways to keep running costs down
- Schedule your session. Use the timer or app control so the sauna is warm when you arrive, not an hour before.
- Use off-peak or solar hours. If you have solar, a daytime session can cost very little.
- Keep the door closed while heating. Every opening lets heat escape.
- Don't overheat. Most people enjoy infrared at 50–65°C. Higher settings use more power.
- Choose good insulation. Well-built cabins hold heat, so the heaters cycle less.
What about installation costs?
Running costs are small, but the one-off electrical install matters more. Full-size saunas are hardwired on a dedicated circuit by a licensed electrician. Try the free electrical estimate on any Chill Bunny sauna page to see a typical range for your home.
FAQs
Does an infrared sauna use less power than a traditional sauna?
Generally yes. Infrared saunas run at lower air temperatures and warm up faster, so the total energy per session is usually lower.
Will a sauna trip my power?
Not if it's installed properly. A licensed electrician will put it on its own dedicated circuit and check your switchboard has capacity.