Recovery has become one of the biggest drawcards in fitness and wellness. Gyms, CrossFit boxes, yoga and pilates studios, physio clinics and even short-stay accommodation are adding saunas to stand out and keep members coming back. Here's what to think about before you buy a sauna for your business.
Why businesses are adding saunas
- Member retention: recovery facilities give people another reason to keep their membership.
- Premium pricing: many venues offer sauna access as an upgrade or a standalone session.
- Contrast therapy: pairing a sauna with an ice bath is one of the most popular recovery offerings around.
- Differentiation: it's a visible, social feature that gets shared on Instagram.
Indoor or outdoor?
Many venues don't have spare floor space, so an outdoor sauna on a courtyard, car space or rooftop can be a smart option. A self-contained outdoor unit avoids a full internal fit-out. Our Outdoor Infrared Sauna (1800 × 1350 × 2100mm, up to 4 people) and Outdoor Traditional Sauna are both popular with businesses.
Infrared or traditional for commercial use?
Infrared saunas heat up quickly, run at lower air temperatures and cost less to run, which suits back-to-back sessions. Traditional saunas give the hotter, steamy experience many contrast therapy fans expect. Some venues offer both.
Key things to check
Capacity and throughput
Work out how many people you expect per hour at peak times. A 4-person sauna running 20-minute sessions can serve around 12 people an hour.
Power
Commercial and outdoor saunas typically need a dedicated circuit, hardwired to an isolator by a licensed electrician. Our Outdoor Infrared Sauna uses a 25A cable and draws 5,890W. Get your electrician to confirm your switchboard has capacity, or try the free electrical estimate on our product pages.
Warranty
Check that the warranty covers commercial use, as many don't. Chill Bunny outdoor infrared saunas include 2 years parts and labour for commercial use (3 years residential).
Certification and compliance
Make sure the sauna has Australian electrical certification (ours are SAA certified), and check your local council, insurer and any industry body requirements.
Hygiene and cleaning
Plan a cleaning routine: towels on benches, daily wipe-downs and regular deeper cleans. See our guide to cleaning and maintaining a sauna.
Safety signage and supervision
Display clear guidelines on session length, hydration and who should check with a doctor first. Read our sauna safety and etiquette guide for wording ideas.
Does a commercial sauna pay for itself?
It depends on your pricing and usage, but the maths is often simple. If you charge $15 a session and average ten sessions a day, that's around $4,500 a month in sauna revenue, before counting the effect on memberships. Running costs are usually a small fraction of that. Read how much it costs to run a sauna for a breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a sauna in a rented commercial space?
Usually yes, with landlord approval. An outdoor, self-contained sauna is easier to relocate if you move.
Do you deliver and install for businesses?
Yes. We offer free metro delivery to the area of install at a time that suits you, and can talk you through electrical requirements.
Can I see one first?
Visit our Balgowlah showroom in Sydney to try before you buy.
Talk to us about your venue
Call our team on 0400 767 493 to discuss capacity, placement and power for your business, or browse our saunas. Reserve with a $500 deposit, balance on delivery.