What Size Infrared Sauna Is Right for You? 1, 2, 3 Person and Larger

Last updated: November 2026

Most infrared saunas come in 1, 2, and 3 person sizes. There are a few larger ones, like corner saunas and open-floor saunas you can do yoga in, but those three sizes are the most popular. The seat count on a spec sheet tells you how many people fit, not how many fit comfortably, and it says nothing about how you will actually use the sauna day to day.

Below we walk through what each size is like to use, what each one needs from your room and your electrical panel, and the one piece of advice we give almost everyone who asks which size to buy.

The short answer

Get the biggest sauna that fits your space and that you can provide the electricity for. The rest of this article explains why, and how to check both.

One-person saunas

A one-person sauna gives one person a really comfortable amount of space, as long as you plan on sitting upright on the bench facing straight ahead. It’s a great fit for someone who will always sauna alone. The trade-off is that no one can comfortably join you.

Depending on the size of the people and the width of the sauna, you can sometimes squeeze two people into a one-person unit, but it’s really tight. Think of it as an occasional novelty rather than the way you’ll want to sauna every day, because as you get hot and sweaty, your need for personal space tends to increase.

The Clearlight^® one-person models are the Premier 1, which is about 35 inches wide inside, and the Sanctuary 1, which is about 37½ inches. They are also the easiest to power: both plug into a standard 120V, 15 amp household outlet.

Two-person saunas

If it’s just you using a two-person sauna, you get a nice increase in width. That opens up the option to turn sideways on the bench and stretch your legs out, which a lot of people find more comfortable than sitting straight. You can’t really lie down comfortably in this size, though. Depending on the length of your torso you may be able to, but you’ll have to put your legs straight up the wall, and that position can be tricky to get in and out of.

And of course, a friend or partner can now join you comfortably. Some of the best conversations seem to happen in the sauna.

The Clearlight^® two-person models are the Premier 2, which is about 45 inches wide inside, the Sanctuary 2, which is about 46½ inches, and the Sanctuary Outdoor 2, which is about 50½ inches and is built to go outside. The Premier 2 plugs into a standard 120V, 15 amp outlet. The Sanctuary 2 needs a 120V, 20 amp outlet, which many rooms don’t have, so check before you order. A 20 amp outlet has a small sideways T-shaped slot; if yours doesn’t, an electrician can add one. The Outdoor 2 needs a 240V, 15 amp outdoor-rated outlet.

Three-person saunas

With a three-person sauna, one person has plenty of room to stretch out and can also lie down on the bench. Depending on your height, you may be able to lie flat out, or you may need to bend your knees a little or put your feet up on the wall. Two people both get all the personal space they need, and three people can use it at once.

The two Clearlight^® three-person models differ more than the name suggests. The Premier 3 is about 55 inches wide inside, and the Sanctuary 3 is about 66½ inches. If lying down is a big part of why you want a bigger sauna, that extra foot matters.

This is also where the electrical needs split. The Premier 3 runs on a 120V, 20 amp outlet, which makes it the largest Clearlight^® indoor sauna you can run without 240V. The Sanctuary 3 needs a 240V, 15 amp outlet.

Four and five person saunas

If you have the room, the larger models give a household plenty of space to share, or give one person room to do almost anything they like. There are four options, each built for a different kind of space:

• Sanctuary 5: seats 4 to 5 in a straight, wide layout, about 82 inches across the outside.
• Sanctuary C: a corner sauna that seats 4, shaped to tuck into the corner of a room.
• Sanctuary Retreat: seats 4, with a wide door, a removable ramp, and benches that lift out to open the whole floor for stretching, yoga, or training. It is also taller, so it needs a higher ceiling (see below).
• Sanctuary Outdoor 5: seats 4 to 5 and is built to live outside.

All four need a 240V outlet.

Every Clearlight^® model by size

Electrical: where the sizes change

For most people, the outlet decides the size before the room does. Here is how the lineup breaks down:

• Standard 120V, 15 amp outlet: Premier 1, Premier 2, Sanctuary 1.
• 120V, 20 amp outlet: Premier 3, Sanctuary 2.
• 240V outlet: Sanctuary 3 and every larger model, plus both outdoor saunas.

A few things to know before you decide:

• Accessories can raise the requirement. Adding a Red Light Therapy Tower or the 300W door heater can move a model up a step. For example, a Premier 2 goes from 120V, 15 amp to 120V, 20 amp.
• Plug straight into the wall. No extension cords.
• Keep the circuit to itself. Several models draw close to their outlet’s full rating, so avoid sharing the circuit with other heavy appliances. Have a licensed electrician confirm your circuit, and handle any new one.

Running a bigger sauna costs more, but not by much. At the U.S. average electricity rate, a one-hour session (30 minutes of heat-up plus 30 minutes inside) costs about $0.32 in a Sanctuary 1 and about $0.49 in a Sanctuary 3. On the Premier side it’s about $0.25 for a Premier 1 and $0.38 for a Premier 3. For the full breakdown by model and state, see What It Costs to Run an Infrared Sauna.

Measure your space before you decide

• Leave room around it. Indoor saunas need at least 4 inches above and 2 inches on each side for installation.
• Check your ceiling. Most models need a ceiling of at least 81 inches. The Sanctuary Retreat needs at least 89 inches.
• Check the path in. Measure doorways, hallways, and any turns in the stairs between your door and the spot you have in mind.
• Check the floor. It needs to be level and strong enough for the weight. Saunas range from about 325 pounds (Premier 1) to about 1,050 pounds (Outdoor 5).
• Outdoors, plan on a strong, level deck or a solid concrete slab (pavers aren’t recommended), a properly rated outdoor outlet nearby, and room for the roof cap, which overhangs about 9 inches on each side.

Why we tell almost everyone to size up

Over the years, we’ve had customers come back after buying, wanting to upgrade to a larger model. In 25 years, no one has told us they wish they’d bought a smaller sauna. Plenty have told us they wish they’d gone bigger.

Part of the reason is that the price doesn’t change that much as you move up. Across most of the lineup, going up to the next size adds only about 5 to 10 percent to the price. Next to the cost of the sauna itself, that’s a small step for a lot more room to stretch out, lie down, or bring someone in with you, so it’s really worth giving it some thought.

The bottom line

A one-person sauna is great if you’ll always sit upright and alone. A two-person gives you room to turn sideways and stretch your legs, or share. A three-person or larger lets you lie down and gives everyone their own space. Start with the biggest model your room and your outlet can handle, then work down only if you have to.

If you’re not sure which model fits your space or your electrical, call us at 800-317-5070 or email info@HealwithHeat.com. Our team is happy to help you work it out.

Frequently asked questions

What size infrared sauna should I buy?

Buy the biggest sauna that fits your space and that you can provide the electricity for. A one-person sauna works if you’ll sit upright alone, a two-person lets you turn sideways and stretch your legs, and a three-person or larger lets you lie down. Going up one size usually adds only about 5 to 10 percent to the price.

Can two people fit in a one-person infrared sauna?

Sometimes, depending on the size of the people and the width of the sauna, but it’s really tight. It works as an occasional novelty, not for everyday use, because your need for personal space increases as you get hot and sweaty.

Can you lie down in an infrared sauna?

In a three-person or larger sauna, yes. Depending on your height, you may lie flat or need to bend your knees or rest your feet on the wall. In a two-person sauna, most people can only lie down with their legs straight up the wall, which is tricky to get in and out of.

Do bigger infrared saunas need 240V?

For Clearlight^®, the Premier 1, Premier 2, and Sanctuary 1 plug into a standard 120V, 15 amp outlet, and the Premier 3 and Sanctuary 2 need a 120V, 20 amp outlet. The Sanctuary 3, every larger model, and both outdoor saunas need a 240V outlet. Accessories like the Red Light Therapy Tower can raise the requirement.

How much more does a bigger infrared sauna cost to run?

Not much. At the U.S. average electricity rate, a one-hour session costs about $0.32 in a Sanctuary 1 and about $0.49 in a Sanctuary 3, or about $0.25 in a Premier 1 and $0.38 in a Premier 3.

How much space do I need for an indoor infrared sauna?

You need the sauna’s footprint plus at least 4 inches above and 2 inches on each side. Most models need a ceiling of at least 81 inches, and the Sanctuary Retreat needs at least 89 inches. Measure doorways, hallways, and stair turns on the way in, too.

Sources

• Dimensions, seating, weights, and electrical requirements: Clearlight^® published product specifications.
• Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, average residential price per kWh, July 2026.

Dealer disclosure: Heal with Heat is an authorized dealer of Clearlight^® Infrared Saunas. The dimensions and electrical requirements in this article come from Clearlight^® published specifications.