How powerful should my electric heater be?

The most important thing to check with an electric heater is that it is powerful enough to heat the size of your sauna. Different heaters are designed for different sized saunas. If you have a stove that is too small, it will probably not provide enough heat. Similarly, if it's too powerful, you may find it difficult to keep the temperature and humidity at a comfortable level, and you may use more electricity than you need. Keep in mind that a larger stove may be needed in colder climates or for a sauna located outdoors.

The output of electric stoves is measured in kilowatts (kW), but most manufacturers will also give some indication of how big a sauna each individual model is designed to heat.

Tips

As a general guide, you will need about 1 kW of power for every 1 to 1.5 cubic meters (m3) of your sauna. If your sauna is located in a cold climate, it is a good idea to add another 1 kW.

In most homes, a moderate stove is sufficient but if you are planning a larger sauna, you will also need a larger stove, which in turn is likely to require the installation of three-phase wiring. In both cases, you will need an electrician to connect the wiring to the rest of the house.