Saunas have easily become the best “treat yourself” purchase in recent years. At-home saunas have become a must-have whether you want to detox the body, improve sleep, improve circulation, or ease pain and soreness. You can now experience the many sauna health benefits without going to the spa. And when shopping for one, among the first questions to ask is, “where can you buy a sauna?”
Well, Costco is a popular choice these days. You can shop virtually anything in its stores, from food and home supplies to a home sauna. And you can find a great collection of saunas at Costco.
Below, you’ll find different Costco sauna types, brands, and style options. Plus, we have some great recommendations on the best sauna kit from Costco to help ease your shopping experience. Blow off some steam and dive into this Costco sauna review.
Check out the best infrared saunas of 2023
Costco Sauna Reviews
There are a few considerations when buying a sauna—the type of sauna you want, the brand or quality of the sauna, the size and capacity, the style and design, and whether you’re looking for an indoor or outdoor sauna.
To help you know your options before shopping, we have some information on the saunas you can find at Costco below.
Costco Sauna Types
Different types of saunas have their own set of advantages and some drawbacks that can influence your decision. And there are two types of saunas Costco currently offers:
- Steam Sauna
Costco steam saunas are essentially traditional saunas with an electric heater that can give you a genuine sauna experience by alternating between wet and dry. Use it as a dry sauna or pour water on the heated sauna rocks to create small amounts of steam.
Steam saunas are especially good for clearing congestion and improving skin health by opening the pores and cleaning dirt and debris buildup in the skin.
- Infrared Sauna
The type of infrared sauna at Costco is the FAR infrared sauna. It’s the most common type and is known for helping eliminate toxins from the body, improve heart health, and boost metabolism.
The electromagnetic frequency (EMF) level matters when buying an infrared sauna. Although there still remains a lack of studies and data to show that EMFs are or aren’t harmful, high-level exposure to EMF is believed to be dangerous. Some may also be sensitive to EMF.
And while infrared saunas generally emit low, safe levels of EMF, it can vary between saunas. That said, the infrared saunas for sale at Costco are either Low EMF or Ultra Low EMF infrared saunas.
1. Low EMF – 5mG to 10mG (at 2cm away from the heating panel)
2. Ultra-Low EMF – 3mG to 5mG (at 2cm away from the heating panel)
The key to EMF is to ensure that it’s as low as possible.
- Outdoor Saunas
Outdoor saunas at Costco are popular because they help you bring the luxury of the sauna to the peacefulness of the great outdoors. From traditional barrel saunas to modern infrared models, Costco has something to suit every taste.
Many models come equipped with digital control panels, allowing you to easily adjust the temperature and timer settings to create your ideal sauna environment. Additionally, some outdoor sauna kits from Costco incorporate cutting-edge infrared heating technology, offering gentle and effective heat that penetrates deep into the body for a more therapeutic experience.
Costco Sauna Brands
Costco only has two brands featured in its sauna catalog:
- Almost Heaven Saunas
Almost Heaven Saunas is an American company founded in 1977 in the Greenbrier Valley in West Virginia. It started as a wooden hot tub company before manufacturing wooden barrel saunas. Now, they have a wide range of indoor and outdoor saunas and infrared and electric saunas.
They are not the cheapest in the market, but their saunas are well-constructed with the finest woods and are fitted with the most efficient heaters. Almost Heaven Saunas use Harvia heaters from one of Finland’s most respected sauna heater manufacturers.
- Dynamic Saunas
Dynamic Saunas started in 2008 and is now one of the US’s biggest suppliers of infrared saunas. They have a range of infrared saunas—FAR infrared, full-spectrum infrared, low EMF infrared, and near-zero EMF infrared saunas.
Their infrared saunas are made of all-Canadian hemlock fir construction, which is efficient in retaining heat. Dynamic Saunas are known for their carbon tech infrared heating panel, which is 30% larger and faster-heating and can penetrate the skin 40% better than standard ceramic tubes.
Seating Capacity
In terms of size, home saunas at Costco are available for two to six people.
- 2-person sauna: It is the smallest Costco sauna on offer, but suitable for tight corners in the house. A 2-person outdoor sauna from Costco is a great option for one person or couples.
- 3-person sauna: This option will also save space in your home while allowing you to include two family members or friends.
- 4-person sauna: It’s typically taller than standard saunas from Costco, which provides plenty of room for comfortable movement or standing. This option is great for including a few friends or family members in your spa-like home sauna experience.
- 6-person sauna: This option is the biggest Costco sauna available and is the perfect size for small groups. It will have enough space for sitting or lying down and will create a spacious feeling while enjoying the sauna. However, it will use more power, so consider your common group size before buying a 6-person sauna.
Style & Design
Costco sells two sauna styles and designs:
- Cabin/villa sauna: This style has a boxy shape, giving a more traditional aesthetic. It can fit virtually anywhere in the house, although it’s only for indoor placement.
- Barrel sauna from Costco: This design is the option for an outdoor sauna from Costco, although it’s also suitable for indoor use if you have the space. It has a distinctive round barrel shape without any roofing. A barrel outdoor sauna kit at Costco has the advantage of rapid and even heating because the interiors have no corners. It means that there is no air trapped in nooks and crannies.
How Much Does a Costco Sauna Cost?
Costco saunas range from $1700 to $5000, depending on the sauna type, capacity, etc. You may check out their Sauna page for the latest Costco sauna sale prices.
Is a Costco Sauna Easy to Install?
The sauna kits from Costco all come with pre-assembled wall panels and accessories, making installing a sauna at home easier and quicker. They typically require clasp-together assembly, so no cutting is necessary since each piece should fit together precisely.
Costco saunas can take around 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to finish with 2 or 3 adults, depending on the size or model of the sauna or how handy you are with a few tools.
Top Costco Sauna Reviews
Below are the three best choices of saunas for sale at Costco if you’re looking to have your home fitted with an at-home spa escape.
For those who have the space indoors or outdoors, the Morgan sauna from Almost Heaven delivers that authentic traditional steam sauna atmosphere. It boasts Red Cedar construction with enough space for up to four people to sit comfortably inside.
The 6.0 kW Finnish heater from Harvia has a convenient 8-hour delay timer. And the genuine heated sauna rocks can bring the interior to up to 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Gracia infrared sauna from Dynamic Saunas is designed for those short on indoor space but who want a dedicated home sauna from Costco that seats 1-2 people. Made from natural, reforested Canadian Hemlock, it boasts seven low EMF FAR infrared heating panels that operate between 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Another Low EMF FAR infrared sauna from Dynamic Saunas is the Santiago model. It’s still fitted with the same seven infrared heating panels and Canadian Hemlock construction, but it’s a more spacious option that can comfortably seat two people.
Where Else Can You Buy a Sauna?
Although Costco has some great sauna options at reasonable prices, you can also look at several other alternatives.
- Amazon is a hub with a good option for indoor and electric saunas available, from steam to infrared saunas and cabin-style saunas to portable saunas like sauna tents and sauna blankets. But do be sure to look out for customer reviews before buying one.
- Wayfair is an online retailer with a generous collection of traditional and infrared saunas for sale in various styles and portability.
- Walmart is another option when buying a sauna. They have a few good options for an outdoor and indoor sauna, whether you’re looking for a traditional or infrared sauna from multiple brands.
- You can also shop for saunas directly from Sauna manufacturers like Almost Heaven and Dynamic Saunas or check out some local sauna builders.
How We Test
The following is information and criteria we use to test all of our Costco saunas:
Safety: Safety is paramount when evaluating saunas. We employ a team of experts who meticulously assess the safety features and construction of each sauna model. We check electrical safety, heating elements, and EMF emissions.
Performance: Our team measures how quickly the sauna reaches the desired temperature and how well it maintains it. We also examine the sauna’s controls to ensure users can easily adjust temperature settings.
Comfort: Customer satisfaction is of utmost importance. Our testing process involves comfort factors such as ergonomic design, ease of use, and noise levels.
Conclusion—Are Costco Saunas Good?
Most Costco saunas are good quality, with some good reviews on their website. They are solid and well-made, fitted with efficient heaters, and easy and quick to assemble with help. Saunas for sale at Costco also offer great value for money. You can buy a sauna kit at Costco for under $1700. But if you want to splurge, you can spend as much as $5,000 for a Costco sauna.
I hope this Costco sauna review helped shine a little light on the most important factors that go into buying a Costco sauna.
