Short answer: a traditional sauna uses very hot, fairly dry air from a stove with stones, and you add steam when you want it by ladling water on the stones. A steam room runs much cooler but near full humidity from a steam generator, so the air feels wet the whole time. For a backyard, a traditional sauna is usually simpler: it's a wood cabin that doesn't need waterproofing, a drain, or a steam generator.
Blazin builds traditional saunas only: Sugi cedar, handmade in East Idaho. Electric, wood-burning, or gas and propane heaters, and we can build with both wood and electric if you want both. We don't sell steam rooms or infrared kits. Here's how the two compare so you can choose with a clear picture.
How does a traditional sauna work?
A heater warms a bed of stones and the air in a wood cabin. The air gets very hot while the humidity stays fairly low. Ladle water on the stones and you get löyly, a burst of steam that briefly raises the humidity and makes the room feel hotter. You control how dry or steamy each session is. Our pods, Pod Mini, cubes, 2 Person Barrel, XL Barrel, and Timberline list 175 to 230°F for the included heater. More: Sauna stones and löyly.
How does a steam room work?
A steam generator pumps steam into a sealed, waterproof room. Steam rooms typically run at much lower air temperatures than a sauna, but the humidity stays close to 100%, so it feels intense in a different way: wet, heavy air and condensation on every surface. Rooms are usually tile, glass, or other non-porous materials, because wood can't live in constant saturation.
How do they compare side by side?
| Traditional sauna | Steam room | |
|---|---|---|
| Heat source | Electric, wood-burning, or gas and propane heater with stones | Steam generator |
| Air | Very hot, fairly dry; steam on demand | Cooler, near-saturated humidity |
| Materials | Wood cabin (Blazin: Sugi cedar) | Tile, glass, or other waterproof surfaces |
| Plumbing | None needed | Water supply and floor drain |
| Outdoors? | Yes, built to stand in a backyard | Usually built indoors, often in a bathroom |
| Feel | Dry heat with bursts of steam you control | Constant wet heat |
Which feels hotter, a sauna or a steam room?
It depends on the person. The thermometer reads much higher in a sauna, but a steam room can feel just as intense because wet air makes it harder for sweat to evaporate. In a traditional sauna you can tune the feel: keep it dry, or add water to the stones for more steam.
Which is easier to have at home?
For most backyards, a traditional sauna. An outdoor sauna needs a level, draining base and, for an electric heater, a circuit installed by a licensed electrician. No water line or drain is needed. A steam room needs a fully waterproofed enclosure, a steam generator, a water supply, and a drain, which usually means a bathroom remodel. Site prep for a sauna: Foundation and electrical.
What about cleaning and upkeep?
A sauna dries out between sessions, and a steam room stays wet. In a sauna, leaving the door or vent open after use lets the cedar dry, and upkeep is mostly wiping benches and seasonal wood care (Cedar sauna maintenance). Steam rooms need regular cleaning of tile, grout, and glass to keep moisture-related buildup in check, plus generator upkeep per the manufacturer.
Is a sauna or steam room better for health?
We don't make health claims for either. People use both to relax. Traditional Finnish-style sauna has been studied more, and we summarize what that research does and doesn't show on Sauna and wellness. If you have a heart condition, blood pressure concerns, are pregnant, or have any health condition, talk to your doctor before using either one.
What about infrared saunas?
Infrared is a third option that warms you mainly with infrared panels rather than hot air and stones, and it doesn't use löyly. Compare it here: Barrel sauna vs infrared.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between a sauna and a steam room?
A traditional sauna uses very hot, fairly dry air from a stove with stones, with steam added by ladling water on the stones. A steam room is cooler but near full humidity the whole time, from a steam generator.
Can you make steam in a traditional sauna?
Yes. Ladle water onto the hot stones to make löyly, a short burst of steam. You control how much, from a dry session to a steamy one.
Can a steam room go outdoors?
Steam rooms are usually built indoors because they need a waterproof enclosure, a water supply, and a drain. Traditional saunas are made to stand outdoors.
Does Blazin Saunas sell steam rooms?
No. Blazin builds traditional hot-rock saunas in Sugi cedar, handmade in East Idaho. Electric, wood-burning, or gas and propane heaters, and we can build with both wood and electric if you want both.
Which is easier to maintain?
Usually a sauna. The cabin dries between sessions, so upkeep is mostly wiping benches and seasonal wood care. A steam room stays wet and needs regular tile, grout, and generator care.
Where to go next
Traditional builds to compare: 2 Person Barrel, 4 Person Barrel, 4 Person Cube, and the Timberline. Want löyly-ready stones? See sauna stones and löyly.
See the builds: Shop outdoor saunas · Which sauna fits me · Electric vs wood-burning heaters · Sauna Answers.
Questions? Call or text (208) 520-6612 · (208) 270-5860 · support@blazinsaunas.com