Steam sauna vs infrared sauna blanket: which home sauna is right for you?
If you want regular sauna sessions without a gym membership or a garden cabin, there are two popular options for UK homes: a portable steam sauna and an infrared sauna blanket. Both pack away when you're finished and both will leave you pleasantly worn out and sweaty. But they work in different ways, and the right one for you depends on how you like your heat, how much room you have and how you'll actually use it.
The short answer
- Choose a portable steam sauna if you love the humid, enveloping heat of a spa steam room, want to sit up or stand during your session, and have a corner of a room to set it up in.
- Choose an infrared sauna blanket if you'd rather lie down, want something that slides under the bed, and prefer a dry, radiant warmth that heats you rather than the air.
How each one works
Portable steam sauna
A portable steam sauna is an insulated, pop-up tent with a separate steam generator. The generator boils water and feeds steam into the cabin, so the air inside becomes hot and humid. The ThermoLab Pop-Up Home Steam Sauna uses a 1000W generator with a 2.6 litre tank and is ready in around five minutes. The taller 6FT Pro uses a 1200W generator and a 3 litre tank. Both add an 850nm near-infrared LED panel inside the cabin.
Infrared sauna blanket
An infrared sauna blanket is a sleeping-bag-style wrap lined with far-infrared heating panels. Rather than heating the air, it warms your body directly while you lie inside with your head out. The ThermoLab AuraCore Pro Infrared Sauna Blanket has nine heat levels up to 80°C, reaches around 75°C in about eight minutes and switches itself off after 60 minutes.
Side-by-side comparison
| Portable steam sauna | Infrared sauna blanket | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of heat | Humid steam, plus a near-infrared panel | Dry far-infrared heat |
| Position | Sitting (Pop-Up) or standing and sitting (6FT Pro) | Lying down |
| Space needed | Roughly an armchair's footprint (Pop-Up) | The length of a bed, sofa or floor mat |
| Set-up | About 2 to 5 minutes, no tools | Unfold, plug in, zip up |
| Storage | Folds flat into a carry bag | Folds flat, slides under a bed |
| Cleaning | Wipe down, dry with door open, empty the tank | Washable cotton insert, wipe the lining |
| Hands free? | Yes, read or listen to a podcast | Arms inside, so best for switching off |
| Price from | £154.99 | £199.99 |
What the sessions feel like
Steam feels intense and immersive. The humidity means sweat doesn't evaporate as quickly, so you feel the heat sooner, and many people love the clearing feeling of breathing warm, moist air, especially with a few drops of eucalyptus oil in the aroma cup.
A sauna blanket is gentler and more cocooning. Because the heat is dry and you're lying still, sessions tend to feel calmer and more like a warm, heavy duvet that slowly builds into a proper sweat. It's a popular choice for an evening wind-down.
Space, storage and set-up
If you live in a flat or share your space, both options are far easier than a fixed sauna. The Pop-Up sauna needs a clear spot about the size of an armchair near a socket, ideally on a hard floor or a towel. The 6FT Pro needs a little more room and enough height to stand. A sauna blanket needs nothing more than your bed, sofa or a yoga mat, and is the easiest to hide away afterwards.
Hygiene and cleaning
With a steam sauna, wipe the inside after each session, leave the door unzipped to dry fully before folding and empty the water tank so it doesn't sit. With a sauna blanket, use the removable cotton insert or wear light cotton clothing, wash the insert at 30°C and wipe the lining with a damp cloth and mild soap.
Who each option suits
A steam sauna is a great fit if you…
- Want a spa-style steam room feeling at home
- Prefer to sit up, read or scroll during a session
- Want the option of standing and stretching (6FT Pro)
- Like using aromatherapy oils
A sauna blanket is a great fit if you…
- Have limited space or want the quickest set-up
- Prefer to lie down and switch off
- Like dry heat rather than humidity
- Want something that's easy to take on a weekend away
Safety tips for any home sauna
- Start with 10 to 15 minutes at a lower setting and build up gradually.
- Drink water before and after, and avoid alcohol before or during a session.
- Get out straight away if you feel dizzy, light-headed or unwell.
- Don't use a sauna if you're pregnant, have a heart condition, low or high blood pressure or other health concerns unless your GP says it's safe.
- Always follow the instructions supplied with your device.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my phone in?
Steam and electronics don't mix, so use a waterproof sauna phone case in a steam sauna and keep an eye on your phone's own temperature guidance.
Can I use both?
Plenty of people do. A steam session on the weekend and a sauna blanket on weekday evenings is a common routine. If you also want red light, see our bundles.
How often should I use a home sauna?
There's no single right answer. Many people enjoy two to four sessions a week. Consistency matters more than intensity, so pick a routine you can keep.
The verdict
If you want the full spa experience, go steam. If you want the easiest, most space-friendly habit, go blanket. Both come with free tracked UK delivery, 30-day returns and a 3-year UK warranty, so you can try your choice at home with confidence. Still unsure? Ask our team and we'll help you decide.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you're pregnant, have a heart condition, a medical device or any health concerns, speak to your GP before using heat or light therapy.
