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Sauna heater: wood or electric?
Crackling wood fire or push-button convenience? Both heater types have their strengths. Here's an honest comparison – including the points often forgotten during planning.
Updated: September 2026 · independent guide, sources linked
The comparison at a glance
| 🔥 Wood-fired | ⚡ Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | crackling, wood scent, flames | quiet, even |
| Connection | no high-voltage supply needed | usually 400 V by an electrician |
| Chimney | required, with fire safety distances | not required |
| Operation | light the fire, add wood | push-button, often with timer |
| Running costs | firewood, chimney cleaning | electricity, approx. CHF 2–4 per session (9 kW) |
| Neighbours | smoke can be a nuisance | no issue |
Electric heater: what you need to know
Most electric sauna heaters are around 9 kW and need a 400 V connection. Rule of thumb: about 1 kW per cubic metre of sauna room; more for outdoor saunas and large glass areas. The connection must be installed by an electrician.
Cantonal energy rules: in the canton of Bern, sauna heating counts as process heat and may be electric – but only in the sauna room, not in changing rooms. For larger outdoor saunas the canton also requires a timer with automatic shut-off. Other cantons may have their own rules.
Wood-fired heater: what you need to know
- Chimney and fire safety: the chimney must be installed professionally, with the clearances to combustible parts specified by the manufacturer.
- Natural wood only: in Switzerland only natural, dry wood may be burned in such stoves – no treated wood and no waste.
- Permit: a wood stove with chimney is assessed more strictly. In Basel-Landschaft, for example, small buildings with combustion equipment are excluded from the simplified procedure.
- Neighbours: smoke and sparks can bother neighbours – plan location and chimney height carefully.
Our recommendation
If you use the sauna often and spontaneously and build close to the house, an electric heater is usually more convenient. If you love the ritual, build further from the house or can't bring a 400 V supply, a wood-fired heater is a great choice – as long as neighbours and permit allow it.
Permit rules for garden saunas differ from canton to canton, for example Thurgau, Neuchâtel and Schwyz. All 26 cantons compared: Building permit.
History & background
Where does this sauna come from, and how did it develop? Find out in our section Sauna types & cultures:
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