Can you just plug in a sauna? Only 1 of the 5 we checked works with a regular outlet.
Updated November 1, 2026 · Checked on each company's website and manual · How we check
We checked 5 infrared saunas sold as "120-volt" or "plug-in." Only the Peak Shasta has a regular plug. The other 4 need a 20-amp outlet, the kind with one sideways slot.
If your outlet has two straight slots, those 4 won't plug in. A licensed electrician must confirm what your home needs.
You have 3 choices
No electrician
Get the one with a regular plug
Peak Shasta: fits 1 person, $6,950. Its maker's website and manual don't agree on whether it needs its own breaker, so check with an electrician.
See the ShastaMaybe no electrician
See if you already have a 20-amp outlet
If you do, 4 more saunas will work, including ones for 2 people.
How to tellOne electrician visit
Add a 20-amp outlet
Then any of the 5 will work. Get a quote from a licensed electrician before you order.
Compare all 5The 5 saunas
| Sauna | Fits | Plug | Own breaker? | Power use | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShastaPeak | 1 person | Regular | Website and manual disagree | 1,800 watts | $6,950 Check price |
| Equinox 2Sun Home | 2 people | 20-amp | Yes | 1,880 watts | $6,099 on sale (regular $6,799) Check price |
| Sanctuary 2Clearlight | 2 people | 20-amp | Doesn't say | 2,260 watts | Ask the company for a quote Check price |
| mPulse BelieveSunlighten | 2 people | 20-amp | Yes | 2,400 watts | Ask the company for a quote Check price |
| mPulse AspireSunlighten | 1 or 2 people | 20-amp | Yes | 2,160 watts | Ask the company for a quote Check price |
Prices from each company's website on November 1, 2026. "Ask the company for a quote" means no price is posted. For your electrician: the regular plug is NEMA 5-15P; the 20-amp plug is NEMA 5-20P.
How to tell your outlets apart
Look at the slots.
Before you order
- Find the outlet closest to where the sauna will go. Check whether it's regular or 20-amp, and measure the distance. The cords on these are 8 to 10 feet long.
- Look at the "Own breaker?" column. 3 of the 5 companies say nothing else can be on that breaker.
- Show this page to a licensed electrician before you buy.
Questions people ask
Can a plug-in sauna go into any wall outlet?
Usually not. Of the 5 we checked, 4 have a 20-amp plug that won't fit a regular outlet. Only the Peak Shasta has a regular plug. A licensed electrician must confirm what your home needs.
What does a 20-amp outlet look like?
One of its slots has a sideways part, like a T on its side. A regular outlet has two straight slots.
Is there a 2-person sauna that plugs into a regular outlet?
Not among the ones we've checked so far. The only one with a regular plug, the Peak Shasta, fits 1 person.
Does a plug-in sauna need its own breaker?
Peak Shasta: website and manual disagree. Sun Home Equinox 2: yes. Clearlight Sanctuary 2: doesn't say. Sunlighten mPulse Believe: yes. Sunlighten mPulse Aspire: yes.
Where we found this
- Peak Shasta: every number on its page links to Peak's own website or manual.
- Sun Home Equinox 2: every number on its page links to Sun Home's own website or manual.
- Clearlight Sanctuary 2: every number on its page links to Clearlight's own website or manual.
- Sunlighten mPulse Believe: every number on its page links to Sunlighten's own website or manual.
- Sunlighten mPulse Aspire: every number on its page links to Sunlighten's own website or manual.
See a number that's changed? Let us know.