SaunaCosts

Sauna running cost in California

California residential electricity runs 29.75 cents per kWh as of August 2026, which is 64 percent above the national average of 18.16 cents. That makes it the 48th cheapest of the 51 states and territories the EIA reports.

What it costs here

Running cost is heater power times session length times your rate. Every figure below uses California's own rate and a 1 hour session.

Heater powerPer sessionPer month at 12 sessionsPer year
3 kW$0.89$10.71$129
4.5 kW$1.34$16.07$193
6 kW$1.79$21.42$257
8 kW$2.38$28.56$343
9 kW$2.68$32.13$386

By how often you use it

A 6 kW sauna in California, by weekly habit:

UsagePer monthPer year
2 sessions a week$15.47$186
3 sessions a week$23.20$278
5 sessions a week$38.67$464

Same arithmetic as the running cost calculator, which takes your exact heater power and session length.

How California compares

A 6 kW sauna run 12 times a month costs $257 a year in California. The same sauna costs $110 in Nevada, the cheapest state at 12.72 cents, and $408 in Hawaii, the most expensive at 47.18 cents. Rates come from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and are refreshed on the schedule described on the methodology page.

Next to California in the ranking: Alaska at 29.41 cents and Massachusetts at 30.48 cents.

Running cost in every state

Running cost questions

How much does it cost to run a sauna in California?
At 29.75 cents per kWh, a 6 kW sauna costs $1.79 for a 1 hour session, $21.42 a month at 12 sessions, and $257 a year. Smaller and larger heaters scale from there: 3 kW costs $0.89 a session and 9 kW costs $2.68.
Is electricity expensive in California?
California residential electricity is 29.75 cents per kWh, 64 percent above the national average of 18.16 cents. That ranks it 48th of the 51 states and territories the EIA reports, counting from the cheapest.
How does that compare with the cheapest and most expensive states?
The same 6 kW sauna, run 12 times a month, costs $257 a year in California, $110 in Nevada and $408 in Hawaii. The spread between the cheapest and most expensive state is $298 a year on an identical sauna.
Where does this rate come from?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's residential electricity price series, for August 2026. It is an average across the state, so your own utility's rate and any time of use plan will differ. Sourcing and refresh cadence are described on the methodology page.

Prices and specifications verified November 2, 2026, and re-checked weekly after that. How these numbers are checked.

Free guide: sizing and budgeting a home sauna

A fill-in worksheet covering room sizing math, the electrical checklist, indoor vs outdoor decisions, a full cost worksheet, and ten questions to ask the dealer.