Quick Answer: Dedicated infrared sauna studios typically charge $30-$60 for a single 30-45 minute session, or $120-$310 a month for unlimited access — Lumos Infrared Sauna, for instance, lists $41 for one session and $242-$310 for its unlimited monthly plans. Despite a common myth, Planet Fitness does not include sauna access on any membership tier at most locations. If you’d use a sauna more than once or twice a month, a home unit — starting under $200 for a portable infrared tent — usually pays for itself faster than a single studio membership renewal.
Searching “infrared sauna near me” usually turns up one of three things: a wellness studio charging per-session, a gym that may or may not actually have one despite what people assume, or nothing worth the drive. Here’s how to sort through that, and when it’s simply cheaper to skip the search and buy your own.
Where infrared saunas near you actually are
Dedicated infrared studios. Standalone sauna and recovery studios are the most reliable place to find one — chains like Lumos Infrared Sauna, Sudor Sauna Studio, HigherDOSE Studio, and Restore Hyper Wellness have been expanding into new metro areas, alongside independent local studios. These are built around infrared specifically, so you get real 30-45 minute sessions with proper ventilation and cleaning between uses.
Gyms and fitness clubs. This is where the search gets misleading. Planet Fitness — despite persistent online claims — does not include sauna access on any membership tier, including Black Card, at the large majority of locations; a handful of newer flagship clubs have quietly added an infrared unit, but it’s never part of the national offering, so you have to call ahead. Life Time Fitness, LA Fitness, and many YMCA branches are more likely to have a traditional (dry) sauna in the locker room, which is a different heat mechanism than infrared — hot air versus radiant panels — and usually included free with membership rather than sold separately.
Spas, chiropractors, and medical/PT offices. A growing number of chiropractic, physical therapy, and medical spa practices offer infrared sessions as an add-on, often bundled with another treatment. Worth a phone call if you’re already a patient somewhere.
What it actually costs to use one nearby
| Access type | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single drop-in session | $30-$60 | 30-45 minutes; Lumos publishes $41 for 30 min |
| 5-session package | ~$175 ($35/session) | Prepaid packages usually undercut drop-in rate |
| Unlimited monthly membership | $120-$310 | Lumos unlimited runs $242-$310/month |
| Gym locker-room sauna (traditional) | Included in membership | Life Time / LA Fitness / many YMCAs — dry heat, not infrared |
| Home portable infrared sauna | ~$180-$200 one time | Unlimited personal use, no travel |
At the low end, a single studio session or two a month is cheap enough that a membership isn’t worth chasing down. The math changes fast once you’re going weekly.
The break-even math
Say you’d use a sauna twice a week. At a mid-range studio’s $150/month unlimited rate, that’s $1,800 a year — every year, indefinitely, plus the drive time each visit. A budget portable infrared sauna like the Smartmak Far Infrared Portable Sauna, which runs under $200, pays for itself before your first monthly membership renewal. Even a full 2-person cabin like the Dynamic Andora at around $1,900 breaks even against that same $150/month studio membership in roughly 13 months — after that, every session is free, on your own schedule, with no drive.
Smartmak Far Infrared Portable Sauna
- Cheapest way to get infrared heat at home if you're currently paying per-session or considering a membership.
- Full comparison against steam-tent alternatives in our best portable sauna guide.
If you’re weighing a home cabin instead of a studio commitment, try Amazon Prime free for 30 days so a portable unit ships free in two days and you can start using it the same week you’d otherwise be signing a studio contract.
When the studio still wins
A studio makes more sense if you want the full amenity stack — showers, cold plunge, red light therapy, and a dedicated relaxation space — in one visit, or if you only want to try infrared heat a few times before committing to buying anything. It’s also the better choice if you live somewhere with no reasonable space for even a portable tent. For everyone else planning to use it regularly, the math favors owning.
Bottom line
Infrared sauna access near you comes down to three options: a dedicated studio at $30-$60 a session or $120-$310 a month, a gym that may or may not actually have one (Planet Fitness usually doesn’t, despite the myth), or a home unit that removes the search entirely. If you’d use it more than once or twice a month, a portable infrared sauna typically pays for itself before your first studio membership renewal — see our full guide to the best infrared saunas for picks at every budget.