Prices for saunas start at about $1,800 for a two-person, 4-by-4-foot precut model. Prefabricated models start at about $3,000. The ultimate price of a sauna depends on the unit's size, the species and quality of woods, quality of equipment, and options--which are many.

Finnleo, for example, offers spruce doors with traditional windows, window grids, an all-glass door, a Douglas fir door, and etched glass. Finlandia offers an optional cedar exterior and negative etched-glass door for privacy.

When determining how much to spend, remember that a sauna pays off not only through enjoyment, but by increasing property values and maybe even decreased healthcare costs.

How much does a sauna cost to operate? That depends on your local cost per kilowatt hour (noted on your electric bill), the kilowatt rating of your heater, and how much you use your sauna. Multiply your costs per kilowatt hour, say 10 cents, by the heater's rating, say 6 kilowatts. In this example, the sauna would cost 60 cents per hour to operate. An idle sauna doesn't cost anything.