How many calories does a sauna burn?

Author: Westley Upton  |  Last update: Saturday, October 4, 2025

On average, 73-134 calories were burned per 10-minute session, totaling 400 calories during a 1-hour period. It's important to note that this study had cooldown periods between sessions and used sedentary individuals with higher body mass and lower heat tolerance, who tend to burn more calories during a sauna session.

How many calories does 30 minutes in a sauna burn?

How Many Calories Can You Burn in a Sauna for 30 Minutes? Another study[2] found that a 30-minute session in a sauna could burn between 300 and 500 calories, depending on current weight, metabolism, the sauna's temperature, and the time spent in it.

How many calories do you burn in a 15 minute sauna?

For example, using the same sauna calorie calculator, you can estimate that your 15 min sauna calories burned would equal 23.2-31 calories, and your 20 min sauna calories would equal 30.6-40.92 calories. This might not seem like a lot of calories, but it's more than you'd burn if you weren't sitting in a sauna.

Is sauna good for weight loss?

A sauna is unlikely to cause significant, long-term weight loss. But it may contribute to a complete weight management plan. Sitting in a sauna temporarily increases calorie burn, reduces water weight, and relieves stress, which can aid weight loss.

How many calories is 20 minutes in the sauna?

Based off a 2000 calorie basal metabolic rate, and considering the first 10 minutes of your sauna sessions is to elevate core temperature to an optimal calorie burning state, in an average 20-30 minute sauna session, you can realistically expect to burn an additional 130-160 calories, primarily burned in the later ...

Debunking 10 Common Myths About The Sauna

Do you actually burn calories in a sauna?

While you are technically burning calories in a sauna, it's far less than what you'd burn with physical activity, and it's mostly due to the passive increase in your heart rate—not muscle engagement.

Why is my urine so dark after a sauna?

Dehydration is a major concern when using a sauna daily. You can lose a lot of fluids through sweat, leading to fatigue and poor physical performance. Drink water before, during, and after your sauna session. Watch for signs of severe dehydration like dizziness and dark urine.

How to flush out water weight?

  1. Exercise Regularly. Daily exercise provides several health benefits, including preventing water retention. ...
  2. Drink More Water. Drinking water to reduce water weight sounds counterintuitive, but it helps. ...
  3. Manage Salt Intake. ...
  4. Cut Carbs. ...
  5. Focus on Certain Foods and Herbs. ...
  6. Try Supplements. ...
  7. Up Your Caffeine Intake.

Can I lose 2 lbs at the sauna?

According to Harvard Medical School, the average person loses about 1 pint of fluid during a short time in the sauna. This means that you can potentially lose up to 2 pounds of water weight per session, depending on how much you sweat and how long you stay in the sauna.

How long in the sauna to burn 500 calories?

On average, a person can expect to burn between 300-500 calories during a 30-minute sauna session. However, it's important to note that the majority of these calories are burned through sweating and increased heart rate, rather than through physical activity.

Is sauna good for skin?

Saunas induce sweating, a natural process that helps the body eliminate toxins. As pores open up in response to heat, impurities are released, promoting a thorough skin cleansing- which can contribute to a clearer complexion and improved skin health.

How many calories do 10,000 steps burn?

Most people burn 30-40 calories per 1,000 steps they walk, meaning they'll burn 300 to 400 calories by walking 10,000 steps, Hirai says. However, this is just an estimate. Each step you take burns calories, but the exact amount is highly individualized. "Calorie burn rate can be quite variable," he says.

Can I take my phone in the sauna?

The short answer is that it's generally not recommended to bring your phone into a sauna. The high temperatures and humidity levels can cause damage to your phone's internal components, and the risk of overheating or even explosion is not worth the convenience of having your phone with you.

How many calories are in a pound?

If you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight. And if you eat fewer calories and burn more calories through physical activity, you lose weight. In the past, research found about 3,500 calories of energy equaled about 1 pound (0.45 kilogram) of fat.

Is there any benefit to using a sauna?

Sauna benefits may include easing pain, reducing stress, and improving cardiovascular health. Sweating has long been used as a therapy. The Mayans used sweat houses 3,000 years ago, according to Harvard Health Publications. In Finland, saunas have been used for thousands of years, and 1 in 3 Finns still use them.

How to lose 4 pounds of water weight overnight?

4 ways to lose water weight immediately
  1. Drink more water. It might be a little difficult to believe but drinking more water can actually help you shed water weight. ...
  2. Reduce intake of salt. Too much salt or sodium in your diet may be contributing to water retention. ...
  3. Consume fewer carbs. ...
  4. Exercise.

How to lose belly fat fast?

8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
  1. Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  2. Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  3. Keep moving. ...
  4. Lift weights. ...
  5. Become a label reader. ...
  6. Move away from processed foods. ...
  7. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  8. Hang out with health-focused friends.

Is it safe to sauna every day?

So, always make sure you're well-hydrated before and after your sauna or steam room sesh. You may be at risk if you've recently had a heart attack or any other cardiovascular issues, like high blood pressure, adds Dr. Parikh. Overall, it is generally considered safe to use a sauna every day, says Dr.

Should I cold shower after sauna?

Because you sweat during your session and toxins are released, having a shower after your sauna will help to cleanse the skin and close pores. A cold shower after your sauna can also activate cold shock proteins in the body, which may help assimilate fat for weight loss.

How long do you have to sit in a sauna to detox your body?

Sauna detox is a natural and effective way to eliminate toxins from your body. It involves sitting in a sauna for a period of time, usually between 10-20 minutes, while your body sweats out harmful substances.

Why do I poop after sauna?

Saunas, including infrared saunas, really heat up your core body temperature. The effect of sitting inside a sauna is akin to artificially creating a fever within your body. If you heat up your body temperature to an extreme level, then infrared saunas can give you diarrhoea for sure.

What are the negatives of a sauna?

Although sauna bathing does not cause drying of the skin-and may even benefit patients with psoriasis-sweating may increase itching in patients with atopic dermatitis. Contraindications to sauna bathing include unstable angina pectoris, recent myocardial infarction, and severe aortic stenosis.

Why do I smell after the sauna?

Sweat And Detoxification

If you have toxins built up or have consumed strong-smelling foods (such as onions, garlic, or spicy dishes) before using the sauna, your sweat may carry a stronger odor. Also, body oils and bacteria can be released into the air from your skin when exposed to sauna heat, intensifying body odor.

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