Costco Infrared Sauna Review: What You Get for the Price

Most people judge a Costco infrared sauna against the “list price” on the brand’s own store and think they are getting half off. That doesn’t work. We matched Costco’s lineup to its maker’s catalog: every infrared cabin we found on costco.com is a Dynamic model from Golden Designs, and the brand’s list prices run about double what Costco charges.

So what do you get? A hemlock far infrared cabin rated to 140F, on a dedicated 120V outlet, for around $1,800 (1 to 2 person) to $3,500 (4 person). It is a fair deal at Costco’s price. But the wood cabin has 1 year of factory coverage and no third-party EMF test, and the Backyard Discovery Rylan 2-Person costs about the same with 5 years on every part.

Who makes Costco’s infrared saunas

Dynamic Saunas is a brand of Golden Designs, Inc., based in Ontario, California. That is documented in three places:

• Golden Designs’ About page lists its brand family as Golden Designs, Dynamic Saunas, Maxxus, PRO 6, Dynamic Cold Therapy and Puretech.
• Dynamic’s own site says it is “Part of the Golden Designs family of saunas.”
• Costco’s posted Dynamic warranty sheet names Golden Designs, Inc. as the warrantor.

Golden Designs says it “work[s] directly with manufacturers to produce our own line of FAR Infrared Saunas.” It does not name a factory or a country of manufacture, so we do not either.

The brands overlap more than the labels suggest. Costco’s Dynamic Evora 3-person full spectrum uses model number MX-S306-01-FS-PC, the same number Golden Designs uses for its Maxxus S-Line 3 Person Full Spectrum ($8,999 list). Read more in our Dynamic sauna review, Maxxus sauna review and Golden Designs sauna review.

Every Costco infrared sauna and its price

Costco’s product pages show specs but load prices by script, so the prices below come from a hand-read Costco list published by SaunaClear on September 23, 2026. Check costco.com for today’s price.

SaunaClear also lists full spectrum models (Santiago 2-person, Lugano 3-person, Aveiro 2-person) and the Evora 3-person without prices, and two hybrids that pair infrared with a traditional heater (Soria 3-person and Toledo 6-person).

Prices move. A Slickdeals post showed the San Marino Elite at $1,900 from June 22 to July 19, 2026, and InHouse Wellness reported the Bellagio at $1,999.99 with a $500 promotion in August 2026.

Costco price vs Golden Designs list price

The same models carry much higher list prices on the Golden Designs store:

Our position: the Golden Designs list price is not a real-world price, and a “sale” measured against it does not mean much. Compare Costco to what dealers and big-box stores actually charge.

What the specs actually mean

We broke down the three most common Costco models.

Heat. Golden Designs product pages say these cabins run about 118F to 132F and “can heat up to 140F.” That is in line with the 110F to 135F range Cleveland Clinic gives for infrared saunas, but cooler than cabins like the Backyard Discovery Rylan (150F).

Power. Each model needs a dedicated 120V outlet: 15A for the 2-person cabins, 20A for the 3-person Bellagio. Costco’s pages make clear the electrical work is not included. If you need a new circuit, use a licensed electrician and check whether your town requires a permit.

Wood. Most Costco Dynamic cabins are Canadian hemlock. The Evora full spectrum uses Pacific cedar.

Running cost. At the EIA’s July 2026 average of 18.31 cents per kWh, a 1,700W cabin running 45 minutes costs about $0.23 per session.

EMF claims: what Golden Designs says, and what it does not show

Dynamic sells cabins as Low EMF, Ultra Low EMF (Elite) and Near Zero (full spectrum). Here is what the manufacturer claims, word for word from its product pages:

• Low EMF: “EMF between 5-10 MG - 2 to 3 inches from the heating panels”
• Ultra Low (Elite): “between 3-5 MG”
• Full spectrum or Near Zero: “under 3 MG”

“MG” is never defined on the page, and Golden Designs links no third-party test report for any Dynamic model. Measuring 2 to 3 inches from a panel is also a different test from measuring at the seat.

Compare that with Backyard Discovery. Its Rylan 2-Person page links a signed Vitatech survey from February 2026 that reports 0.365 mG with heaters on, about 1.5 ft above the seat. That report is manufacturer-commissioned and marked preliminary, but it is real data. Our best low EMF infrared saunas page ranks every brand by what it actually publishes.

What is included, delivery and assembly

Per the Costco product pages, the cabins include chromotherapy lighting with a “red light therapy feature,” interior LED controls (exterior controls on most), and Bluetooth/MP3 audio with 2 speakers. The Evora adds privacy tempered glass and a reading light.

Delivery terms:

• Standard freight is included, through Costco’s “Direct from Manufacturer” program
• Curbside only, signature required; the driver does not bring it inside, unpack or set it up
• About 2 to 3 weeks
• Limit 2 per membership; Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico pay extra
• Inspect for damage and note it on the freight bill before the driver leaves (Bellagio page)

Assembly is panel-based. Garage Gym Reviews reported about 40 minutes for two people on the Dynamic Andora, as cited by Peak Saunas, a competing brand. InHouse Wellness says Costco buyers often find assembly takes longer than advertised.

Warranty: three different numbers

This is the most confusing part of a Costco infrared purchase. The warranty fine print shows three terms:

• Costco’s posted Dynamic warranty sheet: “1 year limited warranty” standard and a “3-year limited warranty” for Costco members. It does not say which components get 3 years. You must mail the warranty card with your receipt within 60 days. Parts ship at your expense. Indoor use and original purchaser only.
• Golden Designs’ factory warranty: 5 years on heating elements and electronics for residential use, 1 year on the wood structure. Parts only, no labor, and you prepay shipping.
• Costco product pages: no terms printed, only a link to the manufacturer’s warranty.

Bottom line: expect 1 to 5 years depending on the component, with a Costco-member 3-year term on the posted sheet. Keep your receipt and send in the card. For comparison, Backyard Discovery covers every component of the Rylan, including the cabin, for 5 years, with parts shipping included.

Costco’s return policy for saunas

Costco’s product pages promise a “100% satisfaction guarantee” with “some exceptions and limitations,” and say online items can be returned to any warehouse. Costco’s well-known 90-day limit applies to electronics and major appliances, and saunas are not on that list, according to a 2022 Slickdeals guide. Third-party Costco guides from SaunaClear and InHouse Wellness say Costco arranges freight pickup for sauna returns. SaunaClear says there is no published time limit and suggests treating about 90 days as the safe window. That is advice, not policy, so confirm with Costco for your item.

What owners report

Costco’s sauna pages showed zero member reviews when we checked, so there is no Costco rating to cite. The Golden Designs store hosts reviews for the same models: Gracia 148 reviews (82% top rating), Bellagio 202 (87%) and San Marino Elite 62 (85%). Those are brand-hosted reviews, so weigh them accordingly.

Complaints that repeat across sources:

• Curbside delivery surprises buyers, and a missing dedicated outlet becomes a hidden cost (InHouse Wellness, updated September 2026).
• Modest heat. The cabins top out at 140F, and the Dynamic Andora took about 40 minutes to get there, per the Garage Gym Reviews test cited by Peak Saunas. SaunaClear claims Costco units in this brand family run 20F to 40F below advertised temperature, but cites no owner sources.
• Tight for two adults, a non-adjustable bench and panel gaps (Peak Saunas summary of Garage Gym Reviews and Home Depot buyer comments).
• Support contact details differ across the brand’s sites, with two Ontario, CA addresses and different email addresses.

The 2026 Sauna360 recall and Costco

On September 17, 2026, the CPSC announced Recall No. 26-784. It covers about 41,580 infrared saunas, hybrid infrared saunas and infrared kits in the US, sold at Costco and spa dealers from May 2013 to July 2026 for about $6,000 to $13,000. The brands are Finnleo, Helo, Radiant Health, Sauna360, Saunatec, Tylo, Tylohelo and Amerec (kits). The infrared panels can short circuit and overheat, with 67 reports of overheating, melting, charring or burning and no injuries.

Dynamic is not one of the brands named in the recall. If you bought a Finnleo or any other Sauna360-brand infrared or hybrid sauna, at Costco or anywhere else, stop using it and contact Sauna360 for the free in-home repair. Check model numbers before buying any of those brands used.

A better buy at the same price: Backyard Discovery Rylan

If you are shopping Costco to save money, look at the Backyard Discovery Rylan 2-Person before you order. It scores 8.3 on our rubric, against 6.8 to 6.9 for the Costco Dynamic models.

Key specs:

• 8 carbon far infrared panels, 1,760W, plus 660nm and 850nm LED panels
• Rated to 150F
• Cedar, 8mm double wall (36mm total)
• 120V 15A dedicated circuit; 47.75 x 41.5 x 77 in
• 5 years on every component, including the cabin, with parts shipping covered (labor not covered)
• Around $1,999 on sale at Backyard Discovery (regular $2,299); designed in Kansas, made in Vietnam or China

The Rylan also links the Vitatech EMF survey and an Intertek ETL listing. The brand page shows no owner rating. The 4-person version sold at Sam’s Club has 4.9 from 91 ratings at $3,599 there; it runs on 240V 20A.

Pros:

• Five times the cabin coverage of the Dynamic factory warranty
• Cedar instead of hemlock, and 10F more rated heat

Cons:

• Far infrared only; the near infrared comes from LEDs
• No warehouse return option

One more thing to watch: Backyard Discovery’s product catalog has a page for a “Knox 2 Person Indoor Infrared Sauna Costco” with specs that match the Rylan 2-Person. Backyard Discovery sells the Knox on its own site at around $2,299. We could not confirm a live costco.com listing, so check your warehouse.

View at backyarddiscovery.com for Backyard Discovery Rylan 2-Person Indoor Infrared (SKU 2504455) (opens in a new tab)

Should you buy an infrared sauna at Costco?

Buy the Costco Dynamic if:

• You want the lowest price on a 1 to 3 person infrared cabin
• You value buying and returning through a Costco warehouse
• 140F is enough heat for you

Skip it if:

• You want EMF test data rather than a manufacturer claim
• You want more than 1 year of coverage on the cabin
• You want 150F or more, or full spectrum heaters from a brand with longer warranties. See Infrared Saunas Explained and best full spectrum infrared saunas.

If you came for a traditional outdoor sauna, Costco’s barrels are a much stronger deal. Read our Costco barrel sauna review.

What infrared saunas can and cannot do

Some sellers call these “detox saunas.” No source we reviewed supports detox claims. A 2009 review in Canadian Family Physician found limited evidence that far infrared sauna may help blood pressure and heart failure, found evidence against claims that it lowers cholesterol, and concluded that manufacturers’ claims of many health benefits are “poorly supported.” Cleveland Clinic notes that weight lost in a sauna is water weight. If you have a thyroid condition or any chronic illness, ask your doctor first.

Safety

Saunas appear safe for most healthy adults, per Harvard Health, but heat raises your pulse by 30% or more. Talk to your doctor first if you have heart disease, high or low blood pressure, are pregnant, or take medication. Cleveland Clinic says to avoid saunas after a recent heart attack or stroke.

• Keep sessions to 15 to 20 minutes; beginners can start with 5.
• Never use a sauna alone or after drinking alcohol.
• Drink water afterward and cool down gradually.
• Plug the cabin into its own dedicated outlet, never an extension cord or power strip.