The sauna heater controls your experience, dictates heating time, and will ultimately be the most important thing you purchase to go with your sauna cabin (or barrel).
There are two world-class brands you’ll see recommended more than any others: HUUM vs Harvia. Since we carry both and have zero bias toward one or the other, we decided to put together this Harvia vs HUUM sauna heater comparison for you.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong either way. These manufacturers have a long-standing reputation for consistently exceeding expectations with durable, attractive, intuitive heating elements for saunas. Both are crafted with stainless steel materials and feature Wi-Fi-ready controls.
Whether you’re looking for an electric sauna heater for your indoor cabin or a wood-burning sauna stove for your DIY barrel sauna, find the perfect fit below - or get in touch with our customer service team for a personalized recommendation!
Harvia vs HUUM Sauna Heater Comparison (Fast Facts)
|
HUUM |
Harvia |
|
|
Country of Origin |
Estonia |
Finland |
|
Electric Series |
Drop, Steel, Cliff, Hive |
KIP, Spirit, Cilindro, Club, Virta, The Wall |
|
kW Range (Electric) |
3.5-18 kW |
4.5-16 kW |
|
Electric Price Range |
$2,600-$7,700 |
$1,150-$5,900 |
|
Controls |
UKU (Wi-Fi optional) |
Xenio CX30/CX45 (Wi-Fi optional) |
|
Wood-Burning Models |
Hive Wood, Hive Flow |
Linear, Pro, Legend, GreenFlame, M3 |
|
Steamer Option |
No |
Yes (Virta Combi) |
|
Certifications |
SGS Listed |
ETL Certified |
A Look at Each Sauna Heater Lineup
There’s plenty of overlap here. Both manufacturers use premium-grade stainless steel heating elements that come in direct contact with stones to quickly and efficiently heat the sauna space. The mechanism is more or less the exact same:
- Elements heat stones
- Stones radiate warmth
- Pour water on stones to create steam
However, each brand is a little different in how these elements are arranged, how air moves, and how stones are loaded.
Harvia
The Harvia sauna electric heater lineup ranges from wall-mount to floor-mount and even pillar configurations. Here’s a quick look at the most popular series:
- KIP: A compact wall-mount heater with integrated controls. The starting point. A no-frills approach to heating your sauna.
- Cilindro: A tall cylindrical pillar with elements running down the center through stacked stones. Customize steam intensity with an open grate shell - pour water on the sides for softer steam, on top for sharper bursts.
- Spirit: A curved, wall-mounted unit that can hold up to 110 lbs of stones. It has dual safety sensors to monitor both the heater and room temperature.
- Virta: Flat-fronted and minimalist. Available in a “Combi” variation that features a 5-liter steamer reservoir to automatically add humidity to the space.
All models run on 240V, so you’ll have to plan on getting an electrician involved.
HUUM
HUUM electric heaters come in four distinct series:
- Drop: A wall-mount that holds up to 122 lbs of stone in a water-droplet housing.
- Steel: A floor-standing tower with air circulation through the stone mass (up to 331 lbs of stones). It can heat the room up to 25% faster than conventional designs.
- Cliff: A slimmer floor-standing model than the Steel, with a capacity up to 165 lbs of stones. It has the narrowest footprint of the HUUM lineup (10.6” square).
- Hive: The heavy-duty model, ranging from 6 kW all the way up to 18 kW for commercial sauna spaces. The top end is more powerful than anything Harvia makes.
HUUM’s entire lineup uses olivine diabase stones with the same UKU control platform. These heaters are also 240V.
Design and Aesthetics
You can sort of see the difference between HUUM vs Harvia if you look closely enough. The two brands have slightly different vibes.
Harvia
We think Harvia heaters look a little more modern. Maybe even a little utilitarian. The brand brings Finnish design sensibility to every model in its lineup. While the KIP is meant to blend into the background, though, other series are a bit more dramatic - like the Spirit with its curved, organic body and visible stones. The Virta is sleek and angular as well.
HUUM
HUUM is a design-first brand, and it shows in the catalog. These heaters make a statement in the sauna. The Drop is shaped like an actual water drop, which is obviously where the name comes from. The Hive looks like a beehive. These are just a bit more captivating, which could be a deciding factor when you look at the Harvia vs HUUM sauna heater comparison.
Control and Usability
You’ll get a proprietary platform with optional WiFi for app access whether you go with HUUM vs Harvia. These are very user-friendly heaters that can be controlled from anywhere.
Harvia
Most Harvia heaters use the Xenio CX30 or CX45 external controller (the KIP is the exception with built-in controls). The MyHarvia app lets you connect the heater via WiFi to set up scheduling, remote temperature adjustment, and timed starts.
Xenio can also fine-tune the lighting and fan in your sauna. The one thing to be aware of is the Virta Combi heaters have a dedicated Xenio CX30C for controlling humidity independently from temperature. Another note on Harvia - the controllers are expensive. Another $1,180-$1,570 on top of the heater itself.
HUUM
Every HUUM heater uses the same UKU controller. You can dial in temperature from 104-230°F, with delayed start up to 48 hours in advance. You can control the heaters from an app via WiFi, too.
A door sensor stops heating when the sauna door stays open long enough. There’s also a child safety lock and overheat protection. It’s not as sophisticated as Harvia, but it’s marginally more affordable - starting at only $1,062 for a UKU controller.
Airflow and Stones
The stone capacity and airflow design is ultimately what shapes the way heat feels during a sauna session. This is arguably one of the most important aspects of our Harvia vs HUUM sauna heater comparison.
Harvia
- KIP: 50 lbs
- Virta: 100 lbs
- Spirit: 110 lbs
- Cilindro: 200-264 lbs
Harvia uses different stone grades for different series, too, so keep that in mind. For example, the Spirit takes R-991 Special Sauna Stones while the Cilandro requires AC3000 stones.
HUUM
- Drop: 122 lbs
- Steel: 331 lbs
- Cliff: 165 lbs
- Hive: 528 lbs
You’ll use the same olivine diabase stones across every model. One note on airflow - the HUUM Steel and Cliff series both have an internal air duct that can heat the room 25% faster!
The Safety Side of Things
Each of these manufacturers takes safety seriously, so there’s some overlap in certifications when you look closely at HUUM vs Harvia.
Harvia
ETL certified across the board. The Spirit features dual safety sensors to monitor both the heater and room temperature. It also has object detection to prevent activation if something is put on top of the heater.
HUUM
All models are SGS listed. The UKU controller unlocks overheat protection, a child safety lock, and a door sensor. There are optional reflector panels that can cut wall clearances by 50% to help you make the most of tighter interiors.
Cost Comparison
One of the most vital elements of the Harvia vs HUUM sauna heater comparison is which is more economical. You shouldn’t make the decision based on cost alone, of course - but it can help you narrow it down if you’re working within a specific budget.
Harvia
Harvia’s electric heaters start around $1,150 (KIP) and top out at just under $6,000 for the sophisticated Virta Pro 16 kW package with Xenio controller. The KIP is the most affordable sauna heater in this entire Harvia vs HUUM sauna heater comparison.
HUUM
HUUM heaters start quite a bit higher - double that of the Harvia KIP, in fact. $2,600. The most expensive heater package (18 kW Hive with UKU) is around $7,700. Keep in mind that HUUM isn’t as much more expensive as it looks, since you get more of the add-ons included.
Note: Premium Saunas has the lowest prices on both HUUM and Harvia, with free shipping, HSA/FSA funds allowed, and hassle-free financing.
What About Wood-Burning Stoves?
Most people compare HUUM and Harvia’s electric sauna heaters, but both brands make really high-quality wood-burning stoves if you have access to free (or low-cost) firewood and want something totally off-grid.
Harvia
You’ll have more Harvia wood-burning stoves to choose from than you will from HUUM.
- Linear (16-22 kW)
- Pro 20 (24 kW)
- Legend 240 Duo (21 kW with dual-room heating)
- GreenFlame (70% lower CO emissions)
Prices range from $961 to over $5,000. The GreenFlame line, as the name suggests, burns super clean. It’s the most eco-friendly heater in this entire sauna heater comparison.
HUUM
HUUM wood-burning stoves are great as well. They all fall under the Hive design:
- Hive Wood comes in 13 kW (198 lbs stone) and 17 kW (287 lbs stone).
- Hive Flow’s patent-pending furnace directs 75% of heat output directly into the sauna room, with 330 lbs of stone capacity.
- Hive Wood LS has a firebox extension for loading wood from a different room.
Prices range from $2,150 to $3,221.
Harvia vs HUUM: Which is Better For Home Sauna?
We hope this HUUM vs Harvia comparison has left you feeling clear on which sauna heater makes the most sense for you. You honestly can’t go wrong either way.
The full lineup of HUUM sauna heaters and Harvia sauna heaters is available here at Premium Saunas for the lowest prices online. Shop now or reach out for expert guidance!
Frequently asked questions
Is Harvia a good sauna brand?
Yes. This Finnish brand delivers the best value for your money in the sauna heater space.
Is HUUM a good sauna brand?
Yes. It’s a more premium brand than Harvia, so plan on paying more. But they’re true works of art. There’s a reason HUUM heaters win awards year after year.
Is HUUM or Harvia better?
It all depends on what you care about most - value for the money, aesthetics, maximum heat output/efficiency, or flexibility. You can’t go wrong either way.
Where can I get the best prices on HUUM and Harvia
Right here at Premium Saunas. Shop now!
