Larger nationwide gym chains such as LA Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness have them, accounting for over 600 gyms with saunas in the country. These mid-tier gyms are physically bigger in size, and offer saunas alongside their other aqua amenities such as pools and steam rooms.
Higher end, boutique style locations like Equinox and Life Time have saunas as well, but not nearly as widespread. This amenity is available on a location-by-location basis though.
You won't find the inexpensive gym chains like Anytime Fitness and Planet Fitness to have saunas though. Generally, same goes for YouFit Gyms and Snap Fitness (though we're seeing some of their newest locations start to include infrared versions).
How about your HVLP (high-value-low-price) chains? That's your VASA Fitness, Chuze Fitness, EoS and Retro Fitness 2.0. With so many new gyms being built by these them (about ~100 in 2023, 2024, 2025 and beyond), saunas and their popularity have taken off. We count around ~250 between these 4 gym operators.
Saunas are compact, enclosed spaces heated to high temperatures using dry heat. Many gym-goers use them to unwind and relax post-workout or to warm up their muscles before exercising. Here are a few key points to keep in mind before using a sauna:
There are several reasons, with cost being a major factor. Saunas require ongoing maintenance and management, which adds to the gym’s operational expenses. Including this as an amenity would increase monthly membership prices.Another issue is space. Physically smaller, chains like Anytime Fitness or Snap Fitness tend to prioritize equipment like treadmills and weight machines, using every available inch of their facilities for these core features.