In this blog post, I’ll discuss the question: “Can you take a laptop in an infrared sauna?” or a “laptop in a sauna” such as a traditional sauna. It’s almost never wise to take a laptop into a sauna. Some laptops are made to withstand a lot more heat than others, such as “rugged laptops”, but even these cannot withstand most saunas' temperatures and/or humidity.
So let’s start by defining the problem:
Water, Temperatures And Humidity Of Saunas And That Laptops Can Get Exposed To
Below I’ll first consider whether laptops are water-resistant or waterproof and can withstand high temperatures. Then I’ll tell you the average temperatures of most common saunas, like traditional saunas or infrared saunas.
First up:
Maximum Temperatures, Water Resistance And Water Proofing Of Laptops
First, let’s check a few maximum temperatures of some of the most common laptops out there. I’m talking about (1; 2):
- Apple MacBook Air
- Dell XPS
- Lenovo Yoga
- HP Pavillion
- Acer Chromebook
- Microsoft Surface
- Lenovo Thinkpad
First up, the Apple Macbook Air has maximum temperatures of 10 to 35 degrees Celsius (50 - 95 Fahrenheit (F)) (1). So, you cannot use the Macbook Air in freezing or scorching hot conditions. Condescending humidity is also damaging, according to Apple.
HP also talks about the 35-degree Celsius (95F) cutoff point, where their laptops get too hot (2). Some parts of the computer will get way hotter than that, such as the CPU, but as a general rule, it’s understandable.
Acer recommends a maximum temperature of 30-35 degrees Celsius (86-95F) for their Acer Chromebook (3; 4). And, for the Microsoft Surface, I find the same maximum temperatures (5). Once more, a temperature between freezing and 35 Celsius (95F) is safe.
Next up, let’s talk about laptops being water-resistant or waterproof.
The Apple Macbook Air isn’t water resistant or waterproof (6). The same applies to Microsoft Surface and Acer Pavillion laptops (7; 8). The Acer Chromebook may have some limited water resistance but is not waterproof (9).
So, in conclusion, high temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius (95F) and water exposure are generally terrible things for laptops.
If you’re curious about similar topics then consider blogs I’ve written on using electronics in a sauna, or Apple Airpods in sauna or Apple AirPods, and finally the Oura Ring in Sauna. As all of these are electronics, these options are usually very unwise, as you might have already assumed. So in most of these cases - except for the Oura Ring at low temperatures - don’t do it.
Next up, let’s explore the temperatures of most types of saunas:
How Hot Is A Sauna Or Steam Room? And What Is A Sauna’s Humidity?
Next up, let’s consider how hot a sauna or steam room is. I’ve written a blog post on how hot is a sauna in the past, so if you’re interested, read the full work for all the details. Here’s the summary:
- Steam rooms have maximum temperatures of 40-45 degrees Celsius (104 - 113F) and extremely high humidity.
- Infrared saunas have a maximum temperature of 60 degrees Celsius (140F), although 50 degrees Celsius (122F) are more common. Humidity is low in infrared saunas, though.
- Dry saunas have maximum temperatures of 80 degrees Celsius (176F). Humidity in dry saunas is once again low.
- And traditional saunas, like Finnish Saunas, have maximum temperatures of 110 - 120 degrees Celsius (230 - 248F), paired with high humidity.
What do these numbers mean for your laptop, such as an Apple Macbook Air or Acer Chromebook? Let’s find out:
So Can You Take A Laptop In Sauna? How About Other Devices?
The previous section concluded that different types of saunas have temperatures of 40 - 120 degrees Celsius (104 - 248F). Humidity is also sometimes high, which is additionally damaging. With that data, I can now answer the most common questions:
Can You Take A Laptop Into A Sauna?
As most laptops around there are only built to withstand 30 - 35 degrees Celsius temperatures (86-95F), taking a laptop into a sauna would be very unwise. You could permanently damage your laptop.
Even the steam room, which exposed your laptop to the most minor heat of all the options I considered, still exceeds the maximum temperature. And the steam room additionally exposes your laptop to extreme humidity, adding insult to injury.
Next up:
Can You Take A Rugged Laptop Into A Sauna?
Some options, such as “rugged laptops”, are made to withstand higher temperatures. However, these still cannot handle the much higher temperatures, such as 60 degrees Celsius (140F) of an infrared sauna or 90 degrees Celsius (194F) of a Finnish sauna.
These rugged laptops have been made to use in the desert for temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius. If you want to be sure, though, check your laptop's instruction manual and observe the maximum usage temperature. Don’t risk it without knowing the exact temperature your rugged laptop can be exposed to. I’m not giving general guidelines here as rugged laptops' quality and heat tolerance differs widely.
Moving on:
Can You Take A Laptop In A Steam Room?
No, as stated earlier, all of the laptops on the market I’ve looked at state that the maximum temperature their products ought to be used at is far lower than typical steam room temperatures.
Steam rooms have maximum temperatures of 40-45 degrees Celsius (104 - 113F), which exceeds most laptops' 35 degrees Celsius (95F) maximum heat exposure recommendation.
And, the extreme humidity in the steam room ensures the heat is conducted far more efficiently to your laptop, meaning that it’s damaged much quicker than under normal humidity circumstances.
Can You Wear AirPods Into A Sauna?
The maximum recommended temperature of AirPods inside a sauna is 35 degrees Celsius, according to Apple (10). Even a steam room exceeds the maximum recommended temperature for AirPods.
And infrared saunas, dry saunas, and especially Finnish saunas exceed that recommended temperature big time. So that’s why your AirPods will almost certainly be damaged if you use them inside a sauna.
What Does A Sauna Do To Laptop Battery Life?
Laptops slow down in the heat and might even shut down until they have regained an average temperature. Overheating can also damage a battery. Often, overheating also drains a laptop quicker.
So if you’re sitting inside a sauna, it’s likely that your battery drains much more quickly than usual and may even be (permanently) damaged. Hence, don’t take the risk…
Lastly, let’s consider a few frequently asked questions on these topics: