Can You Take Your Phone Into a Sauna?

The short answer is no. Bringing your phone into a sauna is one of the quickest ways to damage an expensive device — and it can undermine many of the benefits that make sauna bathing worthwhile in the first place.

Whether you're using a traditional Finnish sauna, an infrared sauna, or a modern wellness spa, your smartphone is better off staying outside.

Why Phones and Saunas Don't Mix

Most smartphones are designed to operate within a relatively narrow temperature range. For example, major manufacturers typically recommend using phones in environments between 0°C and 35°C.

A traditional sauna, by comparison, usually operates between 80°C and 100°C, while some commercial saunas can exceed this.

That means your phone is being exposed to temperatures more than double its intended operating range.

What Heat Can Do to Your Phone

Excessive heat can cause:

• Battery degradation and reduced lifespan
• Lithium-ion battery swelling
• Unexpected shutdowns and performance throttling
• Screen damage and adhesive failure
• Distortion of internal components
• Condensation damage when moving between hot and cool environments
• Long-term moisture ingress from steam exposure

While your device may appear to survive a few sauna sessions, heat-related damage is often cumulative. The effects may not become apparent until weeks or months later when battery performance deteriorates or internal components begin to fail.

In extreme cases, overheating lithium-ion batteries can become a safety hazard.

Is a Waterproof Phone Safe in a Sauna?

No.

Many people assume that because their phone has an IP67 or IP68 water-resistance rating, it can handle a sauna environment.

Water resistance is not the same as heat resistance.

Those ratings are tested in controlled conditions using fresh water at normal temperatures. High heat, humidity, and rapid temperature changes place completely different stresses on seals, adhesives, speakers, microphones, and charging ports.

In fact, most manufacturers specifically exclude sauna-related damage from their warranty guidance.

What About Infrared Saunas?

Infrared saunas typically operate at lower temperatures, often between 45°C and 65°C.

While this is cooler than a traditional sauna, it is still well above the recommended operating temperature for most smartphones.

The risk may be lower, but it is not eliminated. Extended exposure can still damage batteries, screens, and internal electronics.

The Real Benefit of Leaving Your Phone Outside

The bigger reason to leave your phone behind isn't technological — it's psychological.

For centuries, sauna culture across Finland, Sweden, Norway and Estonia has treated the sauna as a place to disconnect from everyday pressures.

No emails.

No social media.

No notifications.

Just heat, stillness, conversation, and recovery.

That tradition may be more valuable today than ever. According to Ofcom's Communications Market Report, UK adults spend several hours each day on smartphones. Constant connectivity has become the norm, making genuine periods of disconnection increasingly rare.

A sauna session creates a natural opportunity to step away from screens and allow both the body and mind to recover.

Sauna, Mental Wellbeing and Digital Detox

Emerging research suggests that regular sauna use may support mental wellbeing alongside its well-known cardiovascular benefits.

Studies from researchers at the University of Eastern Finland have linked frequent sauna bathing with lower rates of psychological distress, improved mood, and better overall wellbeing.

While the heat itself likely contributes to these effects, so does the environment. A sauna encourages mindfulness, relaxation, and a temporary escape from the constant demands of modern life.

Bringing a phone into that space largely defeats the purpose.

The Verdict: Should You Bring a Phone Into a Sauna?

No.

Even if your phone survives the heat, you're exposing it to conditions it was never designed to withstand. Repeated exposure can shorten battery life, damage internal components, and potentially void warranty protection.

More importantly, a sauna offers something increasingly difficult to find: 15 to 20 minutes without distractions.

Leave your phone in a locker, on a shelf, or in the changing room.

The messages, emails, and notifications will still be there when you come out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an iPhone go in a sauna?
No. Apple recommends operating iPhones only within specified temperature ranges that are far below typical sauna temperatures.

Can a waterproof phone survive a sauna?
Waterproof or water-resistant ratings do not protect against extreme heat and humidity. Sauna conditions can still damage the device.

Can heat damage a phone battery?
Yes. High temperatures accelerate battery degradation and can cause swelling, reduced capacity, and performance issues.

What should I do with my phone while using a sauna?
Store it in a locker, changing room, or another cool, dry location outside the sauna.

Can I use my phone in an infrared sauna?
It's still not recommended. Infrared saunas operate at lower temperatures than traditional saunas, but they remain significantly hotter than the safe operating range for most smartphones.