There isn’t a wide field of sauna TV brands to weigh against each other. So instead of comparing options, here’s what actually matters when you’re choosing a sauna television.

Heat and Moisture Ratings

A sauna is not a friendly environment for a standard television. Any TV you put into your sauna needs to survive two different things: excessive heat, and, in a traditional steam or wet sauna, significant moisture.

If You Have a Traditional Steam or Wet Sauna

Steam and direct moisture are a regular part of the environment, so steam resistance is a real requirement here, not just a nice-to-have. Every Parallel AV sauna TV is certified IPX4 steam-resistant, built to handle sauna-grade humidity without issue.

If You Have an Infrared Sauna

Infrared saunas run drier and don’t produce the steam a traditional sauna does, so steam resistance matters less here. Either way, every Parallel AV sauna TV is also certified heat-resistant up to 175°F and built from steel and glass rather than plastic. For the full picture on how that heat testing works, see Why Our Sauna TVs Don’t Melt Down in Your Sauna.

Mounting and Installation: In-Wall, On-Wall, or Ceiling

You can install a sauna TV in the wall, or mount it on the wall like a standard television, or hang it from the ceiling. Every Parallel AV sauna TV supports all three options, so which one you choose comes down to your space, preference, and your sauna’s layout.

An in-wall installation gives you the cleanest, most visually appealing look, since the TV sits flush rather than protruding into the room, though it can require ventilation depending on size, location, and finish. 

On-wall mounting is the easier install, at the cost of a few inches of interior sauna space. 

Ceiling mounting is the answer when the walls themselves can’t support the TV’s weight, which can be the case in some prefabricated infrared saunas.

NOTE: Ventilation is never required in an infrared sauna. In a traditional sauna, ventilation may be necessary depending on how and where you’ve installed the TV within your sauna. Installing a Sauna TV covers ventilation requirements in detail.

Sizing It to Your Sauna

Most home saunas seat one to four people in a compact footprint, which keeps viewing distances short. Commercial saunas tend to run larger, with more room to work with. A 24″ screen is comfortable from about 3 to 5.5 feet away, and a 32″ screen works up to about 6.5 feet, covering the seating distance in almost any home sauna. 

Going bigger than that, even if you have enough wall space to support it, likely means a screen you can’t comfortably view at that range. 

For a general breakdown of screen size versus viewing distance, see What Size TV Should I Get?

And if you have a special space and want to do something unique with a sauna TV, be it bigger or smaller than our standard sizes, our custom shop can likely build it for you.

Finish: White, Black, or Magic Mirror

Our sauna TVs come in white, black, or Magic Mirror finishes.

White and black are frame colors. The screen itself is clear glass in both cases, not tinted or reflective. Magic Mirror is different: the entire front of the television is a mirror.

The choice is mostly aesthetic, with one exception worth knowing before you decide. In a traditional sauna, Magic Mirror televisions need powered ventilation regardless of size, since mirror glass holds onto more heat than standard glass. White and black only need it at larger sizes. Installing a Sauna TV has the full breakdown by size and finish.

You Shouldn’t Have to Compromise on the Experience

Building a TV to survive heat and moisture doesn’t mean giving up what makes a TV worth having in the first place. A sauna TV should still work like a normal television, not a stripped-down version made only to prove it can survive the room.

Parallel AV televisions run on Google TV, with the same streaming apps and smart features you’d get from a mainstream television anywhere else in your home. You can cast to it directly from your phone. The included remote is built to work in the heat of a sauna, not just to survive a splash. There’s no need to lose the conveniences of a standard smart TV just because the room is hot and humid.

Who You Call During and After Installation

Every brand claims good support before you buy. What matters is whether that support is still there once you’re actually installing the TV, and after: a question while you’re installing it, a performance question, a part that needs replacing down the line, and so on. Parallel AV TVs carry a 12-month parts-and-labor warranty, and our team is reachable by phone, text, or email through the install and beyond.

Before You Decide

A quick recap of what to consider before you buy:

1. Heat and moisture rating: tested for your sauna’s actual conditions, not just labeled water-resistant.
2. Mounting and installation: in-wall, on-wall, or ceiling, and whether that install needs ventilation.
3. Size: matched to how far away you’ll actually be sitting.
4. Finish: white, black, or Magic Mirror, whichever best suits your space.
5. Features: full smart TV functionality, casting, and a remote built for the heat, not a stripped-down experience.
6. Support: a real person to call during the install and after.

Give us a call or send a note if you want to talk through what fits your sauna, or see our Sauna TV lineup to get a sense of what’s available today.