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INFRARED SAUNA SPECTRUM

Far, near and full spectrum infrared saunas: what the labels mean

Infrared cabins are sold as far, near or full spectrum. Makers use those words without one shared wavelength definition. This page lists the heater types each reviewed sauna maker states, and says where wavelengths aren’t published.

By Explainer Updated

The bottom line

Most cabins here pair far-infrared heaters with full-spectrum ones or LED panels, and no cabin maker publishes a wavelength range for a full-spectrum heater. The research we reviewed used mostly far-infrared saunas. Compare wattage, circuit and warranty, and ask for wavelengths before paying extra for a label.

See our saunas picks →

Our reviews rest on published sources, not hands-on testing. Our method

Porsche also cofounded Superhuman Chambers, which sells hyperbaric chambers · About the author. This is general information, not medical advice, and no clinician has reviewed it.

Stock photo: Lukas Kubica / Unsplash

In this article

What far, near and full spectrum mean

ICNIRP, the international radiation-protection commission, splits infrared into three bands: IR-A at 780 to 1,400 nm, IR-B at 1,400 to 3,000 nm and IR-C at 3,000 nm to 1 mm1. “Near infrared” sits at the short end of that range, and “far infrared” at the long end.

Sauna makers don’t use those bands as printed. Dynamic’s manual defines near infrared as 0.76 to 1.5 microns, middle as 1.5 to 5.6 and far as 5.6 to 1,00016, so its far band starts well below ICNIRP’s IR-C at 3 microns. Heat Healer says its blanket emits far infrared at 8,000 to 10,000 nm21, and Lifepro gives 5 to 14 µm22. Sunlighten says the LED panels in its mPulse Aspire peak at 650 nm (red) and 880 nm (near infrared)8. Health Mate’s info sheet describes its Tecoloy heaters as near, mid and far infrared12.

“Full spectrum” has no published wavelength range in any cabin review we wrote. Clearlight gives one figure, 9.4 microns, for its heaters, with no range910. Sun Home and Sunlighten name full-spectrum heaters and give their wattage or count in some cases, but not the wavelengths413. HigherDOSE describes carbon heaters covering near, mid and far infrared and doesn’t state how many15.

What the sauna studies used

A 2018 systematic review of regular dry sauna bathing covered both Finnish and infrared saunas. Most of its infrared studies used far-infrared saunas. The exception, Ross and Sternquist in 2012, used a full-spectrum infrared sauna2.

The infrared sessions in that review typically ran at 60°C for 15 to 30 minutes, against 80 to 100°C for Finnish saunas2. We found no study in our sources that compares near, far and full-spectrum cabins head to head, so a maker’s claim that one band works better has no comparison behind it that we can cite. Our saunas evidence review covers what the studies found.

Every reviewed sauna by heater type

Heater type is the maker’s label, and counts and wattages are the makers’ figures. “Not stated” means the maker’s pages don’t say. The low-EMF page gives each maker’s EMF statement for the same saunas.

Heater type and published wavelengths for each reviewed sauna, from the makers’ pages, read Oct 13 to Nov 6, 2026
SaunaTypeHeaters as listedWavelengths published
Sunlighten Signature IFar infrared8 far-infrared heaters. No near-infrared or full-spectrum heaters listed3None
Sunlighten Amplify IIFar infrared and full spectrum5 SoloCarbon far-infrared and 3 full-spectrum heaters4None
Sunlighten Amplify IIIFar infrared and full spectrum7 SoloCarbon far-infrared and 3 full-spectrum heaters5None
Sunlighten Amplify RED IIIFar infrared, full spectrum and LED panels7 far-infrared and 3 full-spectrum heaters plus 5 near-infrared and red LED panels. It lists $1,600 more than the Amplify III6Not stated for the red light
Sunlighten mPulse AspireFar, mid and near infrared plus red LED5 far-infrared and 4 mid-infrared heaters plus 3 near-infrared and red LED panels7LED peaks at 650 nm and 880 nm, 1 to 3 mW/cm² to the skin, per Sunlighten8
Clearlight Sanctuary 1Full spectrum and far infraredTwo 500 W True Wave full-spectrum heaters on the front wall. True Wave far-infrared heaters elsewhere, count and wattage not stated9One figure: 9.4 µm for its heaters, no range910
Clearlight Sanctuary 2Full spectrum and far infraredTwo 500 W True Wave full-spectrum heaters on the front wall. True Wave far-infrared heaters elsewhere, count and wattage not stated10One figure: 9.4 µm for its heaters, no range910
Health Mate Enrich 2Full spectrum (maker’s label)Tecoloy dual-wave and True Infra far infrared heaters, plus a 96-diode near-infrared LED panel11None for the panel or heaters
Sun Home Equinox 2-personFar infrared and full spectrum4 SoloCarbon far-infrared wall heaters and 2 full-spectrum heaters at 500 W each13None
Sun Home Luminar 2Full spectrum and far infrared6 full-spectrum heaters and 3 far-infrared heaters, wattage of each not stated14None
HigherDOSE Full Spectrum (3-person)Full spectrumCarbon heaters marketed as full spectrum. Count not stated15None
Dynamic BarcelonaCarbon far infrared6 carbon emitters in the walls, bench and floor, 1,600 W in total per the manual1617Far infrared defined as 5.6 to 1,000 µm in the manual16
Almost Heaven Salem, Grandview and TimberlineTraditional, no infraredElectric Harvia heaters that warm sauna stones1820Not applicable

What to compare instead of the label

The label tells you little on its own, so compare what the makers do publish. Sunlighten lists the Amplify RED III $1,600 above the Amplify III for five near-infrared and red LED panels, and publishes no wavelength or output for them56.

Red LED panels are a separate feature from heater type. Infrared saunas with red light compared shows which cabins offer them and what each maker publishes.

  • Wattage and circuit: more heaters can mean a bigger load, so check the plug and breaker before you order. See infrared vs traditional sauna for wiring.
  • Wavelength and output for any LED panel: ask for nm and mW/cm², as Sunlighten publishes for the Aspire8.
  • Heater count and wattage: Clearlight, Sun Home and HigherDOSE leave some or all of these out.
  • Warranty and returns, which differ more between makers than the heater label does. Our saunas guide lays them out.
  • Where it will sit: for a sauna that has to stand outside, see best outdoor saunas.

Products in this guide

Compare the specs side by side →

These links go to each brand’s own store and earn us no commission. Prices are dated US snapshots.

Keep reading

Home saunas: our picks and whyBest outdoor saunas (2026): Salem, Grandview, Timberline and Luminar 2 comparedLow-EMF infrared saunas: what each maker publishesInfrared vs traditional sauna: which to buy for homeInfrared sauna cabins compared: Sunlighten, Clearlight, Health Mate, Sun Home and HigherDOSESauna bathing and health: what the evidence showsInfrared sauna with red light therapy: Sunlighten, Sun Home, Clearlight and Dynamic comparedBest 2-person infrared saunas (2026)Best sauna blankets (2026)HigherDOSE vs MiHIGH infrared sauna blanketsSunlighten saunas comparedSunlighten vs Clearlight sauna

Sources

  1. ICNIRP guidelines on limits of exposure to incoherent visible and infrared radiation (Health Physics 105(1):74-96, 2013) International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, 2013 · regulator
  2. Clinical effects of regular dry sauna bathing: a systematic review Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Hussain and Cohen), 2018 · systematic review
  3. Sunlighten Signature I - Eucalyptus Sunlighten · manufacturer
  4. Sunlighten Amplify II - Eucalyptus - Black Edition Sunlighten · manufacturer
  5. Sunlighten Amplify III - Eucalyptus - Black Edition Sunlighten · manufacturer
  6. Sunlighten Amplify RED III - Eucalyptus Sunlighten · manufacturer
  7. Sunlighten mPulse Aspire 1-person infrared sauna Sunlighten · manufacturer
  8. Sunlighten mPulse Aspire support (FAQs, heat-up and LED panel answers) Sunlighten · manufacturer
  9. Clearlight Sanctuary 1 Infrared Sauna Clearlight Saunas · manufacturer
  10. Clearlight Sanctuary 2 official product page Clearlight · manufacturer
  11. Health Mate Enrich 2 official product page Health Mate · manufacturer
  12. Enrich 2 info sheet (PDF) Health Mate · manufacturer
  13. Sun Home Equinox 2-Person Indoor Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna Sun Home Saunas · manufacturer
  14. Sun Home Luminar 2-Person Outdoor Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna official product page Sun Home Saunas · manufacturer
  15. Full-Spectrum Home Infrared Sauna (3 Person option) HigherDOSE · manufacturer
  16. Owner's manual DYN-6106-01 and DYN-6106-01 Elite, 1-2 person carbon model saunas (PDF, August 2026) Golden Designs (Dynamic) · manufacturer
  17. Dynamic "Barcelona" 1-2 Person Low EMF FAR IR Sauna (DYN-6106-01) Dynamic Saunas Direct (Golden Designs) · manufacturer
  18. Salem 2 Person Barrel Sauna Almost Heaven Saunas · manufacturer
  19. Grandview 4-6 Person Canopy Barrel Sauna Almost Heaven Saunas · manufacturer
  20. Timberline Outdoor Sauna, Harvia Collection: Medium (Scala) 4 Person / 9kW Spirit Smart Heater + Fenix Almost Heaven Saunas · manufacturer
  21. Heat Healer Infrared Sauna Blanket Heat Healer · manufacturer
  22. Lifepro RejuvaWrap Infrared Sauna Blanket Lifepro · manufacturer

How this was written. Written from the sources listed above, checked . It is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a clinician before acting on anything here if you have a health condition or take medication.

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