9 Best Infrared Saunas for Your Home: 2024 Unbiased Review

What do Rome, Finland, Turkey, South American, Russia, Japan, and Korea have in common?

Two things:

1. Outstanding health
2. Affinity for extreme temperatures

Regular sauna practice upgrades the brain and body. For centuries, these cultures have used saunas to become vital, radiant, and healthy.

Even better, research on the newer technology suggests that infrared saunas have greater potential benefits without the same intolerable 180°F (or hotter) sessions.

I’ve tested over a dozen different models of this new technology. Some off-gas toxic chemicals and radiate electrosmog. Others emit inadequate power to make much difference.

In this roundup, I’ll explain everything you need to know to buy the ideal product. We’ll investigate, review, and compare the best infrared home saunas for every budget and use case.

Read on for the full breakdown and to learn what every infrared sauna buyer must know.

The Best Infrared Saunas For Your Home

If you’re in the market for a new sauna, you’ll want to check out the following top brands and products.

Best Overall Infrared Sauna: Clearlight Sanctuary

Overview

Power: 2250W

Capacity: 2 people

Heater: (2) full-spectrum heaters, (5) far-infrared True Wave^® hybrid carbon-ceramic heaters

Features: Smartphone app remote control, digital control system, chromotherapy, charging & audio station, tablet cradle

Warranty: Lifetime (cabin wood & glass: 5-years)

Best For: Home

All Clearlight saunas come with state-of-the-art technology. True Wave™ Full Spectrum heaters put out 25 times the power (500W) of their competitors (40W). Intelligent heater placement heats the body evenly and maximizes the results you get from every session.

Clearlight’s EMF shielding process has garnered them the lowest EMF levels among saunas.

After years of success, Jacuzzi recently purchased the Clearlight brand. You get the support of a small company backed by a premium wellness brand.

Bonus features like 96-LED medical-grade chromotherapy, built-in multimedia stations, pre-heating on a customizable schedule, excellent cabinetry, unparalleled build quality, and a comprehensive limited lifetime warranty make Clearlight Sanctuary my favorite overall infrared sauna line.

Buy Clearlight Sauna

Best Portable Infrared Sauna: SaunaSpace Luminati

SaunaSpace Luminati Overview

Power: 1000W

Capacity: 1 person

Heater: (4) 250W full-spectrum infrared ThermaLight® 

Features: Low-EMF, hypoallergenic, bamboo grounding mat included

Warranty: 10-year

Best For: Customization & portability

SaunaSpace makes the original at-home near infrared saunas.

Their Luminati model is the most powerful portable sauna available. It comes in five colors: natural, indigo, dark chocolate, stone, and turmeric. SaunaSpace uses ThermaLight® technology to help you sweat faster, deeper, and in the comfort of lower temperatures. SaunaSpace shines in terms of customizability. Easily adjust the height and intensity (four levels).

If you’re looking for complete EMF blocking, check out the upgraded version of the Luminati called the Faraday.

Perfect for those living in tight quarters, or aren’t ready to dedicate an entire room to their sauna. All SaunaSpace products come with a 100-day trial period. Should you not feel completely satisfied, you can return your purchase within that window.

Buy Luminati

Best Value Infrared Sauna: Sun Stream Evolve 30

Overview

Power: 2235W

Capacity: 1 person

Heater: (6) full-spectrum carbon panel heaters

Features: Ultra-low EMF, Kenwood stereo speakers & Bluetooth Audio Receiver, Adjustable Infrared Intensity, ChromoTherapy LED Panel, E-Z Clean technology

Warranty: 10-year

Best For: Power & value

Designed for 1-3 people, the Evolve 30 Infrared Sauna is a biohacker favorite due to its power, safety, and attractive price.

This model features heaters on all sides (Complete 360 Degree Surround Infrared Heating), with the two strongest on the front and rear walls. In fact, Sun Stream saunas have among the highest power concentrations of 29 watts/ft3. This is also a great ultra-low EMF pick, with third-party testing also regularly confirming near-zero ELF.

Sun Stream paid attention to quality, building the Evolve 30 entirely from premium-grade hardwood Basswood. They use safe Titebond water-based wood glues and avoid synthetic cloths.

With the Evolve line, you can also move the benches to your liking. See it for yourself with their Virtual Video Tour.

Buy Sun Stream Evolve 30

Best Infrared Sauna Blanket: HigherDOSE V3

Overview

Power: 350-420W

Capacity: 1-person

Heater: (1) far infrared carbon panel heaters

Features: Timer, 8-level intensity control, amethyst & tourmaline & charcoal layers

Warranty: 1 year

Best For: Tiny homes

Infrared blankets are among the most versatile, low-profile, and portable infrared sauna options on the market. Where they sacrifice power, they make up for convenience.

If you have space and budget, I recommend a full-size unit. For those who live in cramped apartments where every inch is valuable, they claim to be the original at-home infrared device.

Since 2017, with the help of Dr. Raleigh Duncan from Clearlight (above), HigherDOSE has become the world’s top infrared blanket. No other blanket has the same backing from celebrities and health experts alike.

The device itself is made of waterproof (and fireproof) polyurethane cotton. It has nice heat levels and fully heats up in just 10 minutes. Since your head and arms can stick outside, it’s a great option for reading, getting work done, or multitasking.

Buy HigherDOSE V3

Use the exclusive HigherDOSE coupon code NICK15 for 15% off.

Best Budget Infrared Sauna: SereneLife Portable Infrared Home Spa

Overview

Power: 1050W

Capacity: 1-person

Heater: Unknown

Features: Timer, adjustable intensity control

Warranty: Unknown

Best For: Beginners

Between the infrared blanket and the full at-home infrared sauna, sits hybrid devices. SereneLife makes an infrared enclosure designed to allow your head and arms to go outside.

Fully packed, it weighs just 20 pounds making it a simple mobile spa that fits in your car’s trunk. This one comes with a super-conductive foot heating element and a folding chair. It’s a simple, no-frills affordable choice.

At just under $200, their Portable Infrared Sauna is the cheapest device on the list.

Buy SereneLife Sauna [Amazon]

Best Compact (1-Person) Infrared Sauna:JNH Lifestyles ProSeries 200 Full Spectrum

Overview

Power: 1320W

Capacity: 1-person

Heater: (9) full-spectrum carbon fiber infrared heaters, (1) near-infrared LED emitter

Features: Digital control panel, ultra-low adjustable winged EMF heaters, Canadian hemlock wood, dual-wall insulation, sound system with BlueTooth, interior LED lighting, oxygen ionizer (optional), chromotherapy lights (optional), infrared foot warmer (optional)

Warranty: 5-year

Best For: Singles

JNH Lifestyles produces high-quality saunas at fair prices. Unfortunately, however, they often sell out.

Each sauna is crafted with FSC-certified,untreated, and unstained (chemical-free) Canadian Hemlock Wood. The ProSeries has a wider, more spacious interior that easily accommodates athletes and bigger bodies.

Although it doesn’t look quite as elegant and modern as the ClearLight options, the ProSeries 200 looks good enough to place anywhere in the home (if your partner allows).

Function-wise, the 10 heaters strategically placed throughout the cabin speed up how quickly you sweat. You can also twist the core heaters to target any specific body parts for greater benefits. For safety, team JNH had their saunas tested by two independent third parties. The average magnetic field reading tested at the ultra-low level of 0.32 mG.

Should the ProSeries exceed your budget, check out their full-spectrum Tosi, and far-infrared Ensi and Joyous models. The JNH team is helpful and thorough, answering any questions without overt sales pressure.

Buy JNH ProSeries 200

Best Low-EMF & VOC-Free Infrared Sauna: Radiant Saunas E-2.5H Elite

Overview

Power: Unknown

Capacity: 2-people

Heater: (1) Far-infrared carbon flow heater

Features: (2) Control panels, heated ceramic tile floor, Carbon Flow Japanese technology, music player, timer, interior lighting

Warranty: 5-year plus

Best For: Beginners

Radiant Saunas (avoid the similarly named sauna brand ‘Radiant’) is another favorite among those wary of toxins, and the deluge of ineffective products on the market.

Like JNH, they’ve built their saunas out of clear tongue-and-groove Canadian hemlock. Their Elite Series is one of the only to undergo independent third-party testing to show zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are chemicals that commonly off-gas during high heat.

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) and Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) testing are below Swedish Standards of 0.3 mG.

I’m cautious that they do not list the power output of this model anywhere. But if you’re sensitive to chemicals or care about getting the cleanest, low-EMF, and zero VOC unit, Radiant Saunas is a solid option.

Buy Radiant Saunas Elite

Best Outdoor Infrared Sauna: Clearlight Sanctuary Outdoor 2

Overview

Power: 2480W

Capacity: 2-3 people

Heater: (2) full-spectrum heaters, (5) far-infraredTrue Wave^® hybrid carbon-ceramic heaters

Features: Smartphone app remote control, digital control system, chromotherapy, charging & audio station, tablet cradle

Warranty: Lifetime (cabin wood & glass: 5 years)

Best For: Weather

If you’re looking for the best outdoor infrared sauna, look no further than Clearlight. They use the same True Wave™ full spectrum heaters as in their indoor models.

But the outdoor versions are winterized with a Cedartec® Eco-Certified exterior and are able to withstand extreme sun, rain, and even snow. Clearlight has smartly placed their hybrid carbon-ceramic heaters on the front wall, back wall, sidewalls, under the bench, next to your calves, and on the floor.

Clearlight has a patented EMF shielding process which achieves the lowest EMF-to-power ratio amongst all professional saunas.

For those with big backyards who want the absolute best, Clearlight Sanctuary Outdoor is my preferred infrared sauna line.

Buy Clearlight Sanctuary Outdoor 2

Best Large (5-Person) Infrared Sauna: Sunlighten mPulse Empower

Overview

Power: 4800W

Capacity: 5-person

Heater: (14) far infrared, (12) mid-infrared, (7) near-infrared LEDs

Features: 10.1” Android-powered control panel,SoloCarbon technology, customizable light spectrum, 7 preset programs, advanced Blaupunkt digital media system, scheduling, Acoustic Resonance Therapy (optional), indoor chromotherapy LED lighting

Warranty: Limited lifetime:cabinetry & heaters (7 years),controls( 3 years); stereo (1 year)

Best For: Advanced technology

Dubbed the Rolex of the sauna industry, Sunlighten is the fastest-growing at-home infrared sauna brand.

While Clearlight reigned king for many years, these models match beauty with technology and power. Fully customize your sauna with patented SoloCarbon technology. Each far infrared heater gets the highly emissive SoloCarbon coating, vastly increasing its power (clinically shown to increase core body temperature).

Choose between 7 preset programs, and track your results with the accompanying 10.1” Android-powered control panel. The Sunlighten app allows you to easily choose the spectrum of light emitted by each panel. A unique feature that no other sauna company has been able to replicate.

Sunlighten saunas come in several different types of PEFC-certified wood: hypoallergenic basswood, eucalyptus, and eucalyptus-cedar. Quickly set up and take down the unit with their patented Magne-Seal™ assembly process.

Buy Sunlighten mPulse

How to Buy the Best Infrared Sauna (2024 Buyer’s Guide)

“A house without a sauna is not a home”

— Finnish Proverb

Your run-of-the-mill sauna laden with toxic VOCs, high electrosmog levels, and low power output may do more harm than good.

Biohackers increasingly upgrade from traditional saunas to infrared.

But there are tons of misinformation about this new generation of technology.

With infrared, you don’t necessarily need the hottest sauna on the market. The type and placement of heaters matter tremendously.

When choosing between the top at-home infrared saunas, you must consider these important criteria.

Differences Between Traditional (Radiant) And Infrared Saunas

Radiant saunas provide their health benefits by heating the ambient air inside the chamber. The heaters are either wood, electric, or gas. Working similar to a typical space heater.

Infrared saunas, on the other hand, work by emitting infrared light.

The biggest difference between the two sauna styles is that infrared heats up the body internally while traditional saunas heat the air. Infrared light penetrates the skin to increase internal body temperature without the extremely hot air temperature of traditional saunas.

Traditional saunas also take about 25 minutes longer than infrared to fully heat up.

There’s another important nuance to infrared light.

Sauna Technology: Near-Infrared vs. Mid Infrared vs Far Infrared vs. Full Spectrum

Near-infrared (NIR) is a form of light invisible to the naked eye. On the light spectrum, it’s just beyond red light. Near-infrared penetrates up to three inches into the body. NIR is great for detoxification, boosting the immune system, and wound healing.

Mid-infrared (MIR) is in between the two. It’s known to generate more heat than far infrared and penetrate deeper than near infrared. Mid-infrared is studied to improve circulation and expand blood vessels.

Far infrared (FIR) is farther from the visible light spectrum. Heating elements in most infrared saunas emit far infrared light. Far infrared penetrates the deepest. It reduces inflammation and oxidative stress and increases detox and relaxation. Research suggests that it slightly lowers blood pressure. Unfortunately, most FIR heaters put out disturbing levels of magnetic fields (a form of EMF).

Full-spectrum saunas emit the widest range of infrared light. Combining near-infrared, mid-infrared, and far-infrared. Imparting the benefits of each wavelength. I believe that there’s a synergistic effect as well, as full-spectrum mimics the sun and is used in high-end saunas. It’s the best choice for maximum benefits.

Size

Saunas range dramatically in size. From space-friendly 1-person models, to models that easily fit four people doing yoga.

Your optimal choice depends on the space you have available for the sauna.

I generally recommend buying the smallest possible sauna for your needs. For traditional saunas, larger models take longer to heat and use considerably more energy.

With infrared, however, I suggest the opposite. Go for the largest you can fit in your home. That way if you decide to sauna with your partner, invite some friends over to join you, or want to practice yoga inside, you’ll have the space.

Note that every model has different outer and inner dimensions.

Materials & Value

High-quality saunas use premium materials. Yes, scrutinizing the build materials isn’t as exciting as comparing features.

But the longevity of your sauna depends on it.

From the wood construction, to the auxiliary parts. Saunas get hot and sweaty. Off-gassing, bacterial accumulation, and durability make a difference when you’re hundreds of uses into your purchase.

Better builds require less maintenance and cleaning.

Check out this article if you’d like to build your own sauna cheap (for about $150).

Heater Position

Heater position is a commonly overlooked facet of choosing the best home infrared sauna.

For traditional saunas, the heater can go anywhere. To capitalize on the full benefits of infrared saunas, however, the heater placement matters tremendously.

The ideal infrared sauna has heaters in the front and back, both aimed at the body. Heaters positioned above the head waste infrared energy.

Some product models allow you to angle the heaters however you like. Perfect to target specific areas or accelerate the healing of injuries.

Features

Features are the sexy and obvious part of comparing saunas. These bells and whistles can make using your device more enjoyable, leading to more frequent sessions.

Common and notable infrared sauna features include:

• Interior lighting
• Media & music systems
• Oxygen ionization
• Aromatherapy
• Chromotherapy
• Halotherapy
• Smartphone control
• Digital control panels
• Charging station
• Programmable timers
• Acoustic Resonance Therapy

By no means are these required, and if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll probably want to forego the advanced features.

Safety

International regulatory agencies issue certifications to ensure that products meet quality and safety standards.

From the materials, to the electrical wiring, here are the logos to look for:

• Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
• European Economic Area (EEA): shows up as CE on products
• Intertek

When browsing through the manufacturer’s websites, note any reference to third-party testing for EMF levels and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Reputable brands willingly provide test results when prompted.

There are also many cheap and free alternatives not just for infrared saunas. But buying pre-built ones from reputable brands guarantees safety and proper regulation, so don’t feel like you’re missing out.

Warranty

With any big purchase, you deserve the reassurance that the product will hold up with use.

You can easily weed out the junk by checking their warranty policy.

Mediocre brands will provide a meager warranty or nothing at all.

Some of the high-quality brands you’ll see below come with multi-year or lifetime warranties.

Carbon Fiber Infrared Saunas Vs. Ceramic Infrared Saunas

Every infrared sauna is outfitted with one of two types of heaters:

• Ceramic
• Carbon

Carbon fiber heaters are technologically superior and better than ceramic heaters in all but several aspects. Carbon heaters better distribute heat. Carbon heaters also cover a larger surface area.

They do take about 25 minutes to fully heat up, but when they do, the infrared rays become more intense and penetrate the body deeper. Carbon heaters are also more energy-efficient.

Ceramic heaters, on the other hand, are more fragile, but cheaper and heat up faster.

If it fits in your budget, opt for carbon fiber heaters for the best bang for your buck.

17 Top Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas

“The sauna is the poor man’s doctor”

Saunas have a long history of use. Many cultures attribute their well-being to the practice.

That said, Infrared technology is newer and doesn’t have the same quantity of robust research as traditional saunas.

Although now, more and more biohacking experts recommend infrared saunas specially with the continuous innovation in the space.

Still, there are many hypothetical (and anecdotal) reasons to make the sauna part of your daily routine. Try it for a week and you’ll discover some of these for yourself.

The top health & performance benefits of infrared saunas include:

1. Detoxification. One of the core, often-cited reasons to sauna. For detoxification, infrared, however, is 7-times more effective than traditional saunas.
2. Pain relief. Both nagging acute pain and chronic pain respond well to infrared. In fact, researchers are finding that it even helps with emotional pain such as anger.
3. Youthfulness & longevity. Infrared light places cells under stress, which then activates specific heat shock proteins to protect them. Regular sauna use also activates the powerful FOXO3 pathway.
4. Weight loss. Of course, you’ll drop water weight from sweating profusely. But a 30-minute sauna session can also burn 600-800 calories as well as increase your metabolism. Several follow-up studies confirm that infrared saunas work well for weight loss.
5. Muscle retention. Prevents muscle atrophy that occurs without strength training. Great for rehabbing injuries or maintaining lean muscle when you cannot work out.
6. Mitochondrial health. Regular exposure to heat stress maintains mitochondrial respiratory capacity and maintains metabolic function.
7. Enhanced circulation. Naturally increases blood volume, and EPO (the chemical cyclists use to improve their blood).
8. Deep relaxation. Within several minutes of beginning, you’ll subconsciously activate the parasympathetic “resting” branch of your autonomic nervous system.
9. Glowing skin. Infrared light helps the skin rejuvenate. This study suggests that infrared might even precondition the skin, protecting against later (damaging) UV exposure. Another study in rats shows increased skin microcirculation following sessions. Finally, a study combining red light and near-infrared showed enhanced facial skin youthfulness.
10. Improves cognition. Saunas improve mental health via multiple mechanisms. Infrared increases BDNF production in nerve cells. Heat shock proteins protect the brain. Increased levels of a hormone called prolactin improve the ability of the myelin sheath to conduct impulses.
11. Strengthens immune system. Anecdotally, sauna bathers get less sick than their counterparts. Limited research suggests that using heat to artificially mimic the body’s natural defense mechanisms stimulates the immune system. Another paper showed that sauna bathers contract the common cold less often.
12. Social time. Use each session as a time to reconnect. Either physically with friends present. Or virtually via call or FaceTime. Sharing the experience together forms a special bond.
13. Uplifts mood. Research out of Japan found that infrared sauna usage is associated with improved mood, decreased anxiety decreased depression, and decreased fatigue. This blog lists 13 other ways saunas improve mental health.
14. Stress reduction. The heat shock proteins caused by cellular exposure to extreme temperatures increase tolerance and resilience to stress.
15. Accelerates wound healing. It sounds like science fiction. But red, near-infrared, and far infrared all speed up tissue healing.
16. Better sleep. One of my primary interests in sauna use is the heavily reported effects of improving sleep quality and quantity. Sleep is my Achilles heel of health. Stunningly, a survey of 472 people found that 84 percent reported better sleep.
17. Cardiovascular health. Infrared thermal therapy increases heart rate and sweating equivalently to a moderate workout. Research suggests that it has similar vascular endothelial benefits.

Infrared Sauna Questions & Answers

If you’re considering purchasing a unit, here are some of the things you’ll want to know.

How to Use an IR Sauna

Using infrared technology is similar to a traditional sauna, with a few key differences.

Plan on spending a minimum of 15 minutes. This is the point at which the benefits begin accruing. Work up to a maximum of 45 minutes.

You can use infrared saunas daily, but to reap the cardiovascular and metabolic benefits, I suggest a minimum of four sessions every week.

If you’re able to control the temperature, shoot for between 110°F to 140°F. Slowly work up to the upper range.

When you turn it on, the ambient air temperature will not feel nearly as hot as a traditional sauna. That’s because infrared works via light rather than heating the air. You should still begin sweating profusely after about 10 minutes.

Buying the Best Infrared Sauna for Any Budget

There is an ideal sauna for everyone and every budget. From a tiny New York City apartment (like mine), to a large rural mansion. Ranging from the minimalist sauna blankets or my powerful $150 DIY Infrared Sauna, to the beautifully crafted and space-age Sunlighten and Clearlight saunas.

Using the sauna 4-7 times per week is associated with a 40% lower all-cause mortality.

Dr. Rhonda Patrick

This practice has garnered an outpouring of support from some of the most esteemed doctors, longevity specialists, and health researchers on the planet—notablyDr. Peter Attia and Dr. Rhonda Patrick, among many others.

Infrared saunas support virtually every health and performance goal:

• Preventative health
• Naturally relief from chronic conditions
• Biohacking
• Athletic performance

Buying an infrared sauna for your home is a big investment in your health. When cared for, high-quality units last a lifetime.

Are you planning on buying an infrared sauna? Let me know which you’re leaning towards and why in the comments below!