Hot At Home With The Best Infrared Saunas (2024)

Not so long ago, saunas were accessible only in sports SPA centers. Having one at home used to cost a fortune, and only the wealthy with big houses could afford the luxury.

However, as the health and wellness industry has grown exponentially in the past 20 years, so have options to equip your home with previously unattainable items like a sauna.

Whether you are a fitness freak, an athlete looking to optimize recovery, or simply someone who enjoys winding down in a blistering heat and sweating your worries off, an infrared sauna has never been easier to get for your home.

I’ve curated a list of the best infrared saunas with something for everyone. You will find luxury saunas, cheap portable solutions, and options in between.

• Best Infrared Sauna: Sun Home Equinox Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna
• Best At Home Infrared Sauna: HigherDose Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna
• Best Infrared Sauna With Red Light Therapy: Salus Sauna Polaris Full Spectrum Sauna
• Best Outdoor Infrared Sauna: Sun Home Luminar Outdoor Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna
• Best Portable Infrared Sauna: Therasage Affordable Portable Sauna
• Best Infrared Sauna On Amazon: SereneLife Portable Infrared Sauna
• Best Infrared Sauna Blanket: HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket
• Best Low/No EMF Infrared Sauna: Sauna Space Luminati Infrared Sauna

Best Infrared Sauna

Sun Home Equinox Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna

Pros

• Premium build from eucalyptus wood
• The powerful 500W heater is capable of maintaining 165F
• Seamless installation thanks to magnetic technology

Cons

• Not true lifetime warranty

Price: $6,299

The Sun Home Equinox Infrared sauna delivers on all fronts and is easily the best-infrared sauna for your home.

Sun Home Equinox is a two-person infrared sauna with high-quality materials, unique technology, and fantastic features at a reasonable price.

This is a full-spectrum sauna, so you will receive all three forms of infrared light: near, mid, and far. The Equinox is stronger than the typical heaters and can reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius), allowing you to maximize its efficacy and get the optimal heat levels fast.

It also features medical-grade chromotherapy lighting.

Furthermore, Sun Home has implemented a patented technology for reducing EMF/ELF radiation. EMF radiation poses serious health risks, so this feature is great for people who plan to use the sauna daily.

The sauna is constructed from eucalyptus, a premium material that repels insects and rots and is extremely durable.

Despite the high quality of the whole package, Sun Home only provides a 7-year warranty on the construction and heaters, while the controls have a 3-year warranty.

Sun Home saunas use patented magnet seals for seamless installation. All you need to do is “click” the parts into place, making the installation easy even for people with zero DIY skills and tools.

Operating is also straightforward, as everything can be configured using a digital control panel. The built-in Bluetooth surround system ensures maximum enjoyment.

One particularly useful function is the 24-hour timer, which lets you set up the sauna beforehand.

While the price of $6 299 may seem high at first, when you consider the quality and features of the Sun Home Equinox 2 and compare it to the competition, you quickly realize it’s one of the best bargains you can strike for a home infrared sauna.

Best At Home Infrared Sauna

HigherDose Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna

Pros

• Stunning look
• Full spectrum infrared with chromotherapy
• Smart controls and entertainment system
• The heaters emit minimal EMF

Cons

• Limited 5-year warranty
• Expensive

Price: $8,999

The HigherDOSE Full Spectrum infrared sauna has great features, but its looks steal the show and make it the second-best choice for a home sauna.

The charcoal gray exterior, mahogany inside, and LED lighting will complement any modern home. The aesthetic combines timeless design with contemporary features in the best way possible.

Of course, this sauna is far more than simply good-looking: HigherDOSE created a full-spectrum sauna with all three infrared wavelengths and Chromotherapy capabilities.

This sauna’s technology is equally impressive. It features minimal Electromagnetic Field (EMF) carbon and ceramic heaters. The heaters also clean the air in the cabin. Other features include a built-in Bluetooth-enabled entertainment system that allows you to listen to your favorite music or shows while relaxing.

HigherDOSE Full Spectrum saunas are available in two- and three-person sizes. The two-person sauna can also accommodate three people if you remove the bench.

However, the $9000 (on sale for $7299 at the time of writing this) is a bit too high compared to the Sun Home infrared sauna. The HigherDOSE warranty is 5 years, which is too short given the price.

Best Infrared Sauna With Red Light Therapy

Salus Sauna Polaris Full Spectrum Sauna

Pros

• Clever combination of long and short-wave infrared panels
• Antimicrobial and hypoallergenic materials.
• Heats up quickly on a standard household outlet

Cons

• Too expensive for a two-person sauna

Price: $8,999

While other saunas use full-spectrum infrared light, Polaris Full Spectrum stands out as the best infrared sauna with red light therapy due to its unique features.

It combines long-wave carbon 360 panels with Spectrum Plus short-wave infrared panels. Because of the panels’ variety and positioning, the waves penetrate the body more effectively, resulting in a superior sauna experience.

This sauna reaches the desired temperature quickly—170 degrees in less than an hour when using a standard outlet. Eliminating the need for special wiring saves energy and makes use more convenient.

The sauna has exceptional insulation due to the mix of antibacterial Canadian cedar and hypoallergenic thermal plus exterior. The door has 8mm thick tempered glass, which maintains the heat inside efficiently.

The assembly is straightforward and does not require any expensive tools. The sauna features an LCD controller and a Bluetooth audio system with six speakers.

Overall, this is an excellent sauna. The only disadvantage is the high price, especially for a two-person sauna.

Best Outdoor Infrared Sauna

Sun Home Luminar Outdoor Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna

Pros

• Premium quality wood offers great looks, durability, and heat retention
• Easy to assemble
• Can be safely used outside year-round

Cons

• Expensive

Price: $7,999

We have another Sun Home model in the roundup, the Luminar, which is the best outdoor infrared sauna. The main construction is made of Grade-A, carbonized, heat-treated Canadian cedar, which is highly robust and can survive harsh weather conditions all year round.

This is a two-person, full-spectrum sauna, so you can enjoy all of the benefits of infrared light. The powerful heaters produce minimal EMF/ELF, ensuring safe operation. Medical-grade Chromotherapy LED lighting offers further benefits.

The mobile app controls the sauna’s entertainment system, which includes superior surround sound Bluetooth speakers.

Like the other Sun Home model, this sauna features a unique Magne-Seal system for super-easy assembly—just “snap” the components into position, and voilà.

However, the premium looks and features come at a high cost. Still, if you have the money and want a high-quality outdoor sauna, we can’t recommend it enough.

Best Portable Infrared Sauna

Therasage Affordable Portable Sauna

Pros

• Full spectrum portable sauna
• Low EMF emittance
• Gets up to 170F

Cons

• There are much cheaper portable saunas

Price: $1,299

While the other saunas on our list are excellent, they all require a dedicated space in your home or backyard. If you live in an apartment or a small house, having that type of sauna is not an option.

But Therasage has you covered with the Thera360 PLUS Personal Sauna. These types of saunas can be easily placed anywhere in your home, providing a sauna experience without needing a designated space.

Despite being a portable sauna, the Therasage can reach temperatures up to 170° Fahrenheit. This model is also a full-spectrum sauna, a rarity among portable saunas.

To round up the high-class features packed in this portable sauna is the low EMF, ELF, and RF emittance. 

The sauna’s interior is lined with non-toxic bamboo fiber to preserve heat. It also features a natural bamboo wooden chair and an infrared foot panel. The measurements are 33?W x 33?L x 46?H, making it suitable for almost any space.

The sauna contains openings for your hands to hold your phone or TV remote. You configure the program using its digital controller, which includes a handy 90-minute timer.

Is the comfort level in a portable sauna like this the same as in a full-size sauna? No.

However, if you have limited space or don’t want to spend 6 or 7 grand on a home sauna, you will have to choose between this and an infrared sauna blanket.

And I believe the portable sauna tent is the better option.

Best Infrared Sauna On Amazon

SereneLife Portable Infrared Sauna

Pros

• Super cheap
• Easy to set up and store away

Cons

• Nowhere near as effective as a more expensive portable sauna

Price: $213.99

If the $1300 price tag for the Therasage is too much for your budget, Amazon has a lot more affordable options. Among them, I recommend the SereneLife Portable Infrared Home Spa.

The concept is similar to other portable saunas: you sit inside the sauna while your head and hands are on the outside. The sauna is basic, with a zipper that lets you quickly set it up. Because your hands are free, you can use a remote, phone, book, or drink a glass of water.

The sauna can reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which is lower than the Therasage, but it is around the standard for a low-cost portable sauna. 

Unfortunately, there are no details concerning the sauna’s infrared light or materials. It heats your body only through a foot pad, which is inefficient. You get a foldable chair and a temperature controller, but that’s it.

However, it’s hard to expect more, given the extremely low price.

Best Infrared Sauna Blanket

HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket

Pros

• Portable enough to take it wherever you go
• High-quality non-toxic materials
• Heats up in less than 10 minutes

Cons

• The set does not contain even one insert, and you have to buy them separately

Price: $699

If you don’t like the idea of a portable infrared sauna but need something even smaller, an infrared sauna blanket is the best option. The best one is made by Higher DOSE.

This blanket is made from entirely vegan, non-toxic PU leather. The heating elements are surrounded by charcoal, clay, and magnetic layers to help battle impurities and detoxify your body. Amethyst and tourmaline provide additional negative ion benefits.

This sauna produces far infrared heat, which promotes full-body sweating. However, because it is not a full-spectrum sauna, you will not receive all of the benefits that full-size saunas provide. It’s also worth mentioning that this sauna produces a minimal electromagnetic field.

An infrared sauna blanket is a suitable portable option for people living in tiny spaces or athletes needing to do a weight cut or recover between matches while on the road.

Don’t forget to read the instructions carefully, as it will only work on heat-resistant surfaces. If you don’t want to wear clothes inside, you will need to buy inserts sold separately for around $100.

The $699 price tag is not cheap for a blanket, but this is the best quality solution you can take with you on the road.

Best Low/No EMF Infrared Sauna

Sauna Space Luminati Infrared Sauna

Pros

• The best quality materials in a portable sauna
• Full spectrum light and low EMF
• 10-year warranty

Cons

• It costs as much as some solid saunas

The Luminati Infrared Sauna is the premium option for a portable sauna. Unlike the previous saunas we reviewed, this one allows you to fully sit inside, giving you full-body benefits.

Also, unlike other portable saunas, no expenses were spared, and the Luminati sauna has only high-quality materials.

The list includes North American basswood with no chemicals or oils and untreated USA-manufactured stainless steel with no powder coating to support the construction. The canvas is 100% cotton and organic, machine-washable, and the stool is made of 100% organic, heat-treated, and chemical-free bamboo.

This is a full-spectrum sauna, so you can reap all the benefits of a permanent sauna. But what sets SaunaSpace saunas apart from the competitors is the EMF protection canvas made of organic cotton, significantly reducing EMF.

The disadvantage of this sauna is its price; while it is less expensive than permanent units, it is significantly more costly than the other portable saunas we tested.

Nonetheless, it offers high-quality materials and emits full-spectrum infrared light, making it a worthwhile purchase if you are short on space but not on cash.

Infrared Sauna Benefits

Traditional dry saunas have been used for centuries for stress relief and optimizing health. While they are still great, infrared saunas are usually the more convenient solution for home use, especially when we talk about portable saunas.

While there are portable dry saunas, using one inside your apartment will rapidly increase the temperature and humidity inside, which is a fast recipe for mold to appear.

Dry saunas heat the air, while infrared saunas use heaters to warm your body directly. Although they cannot reach the temperatures of a dry sauna, they can still be very beneficial and are a more convenient option.

Let’s see what the possible benefits of infrared saunas are.

Improved Recovery

One of the main reasons people use saunas is to improve their recovery after working out or competing. Multiple studies support the notion that infrared saunas enhance the perceived recovery and muscle soreness from strength and endurance training ^[1][2].

Even one post-workout infrared session can attenuate peak power decline ^[3].

A small study also shows that infrared saunas penetrate heat deeper than dry and steam saunas, which may increase the positive effects on muscle soreness after resistance training ^[4].

Pair this with a cold plunge and you have a professional recovery room for contrast therapy.

Improved Heart Health

Studies show that saunas can boost heart health and reduce blood pressure ^[5]. While blood pressure and heart rate increase in the sauna, they drop below the baseline afterward.

Sauna effects are similarly beneficial for the body as walking at a brisk pace. While the studies on heart health benefits are inconclusive, the literature points to several advantages.

Stress Relief

Saunas are an excellent way to wind down and reduce stress. Sauna therapy has also been shown to have a direct effect on the brain ^[6].

Regular sauna bathing can boost brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein scientifically examined for its ability to protect neurons from stress-induced damage.

So, the more time you spend in a sauna, the better your brain can handle stress. In general, saunas are used as a wellness tool and work as a natural antidepressant.

Even if saunas’ concrete effects on recovery and physical health are not as pronounced as some believe, it’s undeniable that after relaxing for 15-20 minutes in the heat, you feel much better mentally.  

How To Pick The Best Infrared Sauna

Size

Saunas come in many sizes, and you need to consider a few things. Full-sized saunas offer the best experience as you can sit or lie down like in a commercial sauna. But at the same time, they take up quite a lot of space and cannot be easily moved, so you need to allocate some space only for the sauna.

The full-sized saunas on this list usually comfortably accommodate two people, but there are saunas for more people that are also noticeably bigger and more expensive.

Many don’t have enough living space to spare for a sauna cabin, which is why portable saunas exist.

They are easy to set up, fold back, and store away. Of course, the experience is not the same as in a real sauna, and they are always for one person. Most portable saunas also do not cover the head and hands and look more like suits.

The only full-body portable sauna on the list is the Sauna Space model, but it costs nearly the same as a permanent sauna.

Full Spectrum vs. Far Infrared

Full-spectrum infrared saunas produce near, mid, and far infrared light. As you might assume, far infrared saunas only emit far infrared light.

Nevertheless, far infrared light penetrates the body more deeply than other waveforms. This is why certain saunas only provide this option. According to current research, the majority of therapies for neuromuscular and muscle recovery involve far infrared light.

Full spectrum includes far infrared and other wavelengths, which may provide additional health benefits.

Material & Construction

The most important element in a full-sized, non-portable sauna is the wood. You should not compromise here because the wood will decide how well the sauna retains heat. The kind of wood will also influence a sauna’s longevity, appearance, and even aroma.

Traditionally used softwoods such as cedar and hemlock are the best solution, although eucalyptus also works well. They are extremely durable and have been the preferred choice of sauna builders for generations. If you want something more economical, pine and spruce are good options, but they are not as sturdy as the first two.

The thickness of the glass door is also important for retaining heat. The thicker the glass, the better it will hold temperature.

Features

Higher-level saunas can have quite a few neat features. Most full-sized saunas include Wi-Fi-connected controls, LED lights for chromotherapy, Bluetooth connectivity, and speakers that play your favorite music or podcast while you relax.

All of these features are nice, but they naturally raise the price, leading us to the final and often the most critical consideration when choosing an infrared sauna.

Cost

Because saunas are usually a lifetime investment, it makes sense to stretch your budget and buy the best model you can realistically afford.

That being said, purchasing the most expensive model simply for the sake of it doesn’t make much sense because many of the features, like having loudspeakers, do not provide any further benefits to the core experience of a sauna

Here are roughly the main price categories for infrared saunas:

• Budget: Portable saunas costing $1000 and full-sized saunas under $5000 are considered budget-friendly.
• Value: Full-sized saunas priced between $5000 and $7000 typically combine luxury materials with functionality. Premium portable saunas are also around the $5000 mark.
• Premium: Anything above $7000 is considered an extravagance. While you will surely gain more features, decide whether it is worth the extra cost.

Frequently Asked Infrared Sauna Questions

Are Infrared Saunas Worth It?

Infrared saunas have health, athletic, and mental benefits, and if you have the space and money to get one, they are well worth it. 

Home saunas used to be exclusive only to the wealthy, but nowadays, there are many relatively affordable options allowing many more people to enjoy the sauna experience from home.

Is An Infrared Sauna Better Than A Regular Sauna?

Infrared saunas are easier to operate than regular saunas but cannot reach as high temperatures. Although they penetrate the body better, there is no evidence that this leads to bigger benefits.

Since the temperature is lower in an infrared sauna, the heat is gentler and easier to tolerate. However, studies indicate you need higher temperatures for optimal muscle recovery, which can only be achieved by traditional dry saunas.

Is It OK To Infrared Sauna Every Day?

You can safely use an infrared sauna every day. Since saunas appear to enhance recovery after low-intensity exercise, they are best used directly after training.

Summary

The best home infrared sauna will depend on the buyer, but in my opinion, the best middle ground between features, quality, and value is the Sun Home Equinox 2 model. It has one of the strongest heaters and is made from premium wood.

Salus and HigherDose offer comparable saunas but at a much higher price. If you are on the market for something portable but high quality, the Therasage is the best choice, while the Serene Life portable infrared sauna is the cheapest one you can buy and still get some benefits.

References

1. Noponen, P. V. A., Häkkinen, K., & Mero, A. A. (2015). Effects of far infrared heat on recovery in power athletes. J Athl Enhancement, 4.
2. Mero, A., Tornberg, J., Mäntykoski, M., & Puurtinen, R. (2015). Effects of far-infrared sauna bathing on recovery from strength and endurance training sessions in men. Springerplus, 4, 1-7.
3. Ahokas, E. K., Ihalainen, J., Hanstock, H. G., Savolainen, E., & Kyröläinen, H. (2022). A post-exercise infrared sauna session improves recovery of neuromuscular performance and muscle soreness after resistance exercise training. Biology of Sport, 40(3), 681-689.
4. Mero A, Tornberg J, Mäntykoski M, Puurtinen R. Effects of far-infrared sauna bathing on recovery from strength and endurance training sessions in men. Springerplus. 2015 Jul 7;4:321. doi: 10.1186/s40064-015-1093-5. PMID: 26180741; PMCID: PMC4493260.
5. Beever R. Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: summary of published evidence. Can Fam Physician. 2009 Jul;55(7):691-6. PMID: 19602651; PMCID: PMC2718593.

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