7 Best At-Home Infrared Saunas Based On Expert Insight, Research, & Testing

A staple in spas, fitness centers, and longevity centers, infrared saunas are the best way to unlock the benefits of heat therapy without undergoing the often suffocating heat of traditional saunas.

By opting for infrared light—which penetrates your skin to heat your core from within—these saunas let you get the same perks as their traditional counterparts at temperatures closer to 140 degrees Farenheit (rather than 180 degrees Farenheit). What's more, you can still score benefits like pain relief1, enhanced muscle recovery2, skin health3, and even improved cardiovascular function.

Knowing the benefits of infrared saunas, it's understandable that more people want regular access to their own infrared sauna at home, but not all saunas are made equal. Designs vary by material quality, size, feature, and even heat type (infrared versus full-spectrum). We spoke with health experts to determine what makes the best infrared sauna—and then tested our top options to find what infrared saunas are worth the high price tag.

From the moment we saw the HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna’s wooden exterior and mahogany interior, we were impressed by its top-tier quality. We love that this pick uses low EMF carbon heaters to raise your body temperature within minutes—and it comes with all the bells and whistles.

You can choose from a two or three person design, both of which have built-in chromotherapy, a bluetooth-compatible entertainment system, and a swivel iPad holder. Infrared and full spectrum heaters on the back, side, and front walls (plus on the floo!) help evenly spread the heat throughout.

Want to reap the benefits of infrared saunas but don’t have the space for an entire at-home unit? Our testers chose this genius solo sauna system just for you. We love its five-zone design, which allows you to customize your experience and adjust the temperature for different areas of your body.

The Sunlighten dome utilizes five zone-based digital heaters and the pad contains four digital heaters. Each zone heats up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit and can be adjusted based on your preferences.

Our team has been singing the praises of infrared saunas for a long time now. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the space for an entire in-home unit. Our solve? The best infrared sauna blankets. A great option for anyone limited on space, this Bon Charge Infrared Sauna Blanket heats up quicker than any other we’ve tried.

If you don't have the space to keep an infrared sauna set up permanently, this portable unit from SaunaSpace is an excellent option. We picked this portable infrared sauna for its simple assembly (no tools required!) and customizable experience. It's wheelchair accessible and has four bulbs with four adjustable levels of intensity.

We love this sauna's packable design and the fact that it utilizes full-spectrum low-EMF infrared heat. It's a great option for those who prioritize sustainability, as the sauna panel and stool are made with American basswood and the tent is made from hypoallergenic organic cotton.

We love that this design from Sun Home Saunas blocks all EMFs (frequencies below 300 hertz) and ELFs (extremely low frequency fields between 3 to 30 hertz) using patented EMF shield blocking technology. The best part? The heaters warm up quickly and can go up to 165 degrees fahrenheit to fully envelope your body in heat.

This pick is also available in two, three, or four person designs. All wood is eco-friendly and non-toxic, and the device requires no power tools for assembly.

We picked this portable sauna for a more budget-friendly option. Not only is it easy to pack up and store, it costs a fraction of the price of typical at-home saunas. Of course, for this lower cost you won't get as many benefits.

Our biggest callout is that this pick doesn't utilize infrared technology. Instead, it uses steam as a heat source—and the temperature still gets quite steamy (pun intended), rising up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Clearlight Sanctuary Full Spectrum Sauna heats up quickly and is incredibly easy to operate. We love that this low-EMF option comes in an array of sizes, so you can choose one that works best for your space. This pick is durable, high quality, and has just about every feature you could think of.

This sauna uses carbon ceramic far infrared heating technology with heaters placed all throughout the unit for optimal effectiveness. Plus, it comes with a built-in ergonomic backrest and bench, far infrared heaters, full spectrum heaters, and built-in chromotherapy with 12 colors to choose from.

Expert Insight

Our team did extensive research and spoke with many experts about the benefits of infrared saunas and how to pick the best infrared sauna. We used this insight to narrow down our selections before testing the saunas.

Testing

We spent months visiting spas, wellness practices, and fitness studios to test the best infrared saunas. Some team members even tested these saunas in their own home! We evaluated each based on effectiveness, design, features, maintenance, and overall experience.

Low EMF

Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) from infrared light has been flagged by some consumer groups, so we opted for brands using low-EMF tech when possible.

Quality

Infrared saunas are an investment in your health and well-being, and we're dedicated to finding products that will stand the test of time. We focused on brands that are transparent about their product's materials and certifications.

According to psychiatrist and doctor of osteopathic medicine Roxanna Namavar, D.O., one major benefit of infrared saunas is that they're more tolerable to people sensitive to heat. You can put the right amount of stress on your body to trigger hormesis, without feeling as hot as you would in a traditional sauna.

Hormesis is the concept that periodic stressors—like a session in an infrared light saunas—trigger a cellular response that may slow aging, help you manage future stress, and enhance overall health. In other words: It’s the good kind of stress.

"When we stress our hormones out a little bit, we get great results in the long term. It's a concept written extensively in medicine," functional medicine doctor and mindbodygreen Collective member Amy Shah, M.D., says. 

Exercise or intermittent fasting are two examples, Shah explains, noting that "saunas are another stressor with beneficial downstream effects." 

Compared to traditional saunas, which use physical heat (wood or stones heated by fire, gas, or electricity) to raise the temperature, infrared saunas rely on infrared light.

Infrared light is invisible to the human eye and presents itself to humans through heat. In an infrared sauna, the wavelengths penetrate the skin3 and warm your core body temperature.

If you're hoping to add an infrared saunas in your space, be prepared to pay a couple thousand dollars. The saunas on our list start at $699 for a sauna blanket and go up to nearly $7,500. The average price for infrared saunas on our list is about $5,000.

One way to save money is by opting for a personal or portable infrared sauna. These downsized versions won't take up as much space and tend to be almost half the cost of their counterparts. 

We've spent a lot of time researching and testing the best infrared sauna brands, and some of our favorites include Sun Home Saunas, Sunlighten, SaunaSpace, and HigherDOSE.

Widely recommended by functional medicine experts, the best infrared saunas offer potential benefits such as improved sleep, enhanced endurance, and faster recovery. If you're tight on space or are looking for a cheaper option, a blanket or portable sauna might be right for you—but if you're ready to go all out, we recommend the HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna as the best infrared sauna overall.