Full-Spectrum vs Far Infrared Sauna: Is Full-Spectrum Worth It?
Full-spectrum vs far infrared sauna: what near, mid and far infrared actually do, how the two differ in heat and price, and what the research does and doesn't support.
The short answer
Far-infrared saunas do most of the work of heating you and cost far less. Full-spectrum saunas add near- and mid-infrared heaters that usually make the cabin hotter, but there's little research showing extra health benefits. Pay for full-spectrum for the heat and feel, not the marketing.
Full-spectrum vs Far infrared at a glance
| Price | Far infrared Budget far-IR cabins cost $1,900–$2,700; full-spectrum cabins $5,800–$10,000. |
|---|---|
| Air temperature | Full-spectrum Owners report 165–170°F in premium full-spectrum cabins vs ~130–140°F in budget far-IR. |
| Proven extra benefits | Neither Little research shows near/mid infrared adds benefits beyond far infrared. |
| Heat-up | Full-spectrum Halogen and full-spectrum heaters raise air temperature faster; budget far-IR cabins take 20–40 minutes. |
| Simplicity | Far infrared Fewer heater types, often lower power draw. |
A far-infrared sauna uses carbon or ceramic panels that emit mostly far infrared, the wavelengths that do most of the work of warming your body. A full-spectrum sauna adds near- and mid-infrared heaters, often halogen, on top. As of October 2026, full-spectrum cabins cost roughly two to four times as much as budget far-infrared models. The question is what that extra money buys.
The three wavelengths, simply
- Far infrared: the main source of the deep, even warmth in infrared saunas, and what most infrared sauna studies used.
- Mid infrared: sits in between, adding warmth.
- Near infrared: shorter wavelengths, often from halogen heaters, that add surface heat and raise the air temperature quickly. It overlaps with red light therapy marketing.
Heat: full-spectrum runs hotter
Full-spectrum cabins usually reach higher air temperatures. Owners report a steady 165–168°F in the Sunlighten Amplify II, which pairs far-infrared carbon heaters with halogen full-spectrum heaters, and about 170°F in the Sun Home Luminar. An Eclipse owner says “full spectrum heaters deff make a big difference compared to FAR infrared”.
Budget far-infrared cabins run cooler. Owners report about 140°F in the Maxxus Seattle and 130–140°F in the Dynamic Barcelona. Infrared heats your body directly, though, so you’ll still sweat heavily.
Not every full-spectrum sauna is hot. Clearlight’s Sanctuary 2 combines full-spectrum and far-infrared heaters, but owners typically report around 140°F.
Research: no clear winner
Most published infrared sauna research, including the Japanese Waon therapy studies and the evidence summarised in a 2009 Canadian Family Physician review, used far-infrared saunas. We found little research showing that near and mid infrared add health benefits beyond far infrared. One shopper’s point on Reddit holds up: combining all three wavelengths isn’t necessarily better. Full-spectrum’s real advantage is heat and feel.
Price
| Type | Example | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Far infrared | Dynamic Barcelona, Maxxus Seattle | $1,900–$2,700 |
| Full-spectrum | Sun Home Equinox, Sunlighten Amplify II | $5,800–$6,800 |
| Full-spectrum + red light | Sun Home Eclipse | ~$10,000 |
Red light is a separate question
Some full-spectrum saunas add dedicated red light therapy panels (for example, 650nm and 850nm in the Sun Home Eclipse). Red light therapy depends on wavelength, power and distance, and owners debate whether you sit close enough in a sauna. Don’t assume a full-spectrum heater equals red light therapy.
Which should you buy?
- Choose far infrared if budget matters and you’re happy with a solid sweat at 130–140°F.
- Choose full-spectrum if you want hotter, faster sessions and can spend $5,800 or more.
See our best infrared saunas and infrared sauna benefits guide.
FAQ
Is full-spectrum infrared better than far infrared?
Full-spectrum saunas usually run hotter, which many buyers prefer. But most infrared sauna research studied far-infrared saunas, and there's little evidence that adding near and mid infrared delivers extra health benefits.
What does near infrared do in a sauna?
Near-infrared heaters, often halogen, mostly add surface heat and raise the cabin's air temperature. Brands market skin and recovery benefits, which overlap with red light therapy claims, but dedicated red light panels deliver near-infrared at measured doses that sauna heaters may not.
Are far infrared saunas good enough?
Yes. Far infrared does most of the work of warming your body, and it's what most published infrared sauna studies used. Budget far-infrared cabins like the Maxxus Seattle give a solid sweat at around 140°F.
Sources
- Clearlight: Sanctuary 2 heater layout (full-spectrum front, far-IR elsewhere)
- Sunlighten: Amplify II (SoloCarbon far-IR + halogen full-spectrum)
- r/infraredsauna: Clearlight Curve vs Sunlighten Solo (wavelength discussion)
- r/infraredsauna: SunHome Eclipse 2 sauna (full-spectrum heat comments)
- Beever R. Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors. Canadian Family Physician, 2009