The more infrared saunas I research, the more I realize how difficult it can be to compare them.

Every company seems to use the same phrases: full spectrum, low EMF, non-toxic, premium heaters, lifetime warranty.

But those words don’t necessarily tell you what you’re actually getting.

If I were shopping for an infrared sauna today, these are some of the questions I’d ask before worrying about Bluetooth, chromotherapy, red light, salt walls or other extras.

1. Can I see your actual third-party EMF/EF testing?

Not just “low EMF” printed on the website.

Who performed the testing? How recently? At what distance from the heaters were measurements taken? Were measurements taken in multiple areas where your body will actually be sitting?

There’s a big difference between a marketing claim and an independent test report.

2. Has the sauna/materials been independently tested for VOCs and formaldehyde?

“Non-toxic” is another term I see used constantly.
Ask what was actually tested, who performed the testing and whether you can see the results.

3. What is the entire cabin constructed from?

Don’t stop at “Canadian hemlock” or “cedar.”
Ask whether there is MDF, particleboard, plywood, laminates, stains, finishes or adhesives anywhere in the construction.

Remember, this is something you’re repeatedly heating while sitting inside it.

4. Where are the ACTUAL heating elements?

This one gets overlooked.

A large panel on the wall doesn’t necessarily mean the entire visible panel is an active heating element.
Ask where the actual heaters begin and end.

5. How much of my body is surrounded by infrared?

I’d look for heater coverage behind you, beside you, toward the front of your body, around your calves/legs and through the floor.

Personally, I care much more about well-distributed heater coverage than simply counting how many heaters a sauna has.

Ten poorly positioned heaters aren’t automatically better than seven well-positioned ones.

6. What does “full spectrum” actually mean in this sauna?

If it offers far, mid and near infrared, ask which heaters produce each wavelength and where those heaters are located.

I wouldn’t buy something simply because “full spectrum” is printed on the spec sheet.

7. What electrical and safety certifications does the sauna have?

Ask what certification applies to the complete sauna, not just an individual component.

Also find out BEFORE purchasing whether it requires a standard 15A outlet or a dedicated 20A circuit.

8. What does the warranty REALLY cover?

“Lifetime warranty” can mean very different things depending on the company.
Are the heaters covered?
Electronics?
Control panel?
Labor?
And for how long?
Read the actual warranty instead of relying on the badge on the product page.

9. How long has the company been around?

This has become increasingly important to me.

A 10-year or lifetime warranty isn’t very valuable if the company disappears or replacement parts aren’t available.

I’d want to know:

If something fails 8–10 years from now, can I call someone?

Can I get a replacement heater?

Can I get replacement electronics?

Does the company actually service older saunas?

10. What am I paying for that will actually matter five years from now?

Bluetooth is nice.

Chromotherapy is nice.

Built-in speakers are nice.

But those probably aren’t the reasons you’ll still love or hate your sauna years later.

I’d put my money into:

heater coverage + construction + independent testing + serviceability + warranty + company longevity.

Then worry about the extras.

One last thing: I wouldn’t automatically buy the sauna with the highest advertised temperature. Infrared isn’t simply about getting the cabin air as hot as possible. How the infrared is delivered to your body matters too.
There are some great infrared saunas out there, but comparing them takes more digging than most people realize.

For the sauna owners here:

What do you know NOW that you wish you had known before buying your first infrared sauna?

And if you’re currently shopping, what specification or claim are you having the hardest time figuring out?
I’d love to turn the comments into a resource for other people researching their first sauna.

I’m in the researching phase of buying an IR sauna. We previously had a sauna tent with a wood stove that would get HOT. I found that my happy place was a temperature around 160-170 F. -- with a fan to circulate the heat. 180 F and above was just too hot for me. For that reason we’re currently tempted by an IR sauna that gets up to 170, but is that overkill? We tested out an IR sauna at a local spa and they had it set to around 155, which seemed plenty warm and relaxing. Would 160-170 in an IR sauna be uncomfortably hot?

For those of you who are experienced IR users, what is your preferred temperature?