Which infrared sauna is right for your space, your budget, and how you actually plan to use it?

An infrared sauna heats your body directly instead of heating the air around you. That means it runs cooler than a traditional sauna, plugs into a standard household outlet in most sizes, and reaches temperature in a fraction of the time. If you want a sauna you will actually use on a weeknight, that difference matters more than any spec on the box.

We carry infrared saunas from Medical Sauna, Sunray, HealthSmart, Finnmark, and Halotherapy, in sizes from 1 person up to 6 to 9 person commercial cabins, in both indoor and outdoor builds. Below is how to pick between them.

Talk to a recovery advisor before you buy. Sauna returns are expensive and most of them trace back to a sizing or electrical mistake that a five minute call would have caught. Call 866-861-6317 and we will size it with you.

Far infrared or full spectrum: what actually changes

This is the first fork, and most buyers get talked into the wrong side of it.

Far infrared uses long wavelength heaters only. It is the gentlest option, the least expensive, and the most common. If your goal is a relaxing sweat several times a week, far infrared does the job and you will not miss what you did not buy.

Full spectrum adds near and mid infrared on top of far. Near infrared is the wavelength associated with skin and tissue recovery protocols, which is why athletes and clinics gravitate to it. It costs more and it draws more power. Buy it if you have a specific recovery reason. Do not buy it because a spec sheet made you feel like you were missing out.

Hybrid cabins run infrared heaters alongside a traditional stove, so one room does both. The Finnmark FD-5 Trinity and the Medical 9 Plus are built this way. It is the right answer for a household split between an infrared person and a traditional sauna person, and the wrong answer if nobody in the house actually wants steam.

How the brands differ

Brand Sizes Indoor / outdoor What it is known for Choose this if...
Medical Sauna 1 to 6-9 person Both. Nature series is the outdoor line The deepest range we carry, plus a dedicated commercial line You want full spectrum, a large cabin, or a unit going into a clinic or studio
Sunray 1 to 4 person Both Cedar and hemlock cabins at a friendlier entry point This is your first sauna and you want a solid home unit without stretching the budget
HealthSmart 2 to 4 person Indoor Full spectrum across the range, including a corner cabin You want full spectrum but the room you have is an awkward shape
Finnmark 1 to 3-4 person Indoor Clean Nordic design and the FD-5 Trinity hybrid The sauna is going somewhere people will see it, or you want infrared and traditional in one room
Halotherapy Varies by build Indoor The HaloSauna pairs salt therapy with infrared You are building a wellness room, not just adding a sauna

Sizing: the mistake that costs people the most

Sauna capacity is measured by how many people can sit, not by how many people can sit comfortably. A 2 person cabin fits two adults sitting upright, shoulder to shoulder. It does not fit two adults who want to stretch out.

The rule that holds up: buy one size larger than the number of people who will use it at once. If it is just you, a 2 person gives you room to lie down. If it is you and a partner, a 3 person is the one you will still be happy with in two years.

1 personTight footprint, fastest heat up, cheapest to run. Works in a spare bedroom corner or a garage. You will be sitting upright the entire session.
2 to 3 personThe size most people should buy. Room to lie down solo, room for two upright. Still runs on a standard outlet in most models.
4 person and upFamily use, or a household where the sauna is a shared habit rather than one person's routine. Check your electrical before you commit. Larger cabins can need a dedicated circuit.
CommercialClinics, gyms, med spas, recovery studios. Built for back to back sessions all day rather than one session an evening. Medical Sauna's commercial line covers 2 person up to 6-9 person.

Indoor or outdoor

Outdoor cabins are not simply indoor cabins left in the rain. They are built with weather rated exteriors, sealed roofing, and insulation that holds heat when it is cold outside. Putting an indoor cabin on a patio will destroy it, and the warranty will not cover you.

Outdoor is right if you have no interior space, or if you want the walk out to be part of the ritual. Indoor is right if you want the sauna to be easy enough that you actually use it on a Tuesday in February. Most people overestimate how often they will walk outside in the cold.

What we will tell you not to buy

If you are heat sensitive, new to sauna, or you mainly want somewhere quiet to sit and sweat for twenty minutes, do not buy full spectrum. Buy far infrared, buy one size up from what you think you need, and put the difference toward a cold plunge. The temperature contrast will do more for you than the extra wavelengths will.

If you want the hot, steamy, throw water on the rocks experience, an infrared sauna is not what you are looking for and no amount of full spectrum will fix that. Look at traditional saunas instead, or at a hybrid cabin that does both.

Common questions

Do I need special electrical work?

Most 1 to 3 person infrared saunas run on a standard 120V household outlet. Larger cabins and many full spectrum units need a dedicated 20A or 240V circuit. Check the requirement on the product page before you buy, and call us if you are not sure what your room can support.

How long does an infrared sauna take to heat up?

Typically 15 to 20 minutes, compared with 30 to 45 for a traditional sauna. Because infrared heats your body directly rather than the air, you also get the benefit at a lower cabin temperature.

Hemlock or cedar?

Cedar is naturally aromatic and resists moisture, which is why it carries a premium. Hemlock is close to odorless, which some people prefer, and it costs less. Neither choice changes how the sauna performs. Pick on smell and budget.

Can I put an infrared sauna in my garage?

Yes, and it is one of the more common placements. Garages usually have the floor space and often the electrical. The thing to watch is temperature swing. An uninsulated garage in a cold climate will make the cabin work harder and take longer to reach temperature.

Is financing available?

Yes. Financing is available across the range, and monthly options are shown at checkout. For larger or commercial orders, call us and we will walk through the terms with you directly.

How is it delivered?

Freight, to the curb. Most infrared cabins arrive as flat packed panels that two people can assemble in a few hours with no special tools. Inside placement and assembly are available as a paid add-on. Ask before you order so we can price it into the quote.

Not sure which one fits your room?

Send us your ceiling height, floor space, and outlet type and we will tell you what actually fits, including when the answer is a smaller cabin than you were planning to buy.

Call 866-861-6317 or book a 30 minute call.