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Full Spectrum vs Far Infrared Sauna: What's the Difference and Which Should You Buy? (2026)
Full Spectrum vs Far Infrared Sauna: What's the Difference and Which Should You Buy? (2026)
Full spectrum or far infrared sauna: which should you buy? Buy full spectrum if you want near infrared heat on top of carbon-panel warmth; in a 1–2 person cabin it costs about $500 more. If you just want steady, relaxing heat, far infrared does the job for less.
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Quick answer
- A full spectrum cabin keeps every far infrared panel and adds near infrared elements (about 0.78–1.4 microns).
- The upgrade costs about $500 in 1–2 person cabins and about $2,000 in three-person cabins.
- Small cabins of both types run on a regular 120 V / 15 A outlet; three-person cabins usually need a dedicated 20 A circuit, and the 8-person needs 240 V / 30 A.
- "Full spectrum" is used loosely, so read the heater list, not the headline.
What's actually different inside the cabin?
Only the heaters. A far infrared sauna uses carbon panels alone; a full spectrum sauna has the same carbon panels plus a few near infrared elements. Side by side, you'd struggle to tell the two cabins apart.
A far infrared sauna uses flat carbon panels mounted on the walls. They put out mostly far infrared, the long-wavelength end (above about 3 microns on the CIE scale). A full spectrum infrared sauna keeps those panels and adds near infrared elements, which work at around 0.78 to 1.4 microns. A few brands also add a separate mid infrared heater.
At Selected Comfort, most of our full spectrum range comes from Golden Designs, and its listings name two heater types. The compact DYN600603 FS, for instance, has four carbon panels and two near infrared elements. You can compare every model in our home sauna collection.
Why the label can mislead you
Watch out
"Full spectrum" has no fixed meaning. Some listings talk about near, mid and far infrared while the spec sheet shows only two kinds of heater. When the two disagree, I trust the spec sheet every time.
How do they feel once you're sitting inside?
Carbon panels give gentle, even warmth that fills the cabin; near infrared adds a more concentrated heat you feel on the side facing the element. Both run far cooler than a Finnish sauna: 118°F to 132°F, maxing out at 140°F, per Golden Designs.
Want high heat and steam instead? Start with our infrared vs traditional sauna guide.
Near infrared elements also glow, which surprises a few people the first time. Sensitive to bright light or hot spots? Check the product photos for how close the elements sit to the bench. Better to spot that on a screen than mid-session.
Is near infrared worth paying for?
Pay for it if you like how it feels, not to treat a health problem. Mayo Clinic says infrared saunas get you sweating and lift your heart rate at lower temperatures than a regular sauna. Some studies hint at benefits, but Mayo says bigger ones are needed, and most of that work involved far infrared or traditional saunas anyway.
What the upgrade costs
For small cabins, not much. The far infrared DYN610601 and the full spectrum DYN600603 FS are both 1 to 2 person hemlock cabins on a standard outlet.
Quick math
1–2 person: DYN610601 at $3,499 vs DYN600603 FS at $3,999 = about $500 for near infrared. Three-person: MXJ30601ZF at $5,999 vs MXM30601FS CED at $7,999 = about $2,000, so be sure first. Financing is available on most orders.
Full spectrum and low EMF are separate specs
A sauna can do well on one and not the other. The EMF rating is about the heaters' magnetic field; "full spectrum" is about the kind of heat. People mix these up all the time.
Golden Designs rates its Near Zero EMF heaters at under 3 milligauss, measured 2 to 3 inches from the panel. The MXM30601FS CED gives that number for its far infrared panels. Does it cover the near infrared elements too? I wouldn't assume so without Golden Designs saying it in writing, so ask what was measured and how.
Our guide to what EMF level is low in a sauna explains the numbers, and our low EMF infrared saunas collection shows each model's rating.
Golden Designs MXJ30601ZF$5,999
Far infrared only, with the lowest published EMF rating of our three-seat models.
View productWhat power will you need?
Small cabins plug into a regular 120 V outlet; bigger ones need a dedicated circuit or 240 V. Many people pick a sauna, then check whether their home can run it. I'd do it backwards.
Open the installation manual for the model you like and check four things:
- Voltage: 120 V or 240 V.
- Amps: 15 A, 20 A or 30 A.
- Number of outlets: some models need two.
- Dedicated circuit: whether the sauna must be the only thing on it.
| Model | Type | Seats | Heaters | Electrical | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DYN610601 | Far infrared, Low EMF | 1–2 | 6 far | 120 V / 15 A plug and play | $3,499 |
| DYN600603 FS | Full spectrum, Near Zero EMF | 1–2 | 4 far + 2 near | 120 V / 15 A plug and play | $3,999 |
| MXJ30601ZF | Far infrared, Near Zero EMF | 3 | Far only | 120 V / 20 A dedicated | $5,999 |
| MXM30601FS CED | Full spectrum, red cedar | 3 | 4 far + 3 near | 120 V / 20 A dedicated | $7,999 |
| GDI823001 | Full spectrum, salt bar | 3 | 6 far + 3 near | Two 120 V / 15 A outlets | $7,999 |
| GDI688003 FS | Full spectrum, Near Zero EMF | 8 | 16 far + 4 near | 240 V / 30 A | $16,999 |
Swipe the table sideways on mobile. Specs and prices from Selected Comfort product listings as of October 2026.
Two of these surprise people. The GDI823001 needs two separate 120 V / 15 A outlets, and the 8-person GDI688003 FS needs a 240 V / 30 A circuit, so book an electrician early.
Golden Designs GDI688003 FS$16,999 · financing available
Family-size full spectrum cabin for eight; plan a 240 V / 30 A circuit before it arrives.
View productWhich should you buy?
Choose full spectrum if you want far infrared heat plus the near infrared option in one cabin; choose far infrared if you just want somewhere warm and quiet to unwind. Most of the buyers I talk to are over 40, and that's how I split it for them: far infrared is simpler and cheaper, full spectrum gives you both.
Match the model to your space
| If you want | Choose |
|---|---|
| Even warmth at the lowest price | DYN610601 (far infrared) |
| Near infrared in a small room, on a normal outlet | DYN600603 FS |
| Far infrared only, lowest published EMF, three seats | MXJ30601ZF |
| Full spectrum for three, in cedar | MXM30601FS CED |
| A full spectrum sauna with Himalayan salt | GDI823001 |
| A family-size cabin, with 240 V available | GDI688003 FS |
| Infrared and traditional steam in one cabin | Hybrid GDI833001 |
Golden Designs GDI823001$7,999 · financing available
Full spectrum for three with a Himalayan salt bar; needs two 120 V / 15 A outlets.
View product
How long should you sit in a full spectrum sauna?
Start with 5 to 10 minutes and build up to 20 to 30. Golden Designs puts the average session at 20 to 30 minutes at 118°F to 122°F, which is fine as a target, just not for week one.
- Let the cabin preheat for the time the manual gives.
- Sit for 5 to 10 minutes on your first sessions.
- Add a few minutes each week.
- Work up to 20 to 30 minutes if it feels good.
Keep the distance the manual gives from the near infrared elements, and shuffle over if one side gets too warm.
Check first
Dizzy, or just feeling off? Get out. If you're pregnant, have a heart condition, have an implanted device or take medication that changes how you cope with heat, talk to your doctor before your first session.
The bottom line
Full spectrum is far infrared plus near infrared, not a different kind of sauna. If you like the idea of that extra, directional warmth and can cover the roughly $500 upgrade in a small cabin, it's worth it. If you just want steady heat to unwind, far infrared is the sensible, cheaper call.
Whichever you pick, check the wiring before you order. For most small rooms, the DYN600603 FS or the DYN610601 plugs straight into a standard outlet.
Not sure which sauna fits your room?
Tell us roughly how big the room is and what the wiring's like, and we'll come back with a few models that'll actually fit. Financing is available on most orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a full spectrum and a far infrared sauna?
A far infrared sauna heats you with carbon panels only. A full spectrum sauna has the same carbon panels and adds near infrared elements, which give a more concentrated, directional warmth. In a 1 to 2 person cabin, the full spectrum version costs about $500 more.
Is a full spectrum infrared sauna better than far infrared?
Better for some people, not all. You get the same far infrared panels with near infrared added, so if you want both kinds of heat, yes. If even, relaxing warmth is all you're after, far infrared is simpler and cheaper, and I wouldn't spend the extra.
Does a full spectrum sauna need a dedicated circuit?
It depends on the size. The 1 to 2 person DYN600603 FS plugs into a 120 V / 15 A outlet, ideally one it doesn't share. Three-seat models usually need a dedicated 20 A line, or two 15 A outlets on the salt bar model. The 8-person GDI688003 FS needs a 240 V / 30 A circuit.
Is a full spectrum sauna low EMF?
It can be. Our Golden Designs full spectrum models list Near Zero EMF far infrared panels at under 3 milligauss, measured 2 to 3 inches from the panel. Ask the manufacturer in writing whether that reading also covers the near infrared elements before you rely on it.
Do you sell a 2-person full spectrum infrared sauna?
Yes. The Golden Designs DYN622903 FS is built for two people. If floor space is tight, the DYN600603 FS fits one or two people into a smaller cabin and still runs on a standard 120 V / 15 A outlet.
What does near infrared do in a sauna?
Near infrared adds a more concentrated warmth that comes from one direction, on top of the even heat from the carbon panels. There isn't much research on full spectrum cabins yet, so treat near infrared as a comfort choice rather than a medical treatment.
How long should you sit in a full spectrum sauna?
Start with 5 to 10 minutes after the cabin preheats, then add a few minutes each week. Golden Designs puts the average session at 20 to 30 minutes at 118°F to 122°F. Get out if you feel dizzy, and check with your doctor first if you have a heart condition or are pregnant.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic: What is an infrared sauna? Does it have health benefits?
- IEC Electropedia (CIE International Lighting Vocabulary) 845-21-004: infrared radiation bands
- Heater counts, EMF ratings, temperatures, wiring and prices: Golden Designs listings on Selected Comfort, October 2026
About the author: Vineet Arora started Selected Comfort. He helps customers pick saunas, cold plunges and hyperbaric chambers that fit their rooms, wiring and budgets.