The best Infrared Saunas in United Kingdom in 2023.

Our research, expertise and understanding of the industry have allowed us to critically review and analyse a range of key factors to determine some of the best UK infrared saunas. We even analysed customer reviews to gain a better understanding of how each sauna performs in real-world conditions.

To determine this list, we analysed the UK infrared sauna brands and  products against these major considerations for buying an infrared sauna:
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1/ Infrared heater quality: We compared both a full spectrum heating system and far infrared heaters. Looking at the materials, energy rating, heat, and wavelength of light waves.

*Pro tip: Carbon heaters are typically more efficient with less power and ceramic heaters are more powerful with less efficiency. The best infrared saunas rely on a carbon and ceramic hybrid heater that has the efficiency of carbon heaters and the power of ceramic heaters.

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2/ Heater placement: Because infrared waves must directly penetrate the body in order for them to effectively raise the core body temperature, the placement of the heaters is critical to the effectiveness of infrared heat.‍

*Pro tip: Far infrared rays need the largest body areas of subcutaneous fat (the front and back of the torso) to interact with. If the heater placement is above the shoulders when sitting then the heaters will have little to no effect on raising your core temperature.

3/ Low EMF and ELF exposure: EMF stands for electromagnetic frequencies and ELF stands for extremely low frequency. Both EMF and ELF have evolving research on the negative impacts on our health. The best infrared saunas will mitigate these frequencies and have certified testing to show low EMF and ELF levels while the sauna is in use.

*Pro tip: Many sauna brands get around correct EMF and ELF results by individually testing components separately from the entire product. Products should be tested in the same setting that they are intended to be used ,and if they are not tested in the same manner this should raise some questions.

4/ Electrical components: Most saunas use your typical household 13 amp power supply while others will require a dedicated power circuit. Factors for these electrical components include the size of the sauna and the technology.

*Pro tip: A full spectrum infrared home sauna will typically need more power than a far infrared home sauna. Depending on the size of the sauna, you may need to factor in additional costs for a certified electrician to install the power socket.
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5/ Type of wood: The best kinds of woods for saunas are typically Western Red Canadian Cedar Wood, Spruce, Hemlock wood or basswood. You will find other types of wood as well. Make sure the wood is tested and sustainably harvested.
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6/ VOC testing: VOC stands for volatile organic compound and it is the nature of materials to off-gas when exposed to heat. Glues, varnishes and chemically-treated woods can contain harmful substances and thereby be high in VOC when exposed to hear. The best infrared saunas have third-party VOC certification to ensure there is no off-gassing of materials when the sauna is in use.

7/ Sauna features & optional add-ons: Good infrared saunas are more than "just heat", and the best infrared saunas need to be rated on an entirely immersive experience. Our vision is a 360° health system. This starts with more basic features, such as a high-quality, in-built sound system, coloured light (chromotherapy lighting), app functionality (to control the sauna remotely), and good infrared heaters. However it does not need to stop there. With our vision we have developed a range of health modalities that can be integrated int your infrared sauna. Optional add-ons include salt therapy, red light therapy and vibrational therapy, to really make it a 360° health and wellness experience.

Outdoor saunas are particularly luxurious. The soothing and relaxing nature of a sauna combined with the natural beauty of an outdoor environment is truly a captivating experience. Without sacrificing any of the features or convenience of an indoor sauna, they are awesome for their many health advantages as well as a fun entertainment option with friends. For our top pick, we chose an outdoor infrared sauna that could tick all of these boxes.

If you're in the market for an outdoor sauna, the 2-Person Outdoor Sanctuary Infrared Sauna is definitely worth considering. This sleek and practical addition to any household boasts an impressive array of features, along with the peace of mind that comes with a lifetime warranty for all interior components and a 5-year warranty for the exterior structure.

With a Cedartec® weatherproof exterior and a high-quality Cedar interior, the 2-Person Outdoor Sanctuary Infrared Sauna boasts both durability and attractive design. It also features True Wave™ heating technology for a high-tech sauna experience. It's no wonder why we've ranked it as the best outdoor sauna on the market.

Here is why the Sanctuary Outdoor Sauna is the best outdoor sauna:

– True Wave™ full-spectrum heaters offers high cabin temperatures

– Truly ultra-low EMF and ELF levels

– Cedartec® weatherproof exterior shell

– Double-walled construction for heat insulation

– Built-in medical-grade Chromotherapy

– Add-on options include RLT, halotherapy, vibrational resonance therapy, and an additional full-spectrum heater

– Unbelievable energy efficiency for low-running costs

– Undergoes strict no-VOC testing for the safest and healthiest sauna experience

– Built-in HQ stereo system and charging station

– Bluetooth and App functionality with remote activation

We looked at the top 3 brands that provide an outdoor sauna option:

– Clearlight® Saunas

– Sunlighten® Saunas

– UK Saunas
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What makes the Clearlight Outdoor Sanctuary stand out from both the Sunlighten® Sauna and UK Saunas competitors is the full-tempered glass front of the sauna - allowing the outdoor environment to blend seamlessly with your experience.

While the UK Saunas Outdoor sauna option has a robust and durable build, its enclosed design feels claustrophobic at best. Sunlighten® offers indoor saunas with a sauna cover to be used outdoors. The external walls and cladding won't be good enough to guarantee fast pre-heating times during winter months.

That's why the Clearlight Outdoor Sanctuary is the only full spectrum infrared sauna on the market that is specifically designed to endure the outdoor weather and maintain a sleek and luxurious design, a no-brainer if you’re somebody who enjoys time spent outdoors.

Deciding whether a home sauna is a worthwhile investment is subjective, but if you're currently paying for a spa or gym membership just to use their sauna, it may be worth considering a long-term investment in your own home sauna. Not only will you be able to enjoy the benefits in the comfort of your own home, but it can also add value to your property.

When it comes to the best home sauna on the market, the Clearlight® Sanctuary 2-person Sauna stands out from the rest. With an impressive range of features and a reasonable price point, it's no wonder we've ranked it as our top pick for a home sauna.

Here are some of the reasons for the Sanctuary 2-Person Sauna to be top of the list:

– True Wave™ full-spectrum heat offers high cabin temperatures

– Truly ultra-low EMF (electromagnetic fields) levels and ELF (extremely low frequency) levels

– Add-on include red light therapy, halo therapy, vibrational resonance therapy, and an additional full-spectrum heater (for our far infrared saunas)

– Unbelievably energy efficiency for low-running costs

– Undergoes strict VOC testing for the safest and healthiest sauna therapy

– Built-in medical-grade Chromotherapy

– Built-in HQ stereo system and charging station

– Bluetooth and App functionality with remote activation

The Sanctuary 2-person sauna is truly a one-of-a-kind product, offering a wide range of features and benefits that are unparalleled in the market.

In the UK, sauna companies charge between £1,500 to £3,500 for your typical 1-person far infrared sauna, and between £4,000 to £8,000 for your typical 1-person full spectrum sauna. For each increase in size, you can expect to pay an additional 6-9% more.

For your average portable infrared sauna, you can expect to pay between £300 to £3,000, while an infrared sauna blanket might set you back between £400 to £700. Portable saunas and infrared blankets are typically not low in EMF and only far infrared wavelengths.

It's crucial to consider running costs when choosing a sauna. Traditional saunas can have exorbitant running costs and often require three-phase electricity. Infrared saunas are highly energy-efficient and therefore make these a more cost-effective option.

One of the outstanding features of the full-spectrum infrared saunas and far-infrared saunas from Clearlight is their remarkable energy efficiency. For example, the 2-Person Essential Infrared Sauna, runs at about 1.8kW an hour, which equates to approx. £0.54 electricity costs per hour*. So if you’re having 5 sauna sessions at home per week, that's £2.7 per week. That’s less than a takeaway coffee!
This is certainly worth considering, especially if you're spending between £10-20 per session at a traditional sauna or £20-55 when using an infrared sauna at a spa.
* Calculated with a kWh price of £0.28 (March 2023).

If you're on a budget, we strongly advise against compromising on the quality of your sauna or opting for a subpar brand.

Things that you can downgrade for the best budget include:

• Size of the sauna - you can save between 6-9% for each size smaller.
• Sauna model - far infrared saunas tend to be cheaper and provide most of the same benefits.
• Add-ons - you can always add these on later

To determine the financial advantages of purchasing an at home infrared sauna, begin by calculating how often you plan to use it per week, and multiply that by the average cost of visiting an infrared sauna at a facility, which is typically around £10-30 per session.

Once you add up the cost of 3-5 sessions a week over an entire year, you'll be looking at almost the cost of your own at-home infrared sauna. Compare that to the approximate cost of running your sauna at home and its lifetime warranty, and it is clear that there is so much more value in this investment.

Plus, most sauna brands provide interest-free finance options, so you can pay it off while you are using it. There has never been a better time to prioritise your health and well-being than now in 2023!

If you're striving to achieve a healthier body in 2023, incorporating an infrared sauna into your routine could be one of the most cost-effective and beneficial investments you make in your wellness journey.

Let’s quickly run through the different types of saunas out there on the market. There are dry saunas, Finnish saunas - also known as traditional saunas - and infrared saunas.

We believe that an infrared sauna is the best sauna options based on the following criteria:*
1. Health Benefits:Infrared saunas have been proven to provide health benefits that are equal to, if not better than, traditional saunas. While traditional saunas may perform better in the area of heat shock proteins due to their higher air temperature, infrared saunas are effective in raising core temperature and activating heat shock proteins, according to Dr. James Dinic. Numerous studies have been conducted on the benefits of infrared saunas, and they have been found to offer a range of health benefits.

‍2. Pre-heating Times: One of the greatest advantages of using an infrared sauna is its convenience and ease of use. Compared to traditional saunas, infrared saunas have a much shorter pre-heating time, typically only taking between 10-20 minutes to warm up and provide a high-quality infrared heat. As your body temperature gradually increases, you will start to break a sweat to cool down, resulting in a relaxing and detoxifying experience.

3. Electricity Costs: Compared to traditional saunas, infrared saunas are incredibly energy-efficient, typically consuming only a third or a quarter of the electricity. They are designed to run on a normal 230V electricity outlet, and consume between 1.3 to 3kWh per sauna session. In contrast, traditional saunas are often built for three-phase electricity outlets and consume significantly more electricity, with an average consumption of 6-9 kWh per hour, which is 3-4 times as much as an infrared sauna.

4. Ease of Use: The beauty of infrared saunas is their versatility - they can be installed virtually anywhere in your home. Designed in a modular fashion, assembly is easy and can be done in a room of your choice. Our satisfied customers have installed our saunas in spare rooms, bathrooms, cellars, garages, and even sheltered balconies. Additionally, the saunas require only a normal 13 amp household socket, so electricity is typically not an issue. As infrared saunas produce dry heat, there is no moisture or water created, which means ventilation is rarely a concern. The only source of moisture is human sweat when using the sauna regularly.

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* Please note the obvious bias we have as we design and manufacture solely infrared saunas.

5. Infrared & detoxification: A different mechanism of sweating
Infrared light also has a particular attribute in that it causes the subcutaneous fat cells to break down safely, releasing once-stored heavy metals and toxins. Making infrared light the ultimate tool of choice for detoxification.

Infrared saunas come in primarily two ways.

• Far infrared: Using only the far infrared wavelength of light.
• Full spectrum: Using an equal portion of far, mid, and near wavelengths.

We recommend the Clearlight® 1-Person Premier Sauna as the best option for a far infrared sauna. This sauna not only offers excellent functionality, but also has a traditional sauna appearance that is visually pleasing.

Here are some of the reasons why the Premier 1-Person Sauna is on the top of the list:

– Truly ultra-low EMF (electromagnetic fields) levels and ELF (extremely low frequency) levels

– True Wave™ far infrared heaters

– Add-on options include red light therapy, halo therapy, vibrational resonance therapy, and an additional full-spectrum heater

– Unbelievable energy efficiency for low-running costs

– Undergoes strict VOC testing for the safest and healthiest sauna therapy

– Built-in HQ stereo system and charging station

Using only certified materials and masterfully crafted with 22 years of experience, the quality of the build of the Premier Sauna is unmatched by other far infrared saunas. The fragrant cedar wood indulges with beautiful earthy, woody aromas and feels raw and rustic with all wood textures. A real tribute to sauna culture.

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What are the electrical requirements for a sauna?

The electrical requirements for a sauna and an infrared sauna can vary depending on the size and model of the unit. In general, a traditional sauna requires a higher voltage and wattage than an infrared sauna. These typically consume a lot more electricity as they require higher power.

A traditional sauna typically require three-phase electricity with a dedicated circuit, which is capable of delivering 30 to 60 amps of power. The wattage of a traditional sauna can range from 4kW to 12kW, depending on the size and type of heater used.

On the other hand, an infrared sauna usually requires a standard household socket (13 amps). The wattage of an infrared sauna can range from 1,000 to 3,000 watts, depending on the size and type of heater used.

It is important to ensure that the electrical requirements of the sauna you are interested in purchasing match the electrical capacity of your home. It is recommended to consult with a licensed electrician to ensure proper installation and electrical safety

Here's a review from infraredsaunaexpert.com which did a head-to-head comparison between the Clearlight® Vs. Sunlighten. Here's what they have to say:

"If you want a low EMF and low ELF sauna, then this Clearlight is the way to go hands down. Why? It’s simple, Sunlighten does not mitigate electric fields, and their magnetic fields are much higher than Clearlight’s."

‍"I go by my measurements, and the tools don’t lie. Clearlight saunas measure much much lower than Sunlighten saunas EMF wise, basically to the point where there’s no comparison anymore."

"If I had to pick a sauna between these two brands for myself or my family, it would be this Clearlight Premier model right here. It’s less money, gives you a great sweat, and blows the Sunlighten’s out of the water when it comes to EMF."

Another head-to-head comparison was conducted by homeaquafield.com which concluded:

"A device that deals with electrically generated heating must have adequately insulated wires for safety. Sunlighten saunas are less equipped in this regard when compared to the Clearlight sauna models. Therefore, safety is another aspect that puts Clearlight ahead of Sunlighten."

A summary of the analysis

Now that you know more about the best infrared saunas on the market for 2023, you can make an informed decision about which one is right for your needs.

Our top picks were:

1. Best all-around: Clearlight® 4-Person Sanctuary Yoga Sauna
2. Best home infrared saunas: Clearlight® 2-Person Sanctuary Sauna
3. Best outdoor sauna: Clearlight® 5-Person Outdoor Sauna
4. Best far infrared sauna: Clearlight® 1-Person Premier Sauna

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