Far Infrared vs Full Spectrum Infrared: What's the Real Difference?

By MEL Kylin
3 min read
Full Spectrum vs. Far Infrared Sauna

If you have started shopping for an infrared sauna, you have probably run into two terms sitting side by side: far infrared and full spectrum. Both fall under the infrared sauna umbrella, so it is easy to assume they are the same thing with different names. They are not. The difference comes down to which infrared wavelengths actually reach your body, and that changes what each type is best suited for. Here's what you need to know before deciding.

What Far Infrared Actually Means

Far infrared is the wavelength most people picture when they hear "infrared sauna." It sits at the long end of the infrared spectrum, generally in the 3,000 to 15,000 nanometre range, and it is what carbon fibre heaters are built to produce. This is the standard heating technology across most of Kylin's sauna range.

Because far infrared penetrates deep into tissue, it is associated with:

  • Deep detoxification through sweating
  • Stress relief and muscle relaxation
  • A gentler, lower-temperature session compared to traditional steam

Far infrared also uses a single heater type, which makes it easier to keep electromagnetic field output right down. That is why the ultra-low EMF badge sits almost entirely on far infrared models, including the K8107 Ultra Low EMF and K8203 Low EMF, both part of Kylin's Ultra Low-EMF saunas range.

What Full Spectrum Adds

Full spectrum saunas add two more wavelength bands on top of far infrared: near infrared and mid infrared. Instead of one heater type doing all the work, Kylin's full spectrum models pair carbon fibre far infrared heaters with halogen red light heating tubes, which cover the near (roughly 630 to 1,500 nanometres) and mid (roughly 1,500 to 3,000 nanometres) bands.

Each band contributes something different to the session:

  • Near infrared supports skin rejuvenation, cell repair, and circulation
  • Mid infrared helps with pain relief, joint support, and muscle recovery
  • Far infrared still handles the deep detoxification and stress relief

The appeal is straightforward. Rather than choosing one type of benefit, a full spectrum sauna gives you a broader spread in a single sitting. The K8205 FS, for example, runs seven heating panels in total, five carbon fibre far infrared heaters and two red light heaters, which is why full spectrum models like this one and the K8109 FS have become popular with buyers who want more out of each session.

The EMF Trade-off Worth Knowing

This part often gets skipped, and it deserves to be said plainly. In Kylin's full spectrum models, the carbon fibre far infrared heater still runs at ultra-low EMF, generally between 0 and 0.3 mGs. The halogen red light heaters providing the near and mid infrared bands run at a standard EMF level instead, generally between 2 and 18 mGs.

This does not make full spectrum saunas unsafe. It means that if minimising EMF exposure across every single heater is your main priority, a pure far infrared model from the Ultra Low-EMF saunas range keeps that consistency all the way through. A full spectrum model trades a small amount of that consistency for the extra wavelength coverage.

Which One Should You Choose

Both are genuinely solid options, so the right pick depends on what you actually want from your sauna sessions.

Far infrared suits you if:

  • You want the lowest possible EMF exposure across every heater in the cabin
  • Your main goals are detox, relaxation, and muscle recovery
  • You would rather keep the entry cost lower while still getting a proven heat therapy option

Full spectrum suits you if:

  • Skin health and cell repair are part of why you want a sauna
  • You deal with joint pain or want mid infrared's pain relief benefits alongside detox
  • You are comfortable with a slightly higher EMF reading on the red light heaters in exchange for broader wavelength coverage

Price and Range

Far infrared models start from $1,899, with ultra-low EMF versions available across most cabin sizes. Full spectrum models start from $2,999 for a 1-person unit, moving up from there for 2-person options.

Both technologies sit within the same range, so the easiest way to compare them side by side is to explore our full sauna collection and filter by heating element type. If EMF exposure is the deciding factor for you, start with the Ultra Low-EMF saunas collection instead, where every model keeps that reading as low as possible.