Infrared saunas are loved for their relaxing wellness benefits – from stress relief and muscle recovery to detoxification. As more people incorporate sauna sessions into their daily lives, it’s natural for questions about safety to follow, especially when it comes to topics like electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
You may have seen conflicting claims online about EMFs and infrared heat, or even marketing that promises “zero EMF” experiences. So what’s actually true? Understanding how infrared saunas work, and how EMFs factor into the equation, can help you make informed, confident choices about your wellness routine.
In this guide, we’ll break down the science behind EMFs in infrared saunas, how they compare to everyday exposures, and what to look for in a truly low-EMF design so you can relax and reap the benefits with peace of mind.
Learn more about what EMFs and ELFs are here →
EMFs and Infrared Saunas: What You Need to Know
Infrared saunas use electrical heaters (ceramic, carbon, or other elements) to produce infrared radiant heat. The infrared light itself is the therapeutic heat that penetrates your body for all those great sauna benefits. Good news: Infrared wavelength is just gentle heat – it will not harm you or give you a tan. It’s similar to the warmth of the sun but without the UV rays. So, when we talk about safety in an infrared sauna, the infrared wavelength isn’t the concern.
However, the electrical components powering the sauna do create EMFs (including ELF fields) because anything using electricity does.
EMF Levels in Saunas
Not all saunas are created equal in terms of EMF output. Some older or lower-quality infrared saunas can emit surprisingly high electromagnetic fields right where you sit. In fact, testing shows that a typical carbon-based infrared heater can generate 70–100 mG of magnetic field directly on the heater surface, and a ceramic heater can produce around 20–40 mG. If you were to use such a sauna frequently, you’d be exposing yourself to EMF levels comparable to standing next to a running kitchen appliance for a long period.
By contrast, high-quality saunas like Clearlight® infrared saunas measure under 1 mG at the heater surface and nearly 0 mG at the bench, which is far below even normal background EMF in many homes. Essentially, a session in a Clearlight sauna exposes you to less EMF than walking down a city street or using a home appliance, because of the careful engineering to minimize those fields.
Non-Ionizing vs. Ionizing
It’s important to note that EMFs from infrared saunas (and household electrical devices) fall into the non-ionizing category of radiation – meaning they do not carry enough energy to directly break chemical bonds or damage DNA, unlike ionizing radiation such as X-rays or UV light. Infrared light itself is also non-ionizing, it’s simply heat energy. In fact, infrared heating technology is so safe it’s used in hospitals to warm newborn babies. So, the type of EMF we’re discussing here is low-frequency, non-ionizing electromagnetic fields.
How Sauna EMF Compares to Everyday Life
To put things in perspective, consider that many everyday devices can expose you to brief spikes of EMF much higher than what you’d get in a low-EMF infrared sauna. For example, a hair dryer can emit anywhere from 60 to over 1,000 mG right at the motor, though you typically use it for just a few minutes at arm’s length. An electric shaver or vacuum cleaner can easily produce tens or hundreds of milligauss while operating.
The difference with a sauna is that you might be sitting in it for 20–30 minutes per session, so the duration of exposure is longer (even if the field strength is much lower than something like a hair dryer). This is why using a low-EMF sauna is smart – it ensures that even over a longer session, you’re not bathing in a strong field.
Quick fact: Don’t be misled by marketing terms like “zero EMF sauna,” which some brands claim. All infrared saunas (and any electrical appliance) will emit some EMF – it’s a matter of physics that you can’t have electricity flow with absolute zero field. What really matters is that the EMF is virtually zero at the user’s position.
How Clearlight Saunas Reduce EMF/ELF Exposure
Clearlight® Infrared Saunas are specifically designed with your safety in mind, which means addressing EMF and ELF from the ground up. The goal is simple: provide all the therapeutic heat of infrared while making the electromagnetic emissions as low as possible. Here are the ways Clearlight ensures a low-EMF, low-ELF sauna experience:
Advanced Heater Technology
Clearlight’s True Wave™ infrared heaters are built to emit high-quality far infrared heat without high electromagnetic fields. Each heater is meticulously tested with ultra-sensitive gaussmeters to confirm its EMF output is well below the accepted safety cutoff of 3 mG. In fact, the readings directly on the surface of our heaters are typically under 1 mG – that’s extremely low.
By the time you’re sitting a few inches to a foot away from the heaters (as you would in the sauna), the EMF levels drop to virtually undetectable (effectively ~0 mG) around your body. This means you can relax in a Clearlight sauna knowing you’re in an environment with no more EMF than you’d find naturally outdoors.
| Heater | EMF Measured Directly On Emitter |
| Clearlight Infrared Saunas | < 1 mG |
| Regular Carbon Heaters | 70 mG – 100mG |
| Ceramic Infrared Heaters | 20 mG – 40mG |
Shielded Wiring (Low ELF Design)
The expert craftsmanship of Clearlight saunas tackle ELF electric fields by using shielded, grounded wiring and careful routing of electrical components. All the internal wiring that delivers power to the heaters is run through conduits that encase the wires. This casing acts as a shield, greatly reducing the electric fields that reach the inside of the cabin. Additionally, the wires are twisted together in pairs – a technique that causes the magnetic fields from each wire to cancel each other out.
The result is dramatically lower ELF readings inside the sauna. Our testing shows body voltage and electric field readings in a Clearlight sauna are 3–5 times below even the conservative “threshold of concern” (10 V/m) for ELF. In plain language, the ELF levels are negligible – often lower than what you’d pick up from the wiring in your wall or a lamp across the room.
Quality Components and Assembly
A low-EMF design isn’t just an afterthought for Clearlight – it’s built into the DNA of the product. From the placement of the heaters to the location of power supplies and control panels, everything is optimized to keep you out of any strong field. Our infrared saunas are doctor-designed with wellness in mind, and part of that means no noisy motors or unshielded electronics near your body.
Clearlight was one of the first companies in the industry to prioritize low EMF and ELF, and we continue to innovate so that even as we add features (like chromotherapy, aromatherapy, red light therapy, or vibrational resonance therapy), the EMF/ELF remains minimal.
Independent Testing and Transparency
We know that trust is key when it comes to health claims. That’s why Clearlight publishes data and demonstrates our low EMF levels openly. We invite customers to test our saunas with their own gaussmeters – many do, and they consistently find readings at or near zero in normal use. We also encourage you to ask any sauna manufacturer about their EMF levels. If a competitor’s sauna measures 50+ mG at the heater (and many do), they should tell you – and you have the right to know.
The industry standard for “low EMF” is usually under 3 mG at the sitting position. Clearlight® is proud to be among the lowest EMF/ELF saunas on the market – often 10–20 times lower than other brands. We stand by that promise with a limited lifetime warranty on our saunas and the confidence of thousands of satisfied low-EMF sauna customers.
Sauna EMF & ELF FAQs
Are EMFs from infrared saunas harmful?
Not when levels are low. Clearlight infrared saunas emit EMFs well below 3 milligauss (mG), far under international safety guidelines. They’re safer than many common home appliances.
Do infrared saunas emit radiation?
Yes – infrared light, which is non-ionizing and safe. It’s the same type of radiant heat used in neonatal incubators and physical therapy.
Can athletes safely use infrared saunas with EMF?
Yes – and many do. Elite athletes use Clearlight infrared saunas for muscle recovery and performance. Choosing a low-EMF model adds peace of mind and reduces environmental stress during recovery.
How does a low-EMF sauna compare to home electronics?
Low-EMF saunas emit less EMF than many everyday items. For example:
- Hair dryer: 60–200+ mG
- Laptop charger: 40–100 mG
- Clearlight sauna (bench area): 0–1 mG
Using Low-ELF and Low-EMF Infrared Saunas
Clearlight Infrared Saunas are proud to offer an evergreen, research-backed solution: all the healing heat of infrared, with practically none of the EMF/ELF exposure. So go ahead – enjoy your sauna sessions with peace of mind, knowing you’re doing something great for your health safely!
