There are a whole range of infrared saunas on the market in Australia – varying in size, quality, design and price.
In this article we explain
And the Top 5 infrared sauna brands for sale in Australia:
Best infrared saunas in Australia 2024 – Top 5 brands reviewed
Thinking about buying an infrared sauna? Wondering which one to buy and which are the best brands? This article lists the top infrared saunas in Australia and compares features, prices, pros, cons and more.
In this article, we’ve used brand names not affiliated with Spa World™ or Vortex Leisure Pty Ltd, the parent company of Spa World™.
You can see the list of the brand owners at the bottom of this article. All information, including store locations and product details, was accurate at the time of publishing and may change without notice.
What to look for in an infrared sauna
An infrared sauna is an important investment in your health and wellbeing. Given that the average sauna should last you at least 10 years, it’s worth buying a quality product that is built to last.
In our view, the best quality saunas should have these features covered:
- Quality construction with durable timbers. Hemlock and red cedar are the recommended sauna timbers; look for kiln-dried or air dried, fine-grain wood construction; avoid experimental materials.
- Low EMF and low ELF levels. Look for infrared saunas with undetectable or extremely low Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) and low Electric Fields (ELF). Check your sauna has third-party tested results on its EMF levels.
- Safety standards. No VOC glues, third-party tested results for electrical parts and EMF/ELF levels, tempered glass, timer with automatic shutdown.
- Effective and safe heating system. An even, consistent heat that radiates from all areas of the sauna and, ideally, carbon fibre heaters with a low surface temperature
- Great design. Look for an aesthetically pleasing sauna that suits your tastes and style of your home
- Extra features and personalisation. Smart touch controls, Bluetooth compatibility, chromotherapy and more
- Extensive warranties. Look for a lifetime warranty on sauna cabin and heaters; and a minimum 2 years on electrical components.
Remember, take measurements before you shop so you can discuss suitable options with the salesperson.
What is the best infrared sauna to buy?
We’ve reviewed infrared saunas for sale in Australia and identified the best brands on the market right now.
Our decision is based on a range of factors including design,build,durability, reliability and, of course, our many years of selling and servicing a range of different saunas.
Listed below (in no particular order) are our picks for the five best infrared sauna brands in Australia and why they’re worth considering over others, along with a bit of history about each company.
JNH Lifestyles® saunas review
JNH Lifestyles®, previously known as JNH Saunas, was established in 2007. According to its website, JNH Lifestyles® is “Australia’s only infrared sauna direct distributor”.
They have three sauna ranges: The Joyous, Freedom and Ensi Collections. JNH Lifestyles® infrared sauna prices range from AUD$3,299 to AUD$4,999.
The company claims their premier Ensi Collection was “the first far infrared sauna on the market with a virtually Zero-EMF reading”. Learn more about EMF levels and what to consider, in this article on infrared saunas. Please now that at the time of writing, the company had an 'Ensi Collection' page on its website but there were no products listed on it.
On its website, JNH says its saunas are tested by Intertek® – an independent testing agency that undertakes equipment inspection, testing, and certification worldwide.
We always recommend customers ask the retailer for verification of safety and performance claims and confirm they’ve used accredited third-party testing agencies (i.e. not done in-house).
JNH Lifestyles® saunas are available throughout Australia via authorised agents and retailers.
Fun fact: JNH stands for “joyful, natural and healthy”.
Pros of JNH Lifestyles saunas:
- Quality, sustainable timber. Built with FSC certified Canadian hemlock or Canadian. Western Red Cedar wood (depending on model) – two of the best timbers for saunas
- Modern design. Well-designed, modern-looking saunas with tempered glass for a spacious feel.
- Safety-tested. Third-party testing and certification on heating and electrical components.
- Low EMF. Carbon fibre, low EMF heaters in all saunas. They claim to have the only Zero-EMF heater tested and approved by Intertek, a global product testing and certification company.
- Heater placement. Heaters well-positioned for surround heating behind the head, shoulders, back, arms and legs.
- Range of saunas and pricing. Saunas to suit a range of budgets, spaces and size requirements.
- Energy efficient. Dual wall insulation and tempered glass. Cost around $0.36 per hour to run according to their website.
- Allergy-friendly. Option of hypoallergenic timber (basswood) for people with allergies or sensitivities to fragrances and other irritants.
Cons of JNH Lifestyles:
- Good (but not great) warranties. JNH Lifestyles offers 2 to 3 years on wood, heater, control and electrical components (depending on the use and model you select). Spa World offers a lifetime warranty on the sauna cabin and heaters; and at least 2 years on electrical components.
- Added costs. Prices exclude chromotherapy lights
- No TrustPilot® profile. They don’t have a profile on TrustPilot® – one of the world’s most trusted review sites, so you can’t compare them with other similar companies. View Spa World’s Trustpilot profile here.
Sunlighten® saunas review
Sunlighten® is a global sauna brand established in the US in 1999 and now sold in 22 different countries.
In Australia, Sunlighten® has a head office and showroom in Melbourne, with nationwide sales and service throughout Australia and New Zealand. Their saunas are manufactured in Vietnam.
Sunlighten® states on its website that they are pioneers of over 20 different sauna innovations, including Solocarbon™ 3-in-1™ full-spectrum infrared heating technology.
Their Australia home sauna range includes the mPulse® and Signature® Series of saunas. They also sell the Solo Sauna® – a portable, 1-person sauna. Sunlighten®’s largest sauna is the 5-person Mpulse® Empower®.
Sunlighten® saunas are constructed from either Canadian Western Red Cedar, Basswood or Eucalyptus. Learn more about sauna timbers in this detailed article.
Pros of Sunlighten® saunas:
- Excellent reputation. An established, trusted brand with an excellent reputation (based on their 4.7 Trustpilot® rating).
- Safety-tested. Independent third-party testing on electrical components, heating, VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and EMFs – with “virtually undetectable” levels of EMF (according to their website).
- Innovative technology. Solocarbon 3-in-1® patented full-spectrum infrared technology which combines far, mid and near infrared wavelengths. This system may be ideal for you but it depends on your individual health needs which infrared heat source suits you best. Learn more about infrared heat..
- Smart controls. Android-powered touchscreen controls (mPulse® Series only) to access sauna controls remotely, customise your sauna session, track health goals and adjust the heat.
- Sustainable timber. PEFC-Certified sustainable, premium, hand-selected, kiln dried sauna wood.
- Allergy-friendly. Option of hypoallergenic timbers: basswood and eucalyptus.
Cons of Sunlighten™ saunas:
- Prices not listed. Sunlighten® doesn't show prices on their website so you will need to request a quote via the website. We think buyers deserve to know upfront how much a product costs, which is why all our prices are transparently displayed on the Spa World website.
- Design style. The traditional, timber-heavy design of their saunas might feel a bit claustrophobic for some people. If you prefer a more spacious feel you could consider these saunas which feature more glass.
Vortex™ Infrared Saunas review
Vortex™ is an Australian-owned, design-led wellness company that manufactures and distributes spa pools, swim spas and infrared saunas to over 20 countries around the world.
The company famously produced the innovative Vortex™ Ikon™ spa, which won gold at the Good Design Australia Awards and German Design Awards, and was named Best Buy 2019.
Vortex™, formerly O2 Spas, was established in 2002. Its products are distributed exclusively through Spa World™ in Australia and New Zealand.
They have two sauna ranges: The Linear and Prestige. Both ranges are available in 1, 2 and 3 person units. The Linear series is priced from $4990 to $7990 and the Prestige from $7990 to $9990.
Vortex™’s Linear is a mid-market sauna constructed with Canadian hemlock timber, while its premium Prestige range uses Canadian Western Red Cedar.
Cedar and hemlock are the most common sauna timbers – and for good reason. These are premium, durable timbers that should be preferred over inferior materials such as pine or plywood which can split, warp and shrink. Learn more about sauna timbers in this article on what to know before buying a sauna.
Vortex™ has proprietary low EMF, far infrared carbon fibre heaters in all its saunas. These are designed to “distribute heat more evenly and eliminate hot spots” according to the product description on the Spa World™ website.
EMF levels in Vortex saunas have been independently tested by EMF Services, a division of Monitoring and Advisory Services NZ Ltd, which provides professional measurement and advisory services related to possible health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
Magnetic field levels in the Vortex™ Saunas tested by EMF Services, were very much lower than recommended limits and very similar to those found in many New Zealand and Australian homes.
Pros of Vortex™ infrared saunas
- Excellent reputation. An Australian-owned company with an “excellent” reputation based on 4.7 star Trustpilot rating
- ** Low EMF.** Carbon fibre low EMF heaters in all saunas, third-party tested
- Quality, sustainable timber. Hand selected, FSC certified sustainable, kiln dried Canadian Hemlock or Western Red Cedar construction (depending on the model)
- Safety-tested. Third-party safety testing on electrical components. Frameless tempered glass for safety and to ensure heat stays in the sauna
- Affordable pricing. Reasonably priced for a mid-market sauna
- Design style. Modern, European design with glass doors for a spacious feel
- Extra features. Exhaust fan for a more comfortable session, Nakamichi® sound system (Prestige range), digital touchpad control panel with AUX and Bluetooth®
- Good warranties. Lifetime warranties for heater and cabinet and 2-years on components
Cons of Vortex™ infrared saunas
- Limited design options. The Linear and Prestige ranges look fairly similar) and the glass features and modern style might not suit your decor or be too open for you.
- Indoor use only. If you are after an outdoor sauna see Jacuzzi® or iHealth® Saunas
- Size limit. Their largest model is a 3-person, so not suited to large groups
Watch: Vortex™ Prestige 3-Person Infrared Saunas
iHealth® Saunas review
iHealth® Saunas was established in Australia in 2008. The company states on its website that it's Australia’s longest running infrared sauna company, with 16 years’ industry experience.
iHealth® Saunas has five sauna ranges: The Lite Range, Premium Range, Full Spectrum, Outdoor Barrel and City Compact – “the world’s smallest sauna”, according to the iHealth® website.
If you’re wondering where to buy iHealth® Saunas, you can buy them directly from iHealth®’s showroom in Vermont, Victoria, and also online via their website or through independent distributors across Australia such as Brisbane Spa Super Centre™. Contact the company for more details on where to buy iHealth Saunas.
Pros of iHealth® Saunas:
- Established brand. Longstanding, Australian-owned company.
- Range of saunas. Saunas to suit range of spaces and requirements including low-EMF far infrared saunas, full spectrum infrared indoor saunas and a 3-4 person outdoor barrel sauna.
- Small space option. The City Compact sauna could be a great option for very small spaces or apartment living.
- Modern design. Modern looking designs with clean lines and good use of glass for a spacious feel. View similar style saunas here.
- Safety testing. All saunas built to Australian Electrical Safety Standards.
Cons of iHealth® Saunas:
- Prices not listed. They don’t list prices for all their products on their website. As mentioned above, we think buyers deserve to know upfront how much a product costs. View Spa World’s sauna prices.
- Moveable heaters. While moveable heaters could work for you, we don’t think moving electrical parts around a small space is a great idea. Instead, we’d suggest buying a sauna with heaters already fixed in place exactly where you want them.
- Inconsistant warranties. Variable warranties depending on the sauna range – from 2-year warranties on timber, heating and electrical to lifetime on heating and 5 years on timber and electrical. Warranties are a mark of the company’s confidence in its products. We think they should be consistent across the brand. Spa World warranties, for example, are the same across our sauna ranges including lifetime warranties on all sauna heaters.
- TrustPilot® profile. iHealth has a page on Trustpilot® (one of the world’s most trust review sites), but it hasn’t been claimed by the company and has no reviews.
Jacuzzi® Clearlight® Saunas Australia review
Jacuzzi® is one of the largest distributors of spa pools worldwide. The company began producing infrared saunas over 20 years ago.
In Australia, Jacuzzi® saunas are marketed under the Jacuzzi® Clearlight® Saunas Australia brand. Jacuzzi® is also one of Spa World™’s partner brands. View our range of Jacuzzi® spas and swim spas.
Jacuzzi®’s sauna range includes: the Premier Far Infrared, Sanctuary Full Spectrum, and Outdoor Infrared collections. Jacuzzi® doesn't list prices on its website, learn more about this below.
One of the main selling points of Jacuzzi® saunas is their patented True Wave™ Full Spectrum infrared heaters. These are high output carbon/ceramic combination heaters that produce near, mid and far infrared. Jacuzzi® claims they are the most powerful full spectrum infrared heaters on the market and “25 times the power of our closest competitor”.
This system may be ideal for you but it depends on your individual health needs which infrared heat source suits you best. Learn more about infrared heat in this article.
Pros of Jacuzzi Infrared Saunas®:
- Trusted brand. A high profile brand with an established reputation
- Quality, sustainable timber. Constructed with Eco-certified Western Red Canadian Cedar (one of the best sauna timbers).
- Lots of options. Saunas to suit a range of spaces and size requirements, with indoor, outdoor and corner saunas.
- Low EMF and ELF. Low ELF and “virtually no EMF” heating technology – they claim to have the lowest EMF and ELF levels in the market.
- Safety-tested. Independent third-party testing on electrical components, heating, VOC’s, ELF and EMF
- Build quality. Built to last and backed by a limited lifetime warranty on all components.
- Energy efficient. Low operating costs – an average sauna session costs around 20 cents (according to their website).
- Chromotherapy lighting. Included with all saunas.
- Heater position. Infrared heaters positioned for heating all around you; back wall, side walls, front wall, under the bench, next to your calves and in the floor.
Cons of Jacuzzi Infrared Saunas®:
- Prices not listed. Pricing not listed on the Clearlight® Saunas Australia website - you’ll need to request a quote.
- Design style. The traditional, timber-rich design which might not suit your decor.
- Expensive. They are expensive – particularly the Premier range, although the price does reflect the quality of the product.
In summary
We hope this article has helped you understand more about the best infrared saunas in Australia and what to look for.
As you can see, even within the top sauna brands there are some key differences. Deciding which one to buy really comes down to your own preferences and priorities. As we often say, the most important thing is to choose the sauna you will use the most. Only you will know which one that is.
If you’d like some expert help and advice, you’re welcome to chat with one of our sauna experts online or at your nearest Spa World showroom, and of course, you can come in store and try out our full range of saunas on offer.
DISCLAIMER: *The following registered trademarks are owned by companies not affiliated in any way with Spa World™ or Vortex Leisure Pty Ltd – the parent company of Spa World Ltd: JNH Lifestyles® saunas and its Joyous®, Freedom® and Ensi® Collections. trademarks are owned by JNH Lifestyles. Sunlighten® and its Solocarbon™ 3-in-1™, mPulse®, Signature® Series, Solo® and Mpulse® Empower® trademarks are owned by Sunlighten, inc. iHealth® Saunas The Lite Range, Premium Range, Full Spectrum, Outdoor Barrel and City Compact trademarks are owned by PMAK Marketing Pty Ltd As Trustee For PMAK Marketing Trust. Jacuzzi®, Jacuzzi® Clearlight® Saunas, Premier Far Infrared®, Sanctuary Full Spectrum®, and Outdoor Infrared® trademarks are registered to Jacuzzi Inc. Intertek® trademark is owned by Intertek Group Plc.
TrustPilot® trademark is owned by Trustpilot A/S.*
Affiliations: Vortex™ Spas and Spa World® are trademarks owned by Vortex Leisure Pty Ltd.
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