Low-EMF Infrared Saunas: What the Numbers Mean and Why They Matter

If you're researching infrared saunas, EMF has probably come up. Maybe you came across a forum thread or article raising concerns about infrared sauna radiation from heating panels. Maybe you noticed brands advertising "low EMF" or "ultra-low EMF" without explaining what those terms actually mean. Either way, you want to understand what you're being exposed to before you sit in something three to four times a week.

That's a reasonable thing to want. EMF is a real, measurable property of any electrical device. The question isn't whether infrared saunas produce it — they do, as does every appliance in your home — but how much, how it compares to what you're already exposed to daily, and what the actual data says about the sauna you're considering.

This guide explains what EMF is in plain terms, why the sauna industry's EMF claims are often unreliable, what to look for when evaluating any brand, and what independent third-party testing shows for Backyard Discovery infrared saunas. Curious how infrared compares to a traditional sauna? See the full breakdown.

Are Infrared Saunas Safe?

Yes. Infrared saunas emit the same low-energy, non-ionizing type of electromagnetic fields produced by everyday electronics like wireless earbuds and smart watches, which do not carry enough energy to damage cells or alter DNA the way that ionizing radiation (X-rays and gamma rays) can. What matters is how much EMF a specific sauna produces and whether the manufacturer has taken steps to minimize it. That's what this guide breaks down.

What Is EMF? Electromagnetic Fields Explained

EMF stands for electromagnetic field. It's an invisible area of energy that exists wherever electricity flows. The Earth's magnetic field produces EMF. So does sunlight, your cell phone, the Wi-Fi router in your living room, the wiring inside your walls, and every appliance you plug in. EMF is a constant, unavoidable part of modern life.

When people talk about EMF in saunas, they're referring to the extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic and electric fields generated by the heating panels and wiring, not the infrared energy (the heat you feel) itself.

The important distinction is between ionizing and non-ionizing EMF. Ionizing EMF (X-rays and gamma rays) carries enough energy to break apart molecules and damage cells. This is the type that warrants real caution at high exposure levels. Non-ionizing EMF — which includes everything from radio waves and Bluetooth to infrared energy and the ELF fields from power lines — does not carry enough energy to damage cells or alter DNA. The infrared energy used in saunas, specifically far-infrared wavelengths, falls squarely in the non-ionizing category.

The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified ELF magnetic fields — the same category produced by household wiring and appliances — as Group 2B, meaning possibly carcinogenic. It's worth understanding what that classification actually means: Group 2B is the lowest level at which IARC flags an agent and is applied when evidence is limited and inconsistent. Pickled vegetables, aloe vera, and nickel are also classified 2B. The classification reflects scientific uncertainty about long-term low-level exposure, not established harm at the levels measured in consumer devices. The sauna readings in this article are a fraction of the levels studied in the relevant epidemiology.

What Is a Safe EMF Level for a Sauna?

There's no universal industry standard for sauna EMF levels. Our benchmarks set "ultra-low" at under 3 milligauss (mG) for magnetic fields and under 10 volts per meter (V/m) for electric fields, measured where your body actually sits. By comparison, the standards referenced in our third-party Vitatech test reports set the threshold at 12.57 mG for magnetic fields and 5,000 V/m for electric fields, both for general public and continuous exposure.

Electric Fields vs. Magnetic Fields in Infrared Saunas

When testing EMF in an infrared sauna, there are two distinct measurements that matter.

Electric fields are created by voltage and measured in volts per meter (V/m). They're present whenever a device is plugged in, even if it's turned off. In an infrared sauna, the heating panels and wiring generate electric fields that extend into the space where you sit.

Magnetic fields are created by current flow and measured in milligauss (mG). They're present only when electricity is actively running through the circuit, which in a sauna means when the heaters are on.

Here's what many buyers don't realize: most sauna brands that advertise "low EMF" are only reporting magnetic field readings. They ignore electric fields entirely. That means you could be looking at a sauna with excellent magnetic field numbers and have no idea what the electric field exposure is because the brand never measured it, or measured it and chose not to share it. If a brand's EMF claims don't mention both types, you're only getting half the picture. Backyard Discovery reports both.

The Infrared Sauna Industry's EMF Transparency Problem

There's no governing body that defines what "low EMF" means for infrared saunas. No standard. No official threshold a sauna must meet to use the term. Because of this, any brand can claim "low EMF" or "ultra-low EMF" without providing a single data point to support it.

Testing practices vary just as widely. Different brands use different meters, measure at different distances from the heating panels, and test under different conditions. Some take readings from the center of the cabin — the farthest point from any panel — rather than where your back, legs, and head actually rest during a session. When everyone tests differently, there's no way to compare claims across brands.

This lack of standardization is why you'll see brands advertising nearly identical EMF claims across wildly different price points and construction quality. The marketing language is the same because nobody is verifying it. That makes it essential to understand what to look for yourself.

How to Evaluate EMF Claims from Any Infrared Sauna Brand

Before you compare specific brands, arm yourself with these four questions. They apply to every infrared sauna on the market, not just ours.

1. Do they report both electric and magnetic fields? If a brand only shows magnetic field readings (milligauss), they're omitting half the data. Proper EMF evaluation requires both measurements.

2. Where were the measurements taken? A reading taken 12 inches from the panel tells you something very different than a reading taken at the center of the sauna. Look for brands that test at positions where your body actually rests during a session.

3. Is the testing third-party or self-reported? Internal testing is better than no testing, but independent, third-party testing removes the conflict of interest entirely. Ask to see the report.

4. Do they define their own thresholds? Since there's no industry standard, a responsible brand should tell you exactly what benchmarks they're measuring against and why. If the claim is just "low EMF" with no numbers, treat it the same way you'd treat any unsupported marketing claim.

When you apply these questions, the field narrows quickly.

How Backyard Discovery's Low-EMF Infrared Saunas Are Tested

We publish the evaluation framework above because we're confident in what happens when you apply it to our saunas. Here's how we handle each element.

Testing Methodology: Where and How We Measure

Every Backyard Discovery infrared sauna model has been tested by Vitatech Electromagnetics, an independent EMF testing firm, at the Backyard Discovery facility in Pittsburg, Kansas. Testing was conducted on all four models in the Rylan lineup: the 1-person, 2-person, 4-person, and 4-person corner. Measurements were taken approximately 1.5 feet above the bench at seated position, roughly center of mass, which reflects where your body actually is during a session. Both electric fields (V/m) and magnetic fields (mG) were recorded with the sauna fully powered and heaters on.

Low EMF vs. Ultra-Low EMF: Our Testing Benchmarks

Since there's no industry-wide EMF standard for saunas, we set clear internal thresholds based on conservative, widely referenced benchmarks. These are our own internal benchmarks, informed by the most conservative guidelines we've found in the industry — not a regulated standard.

We define low EMF as electric fields under 300 V/m and magnetic fields under 10 mG. We define ultra-low EMF as electric fields under 10 V/m and magnetic fields under 3 mG. Our Rylan saunas test at ultra-low levels for magnetic fields across every model. For electric fields, our saunas fall within the low EMF range — comparable to common household appliances at similar distances and well below the 5,000 V/m standard established by IEEE C95.6 for general public exposure.

EMF Classification	Electric Field	Magnetic Field
Low EMF	≤ 300 V/m	≤ 10 mG
Ultra-Low EMF	< 10 V/m	< 3 mG

For context: at roughly 12 inches (30 cm), a vacuum cleaner can produce magnetic fields of 20 to 200 mG, a microwave oven can produce 40 to 80 mG, and an iron produces electric fields of 120 V/m — all according to WHO appliance measurement data.

Third-Party EMF Testing Results

Vitatech Electromagnetics tested all four Backyard Discovery Rylan models independently. Here's what they found.

Every model qualifies as ultra-low for magnetic fields, well under the 3 mG threshold. Magnetic field readings across all four Rylan models ranged from 0.208 to 0.365 mG, less than 3% of the 12.57 mG testing standard our Vitatech reports measure against.

Two things matter about these numbers. First, they're consistent across every model in the Rylan collection, from the compact 1-person to the full-size 4-person corner. Our EMF performance is built into every sauna through careful wiring design to minimize magnetic fields, combined with grounding and shielding to reduce electric fields. Second, we're publishing both electric and magnetic field data so you can evaluate the full exposure, not just the metric that looks best.

How Backyard Discovery Infrared Saunas Are Built for Low EMF

Testing confirms the result, but the result starts with how the sauna is built. Every Backyard Discovery infrared sauna is engineered for low EMF from the first step of design. Three things make the difference.

Shielding. Every electrical component produces some amount of EMF. The question is whether that energy radiates freely into the space around it or stays contained close to the source. Our heating panels are wrapped with shielding material that acts as a barrier, preventing electric fields from spreading outward into the sauna interior. Without proper shielding, the field generated by a heating panel would extend much further into the space where you're sitting. With it, that energy stays close to the panel itself.

Grounding. Shielding contains the field, but that energy still needs somewhere to go. When a panel is properly grounded, the electrical charge has a safe, direct path back to ground rather than building up or radiating into the surrounding area. Each of our panels is individually grounded so that the shielding can do its job effectively.

Wiring layout. Every wire running through a sauna produces its own small electromagnetic field. If wiring runs directly behind where you sit, you'll be exposed to more EMF in that spot. We route our wiring intentionally, keeping it away from primary seating positions and distributing it in a way that minimizes magnetic field exposure throughout the interior. The wiring layout is designed around where you'll be sitting, not just the easiest path from point A to point B.

These three elements work together as a system. Removing any one of them would compromise the others. That's why our independent test results stay consistently low across every model in the Rylan collection.

ETL Safety Certification for Infrared Saunas

Beyond EMF-specific design, our infrared saunas hold ETL certification, meaning they've been independently tested and approved for electrical safety in North America. It's one of the recognized independent safety certifications used for household appliances like refrigerators and washing machines. While ETL certification doesn't specifically measure EMF, it verifies that the sauna's electrical design and construction meet recognized safety standards for residential use.

As a U.S.-based company, we hold ourselves to strict compliance standards. The saunas we submit for ETL testing are production models pulled directly from our manufacturing line — the same saunas that ship to your door. We don't submit a specially prepared "golden sample" (a unit built specifically to pass testing) for certification, because the testing should reflect what you're actually using. It's one more layer of assurance that the sauna in your home was built to perform safely.

Why EMF Shouldn't Stop You from Buying an Infrared Sauna

EMF is one of the first questions that comes up when people start researching infrared saunas. It's a fair question, and it deserves real data, not vague marketing language. We test where it actually matters, we measure both electric and magnetic fields, and we share the numbers so you can evaluate them for yourself.

When you sit down in a Backyard Discovery infrared sauna, everything we've covered here — the testing, the shielded panels, the grounded components, the intentional wiring layout — is already working quietly so you don't have to think about it. You just get to enjoy the warmth.

If you're ready to compare specific models, every Rylan sauna in our infrared collection ships free with a comprehensive 5-year warranty. Explore the Rylan sauna collection.

Want to see what the recovery research shows? Read our sauna muscle recovery guide.

Infrared Sauna EMF: Frequently Asked Questions

Are infrared saunas safe?

Yes.  Backyard Discovery infrared saunas produce EMF levels well below the testing standards the Vitatech reports measure against, with magnetic field readings less than 3% of the referenced threshold. That performance comes from three things: shielding that contains electric fields close to the panels, grounding that gives that energy a safe path to discharge, and wiring routed away from where you sit. Our saunas also hold ETL certification, one of the recognized electrical safety certifications for consumer products in North America.

What is a safe EMF level for a sauna?

There's no universal standard for safe EMF in a sauna. Our benchmarks set 'ultra-low' at under 3 mG for magnetic fields and under 10 V/m for electric fields, measured where your body actually sits. The testing standards our results are measured against, IEEE C95.6 and EN 55035, set the threshold at 12.57 mG for magnetic fields and 5,000 V/m for electric fields, both for general public and continuous exposure.

What's the difference between low EMF and ultra-low EMF?

These terms have no regulated definitions in the sauna industry. Any brand can use either label without testing to back it up. At Backyard Discovery, we define "low EMF" as magnetic fields under 10 mG and electric fields under 300 V/m, and "ultra-low EMF" as magnetic fields under 3 mG and electric fields under 10 V/m. Our Rylan saunas test at ultra-low for magnetic fields and low for electric fields across every model.

Do all infrared saunas have EMF?

Yes. Any device that uses electricity produces some level of EMF. What varies is how much and whether the manufacturer has taken steps to minimize it through shielding, grounding, and intentional wiring layout. A well-engineered infrared sauna produces far less EMF than many common household devices at comparable distances.

How does infrared sauna EMF compare to everyday devices?

Backyard Discovery infrared saunas tested between 0.208 and 0.365 mG for magnetic fields across all four Rylan models. For comparison, WHO appliance measurement data shows a vacuum cleaner at 20–200 mG and a microwave oven at 40–80 mG at the same distance. Our electric field readings ranged from 56.75 to 78.89 V/m, well below a household iron at 120 V/m and the IEEE C95.6-2002 general public exposure standard of 5,000 V/m.

Is infrared energy the same as EMF?

No. The infrared energy in a sauna, the therapeutic heat you feel, is non-ionizing and part of the electromagnetic spectrum alongside visible light. The EMF from the sauna's electrical wiring and heating panels operates at a completely different frequency range. Both are non-ionizing, but they come from different sources and behave differently. When brands discuss 'EMF concerns' in saunas, they're referring to the fields from the electrical components, not the infrared energy itself.

Can I use an infrared sauna if I have a pacemaker?

If you have a pacemaker or other implanted medical device, talk to your doctor before using any sauna. The main concern is typically heat, not EMF, because elevated temperatures raise your heart rate and put additional demand on your cardiovascular system. Your doctor knows your device and your history, and that's the conversation to have first.