Infrared sauna

Sanctuary Duo

57 990 kr

Sanctuary Solo

47 990 kr

Ultimate Lux

57 990 kr

Hybrid Sauna

78 990 kr
SwedishCold.com Sanctuary Solo

Infrared sauna at home – turnkey IR sauna for flats and houses

How many times this month did you plan to have a sauna – and then skip it because it was too much hassle?

You are not alone. The will is there. But the gym closes, the sauna is taken and getting there takes time. In the end it does not happen – not because you do not want to, but because the threshold is too high.

That is exactly what Swedish Cold solves.

With a turnkey infrared sauna at home, every obstacle disappears. No booking. No opening hours. Ready in 10–15 minutes via the WiFi app. An IR sauna suits a flat just as well as a house – compact models take up only one square metre of floor space and need no special installation. An infrared sauna heats the body directly rather than the air, which delivers deep muscle relaxation, reduced inflammation and better sleep at just 40–60 °C.

Do not want to choose between infrared and traditional? The Hybrid Sauna combines both forms of heat in one cabin.

What is an infrared sauna – and what makes it unique?

An infrared sauna and a traditional sauna heat the body in fundamentally different ways – and it is that difference that determines the experience you get.

A traditional sauna heats the air in the room to 80–100 °C. The hot air then warms the skin and the body from the outside – an intense, rapid process.

An infrared sauna works differently. Infrared panels emit radiation that penetrates 3–4 centimetres below the skin and heats muscle tissue directly – without the air temperature needing to exceed 40–60 °C. It is the same principle as feeling the direct warmth of the sun on your skin, only controlled and in the right wavelengths.

Swedish Cold's saunas use full spectrum infrared heat that combines near infrared (NIR), mid infrared (MIR) and far infrared (FIR). The different wavelengths penetrate the skin to different depths – NIR reaches deepest into the tissue, FIR gives a warmth you feel closer to the surface. The result is a complete, even heat that reaches the muscles from within.

What makes an infrared sauna unique is the combination of deep heat, lower air temperature and fast warm-up. You can sit for longer, breathe more easily and use it daily – without it feeling overwhelming.

What happens in the body in an infrared sauna?

The body starts to react in the very first minutes in an IR sauna. Infrared radiation is absorbed by the skin and the tissue, which triggers a controlled physiological response:

  • The blood vessels dilate. Increased blood circulation carries oxygen and nutrients to muscles and tissue – and takes waste products and lactic acid back with it.
  • The heart increases its capacity. Heart rate rises to 100–120 beats per minute, comparable to a light to moderate cardio session. The cardiovascular system is exercised without mechanical load on the joints.
  • Sweating begins. Sweating in an infrared sauna is deeper and more gradual than in a traditional sauna. The body begins to clear out metabolites, heavy metals and waste products through the skin.
  • Stress hormones fall. Cortisol drops noticeably during the session itself. The parasympathetic nervous system is activated – the "rest and recovery" mode that counteracts chronic stress.
  • Endorphins and serotonin rise. A single session increases endorphin levels by up to 210% and serotonin levels by 18%. That explains the well-known feeling of calm and wellbeing afterwards.
  • Muscles soften and recover. IR heat penetrates directly into muscle tissue and breaks up tension, reduces inflammation and accelerates recovery after training.

Infrared sauna health effects – the benefits the research shows

  • Muscle recovery – IR radiation penetrates 3–4 cm into muscle tissue and increases blood flow locally. CRP – one of the most important markers of inflammation – falls by 28–30% after 3 weeks of regular use.
  • Mental health – UCSF study: 86% of participants with clinical depression no longer met the diagnostic criteria after infrared heat therapy. Cortisol falls by 24% with 3 sessions a week for 8 weeks.
  • Better sleep – If you use the sauna 1–2 hours before bed, your core temperature drops afterwards, which signals to the brain that it is time to sleep. Deep sleep improves measurably.
  • Weight control and metabolism – A single 30-minute session burns 300–600 kcal through increased heart rate and sweating – comparable to a moderate cardio session.
  • Cardiovascular health – Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine (2025) highlights infrared heat therapy as a promising treatment. Heart rate rises to 100–120 beats a minute during a session.
  • Skin health and red light – The red light panel (600–850 nm) stimulates collagen production and cellular recovery. Regular sweating cleanses the pores and increases blood flow to the skin.

Getting started with an infrared sauna – step by step

There are no complicated rules for an infrared sauna. But those who get the most out of it follow a simple protocol from the start:

  1. Open the app and pre-heat the sauna. Set it to 45–50 °C and start it 10–15 minutes before you are ready. With WiFi control you can do it as you finish training or leave work.
  2. Start gently. Beginners: 15 minutes at 40–50 °C. Build up gradually to 20–30 minutes at 55–60 °C over the first few weeks. The body needs to adapt.
  3. Step in – relax. Put on your playlist via Bluetooth, set the RGB lighting to suit your mood and let the heat do the work. You do not need to do anything else.
  4. Drink water before and after. You sweat more than you think – often 0.3–0.6 litres in 30 minutes. Drink 300–500 ml before the session and replace fluid gradually afterwards.
  5. Step out and cool down. A cold shower or a cold plunge after the session strengthens the effect considerably. Dopamine and noradrenaline shoot up. Always finish cold if you combine it with an ice bath.
  6. Repeat regularly. Aim for 3–5 sessions a week. Daily use is safe. The strongest health effects – reduced inflammation, better sleep, lower stress – appear after 2–4 weeks of consistent use.

Safety: Step out if you feel dizzy, nauseous or extremely tired. If you have heart problems, are pregnant or take medication, you should consult a doctor before you start.

Nordic sauna tradition in premium quality

Sauna culture is not a trend. It is part of our history – a thousand years of Nordic wisdom about heat, recovery and wellbeing now meeting modern technology.

Swedish Cold is a Scandinavian premium brand whose goal is to become Europe's leading player in recovery and wellness at home. We build every product to one requirement: it must meet a professional standard, be delivered turnkey and last for decades.

Canadian hemlock. Full spectrum infrared heat. Bluetooth speakers. RGB lighting. WiFi control. Red light panel. Integrated red light therapy. These are not accessories – they are standard.

And if you want the complete Nordic experience – heat, cold, heat – combine the IR sauna with a Swedish Cold ice bath. The same protocol that Sheraton, Strawberry Hotels and leading wellness facilities offer their guests. At home, on your terms, whenever you like.

The sauna is waiting. All you have to do is step in.

Frequently asked questions about infrared saunas

Yes – it is in fact one of the biggest advantages of an infrared sauna over a traditional one. The Sanctuary Solo takes up only 1,020×1,020 mm of floor space and fits into most bedrooms, bathrooms or home gyms. It needs only a standard socket, no special ventilation and no building work. It is delivered turnkey and is ready to use straight away.

What sets an infrared sauna apart from a traditional one is not that the effects are better – they are different. An infrared sauna is gentler, more accessible for daily use and gives particularly strong effects on muscle recovery and mental health.

A traditional sauna heats the air to 80–100 °C and the body is warmed by that hot air. An infrared sauna heats the body directly through radiation at an air temperature of 40–60 °C. IR gives deeper muscle warming, is more accessible for daily use and is ready in 10–15 minutes. A traditional sauna gives the classic Nordic sauna feeling with löyly and steam.

An infrared sauna is particularly effective for muscle recovery and pain relief, stress reduction and better sleep, reduced inflammation (CRP falls by 28–30% with regular use), cardiovascular health and mental health. A UCSF study showed 86% remission in clinical depression. Unlike a traditional sauna, the effects on pain and mental health are particularly well studied.

20–30 minutes per session is optimal for most people. Beginners start with 10–15 minutes at a lower temperature (40–50 °C) and increase gradually. The lower temperature of an IR sauna – 40–60 °C – makes it possible to sit for longer than in a traditional sauna without it becoming overwhelming.

The Hybrid Sauna is Swedish Cold's most versatile model – a free-standing indoor sauna for 4–6 people that combines a 6 kW Harvia heater with full spectrum infrared heat in the same cabin. Yes, you can run it as a pure infrared sauna – or as a pure traditional sauna with löyly – or both at the same time. The Hybrid Sauna comes in three versions: combi, infrared only and traditional only. It measures 1,800×1,800×1,950 mm and has RGB lighting, a red light panel, Bluetooth and a touch panel.

Start with 2–3 times a week and build up to 3–5 sessions a week for optimal health effects. Daily use is safe for healthy adults thanks to the lower temperature. The strongest results – reduced inflammation and improved sleep quality – appear with 4+ sessions a week for at least 3–4 weeks.

Swedish Cold's infrared models – Sanctuary Solo, Sanctuary Duo and Hybrid Sauna – are designed for indoor use. If you want an outdoor sauna, we recommend Grand Escape, our traditional outdoor sauna in carbonised white pine built for the Nordic climate all year round.

Yes. Swedish Cold offers leasing with a fixed monthly cost as well as financing arrangements. Contact us for current terms and arrangements.

A 1-year warranty is included as standard on all products, with the option to extend it up to 5 years. Swedish Cold is still here after delivery with full service, spare parts and support. Delivery time is 12–14 weeks. Express delivery is available for a fee.