SaunaBox Pulse PRO vs HoMedics Premium Steam Sauna
HoMedics steam sauna or Pulse PRO? Only one has red light built in.
The HoMedics Premium Steam Sauna is $349.99, and its red light wands are another $249.99. The Pulse PRO is with 320 red and near-infrared LEDs, up to 160°F of dry infrared heat and no water tank, all in one box.
Up to 160°F infrared heat
660 + 850nm red light built in
No water to fill or empty
1-Year Limited Warranty · 30-day return guarantee · HSA/FSA may be eligible through TrueMed
The short answer
If you want red light with your heat, the Pulse PRO is the better buy. It reaches up to 160°F against the HoMedics' 135°F, the 660nm + 850nm light is built into the tent, and there is no steamer to fill. Add HoMedics' red light wands and its setup is $599.98 at list price, £599.98 more than the Pulse PRO.
Tested and certified
What the Pulse PRO is certified for
Red light made in an FDA-registered facility. The Pulse PRO's medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light is produced to strict manufacturing standards.
ThermoCell® panels, ultra-low EMF certified by Intertek. The Pulse PRO's 6 ThermoCell® infrared panels are certified ultra-low EMF under the IEC 62233 standard by Intertek, a globally accredited third-party lab.
Certified cover, PFAS-free fabric. An OEKO-TEX® certified insulated cover, and sauna fabric independently tested and certified PFAS-free.
Key differences
Three numbers that decide it.
Max heat on the Pulse PRO (varies by environment). HoMedics lists up to 135°F for its Premium Steam Sauna.
660nm red + 850nm near-infrared, built in. HoMedics sells its wands separately and does not publish an LED count.
Water to fill. The Pulse PRO is dry infrared heat. The HoMedics steamer runs on a 1.8 L tank.
Side by side
Two portable saunas, two kinds of heat.
SaunaBox Pulse PRO
- Up to 160°F ThermoCell infrared heat
- Integrated 660nm + 850nm red light, 320 LEDs
Stool, SweatLock floor mat, Bluetooth controller and carrying case included
110V outlet
No tools
Ultra low EMF
HSA / FSA
HoMedics Premium Steam Sauna
- Warms up to 135°F with 100% humidity
- 1.8 L steamer tank, up to 60 minutes of heat therapy
- Kit includes steam generator, folding chair, tent with support frames and storage bag
Steam tent
1,000W steamer
Up to 60 min sessions
The numbers
Spec by spec.
| Spec | SaunaBox Pulse PRO | HoMedics Premium Steam Sauna |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Sep 14, 2026) | $349.99 sauna. Dual Red Light Wands $249.99 extra. Bundle listed at $499.99 (was $599.99) | |
| Heat type | Dry infrared, 6 ThermoCell panels | Steam, 100% humidity |
| Max temperature | Up to 160°F (varies by environment) | Up to 135°F (bundle page says 130°F) |
| Red light | Built in: 660nm + 850nm, 320 LEDs, 63.19 mW/cm² at surface | Sold separately: 2 wands, 660nm + 850nm, LED count not published |
| Water | None | 1.8 L steamer tank |
| Power | 110V, 1600W | 1000 W steamer (voltage not published) |
| Session length | Not published | Up to 60 minutes. Steam-ready in 10-15 minutes |
| Footprint | 36" x 36" x 68" | Not published |
| Max user height | Up to 7'1" | Not published |
| Fabric | OEKO-TEX certified cover, fabric independently tested PFAS-free, MylarMax reflective liner | Heat-locking fabric, moisturelock waterproof floor. No certifications listed |
| EMF | Ultra-low EMF, Intertek IEC 62233 verified | Wands listed as ultra-low EMF. Sauna not published |
| Assembly | 15 minutes, no tools | Not published |
| In the box | Tent, 6 panels, red light panel, Bluetooth controller, wood stool, SweatLock floor mat, carrying case + cords | Steam generator, folding chair, tent with support frames, storage bag |
| Warranty | 1-Year Limited Warranty | Not published (30-day guarantee listed) |
HoMedics figures come from homedics.com product pages and product images, retrieved September 14, 2026. "Not published" means we could not find the number on their site.
Steam or infrared: which heat are you buying?
The HoMedics Premium Steam Sauna is a steam tent. A 1.8 L steamer fills it with vapor and warms it up to 135°F at 100% humidity.
The Pulse PRO is an infrared sauna. Six ThermoCell panels give off radiant heat that warms your body directly, and the tent reaches up to 160°F of dry heat.
That also means no tank to fill before a session and no water to empty after one. You zip in, set the heat on the Bluetooth remote, and sit down.
If you love wet, humid heat, steam is a fair choice. If you want the hotter, drier session, the numbers point to the Pulse PRO.
What does built-in red light change?
Both brands use the same two wavelengths: 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared. The difference is how you get them.
On the Pulse PRO, the light is part of the tent. 320 LEDs across two integrated panels, rated at 63.19 mW/cm² at the surface, running while you heat.
HoMedics sells its Dual Red Light Wands separately for $249.99. They clip to the sauna frame or you hold them, with a 30-minute auto shutoff. HoMedics does not publish an LED count.
What does get you over $599.98?
At list price, the HoMedics sauna plus wands is $599.98. The Pulse PRO is , so the real gap is £599.98, not $349.
For that difference you get 25°F more maximum heat, an OEKO-TEX certified cover, fabric independently tested PFAS-free, and low EMF verified by Intertek to IEC 62233.
You also get a published 1-Year Limited Warranty, room for users up to 7'1", and a wood stool, SweatLock floor mat and carrying case in the box.
The Pulse PRO may also be eligible for HSA/FSA through TrueMed.
Straight answer
Where each one comes out ahead.
Where the Pulse PRO wins
- Up to 160°F, against 135°F on the HoMedics
- 660nm + 850nm red light built in, 320 LEDs
- Dry infrared heat, no water tank to fill or empty
OEKO-TEX cover, PFAS-free tested fabric, Intertek IEC 62233 low EMF
Published 1-Year Limited Warranty and room for users up to 7'1"
Where the HoMedics wins
Lower entry price: $349.99 for the steam sauna alone- A sauna plus wands bundle listed at $499.99 on September 14, 2026
- True steam at 100% humidity, if wet heat is what you want
- The red light wands can also be used on their own, outside the sauna
What reviewers said
What the press said about SaunaBox.
"We tested nearly all portable saunas on the market - SaunaBox was by far the winner"
Men's Journal"Best affordable at-home sauna winner in the 2024 Gadget Awards"
Esquire"We were blown away by the effectiveness of this compact SaunaBox"
Muscle & FitnessSaunaBox Pulse PRO
Heat and red light, in one box.
Portable infrared sauna tent with 6 ThermoCell infrared panels
Integrated 660nm-850nm red light panel (320 LEDs)
Bluetooth controller- Foldable wood stool and SweatLock floor mat
- Carrying case + cords
- 1-Year Limited Warranty and 30-day return guarantee
Questions
Pulse PRO vs HoMedics, answered.
Is the Pulse PRO hotter than the HoMedics Premium Steam Sauna?
Yes. The Pulse PRO reaches up to 160°F (varies by environment). HoMedics lists its Premium Steam Sauna as warming up to 135°F with 100% humidity, and its sauna plus wands bundle page lists up to 130°F.
Does the HoMedics Premium Steam Sauna have red light built in?
No. HoMedics sells Dual Red Light Wands (660nm + 850nm) separately for $249.99. The Pulse PRO has 660nm + 850nm red light built into the tent, with 320 LEDs.
Which one costs less?
The HoMedics does. The Premium Steam Sauna alone is $349.99. With the Dual Red Light Wands it is $599.98 at list price, and HoMedics listed a sauna plus wands bundle at $499.99 on September 14, 2026. The Pulse PRO is with red light included.
Do I need water for the Pulse PRO?
No. The Pulse PRO uses dry infrared heat from 6 ThermoCell panels, so there is no tank to fill or empty. The HoMedics Premium Steam Sauna runs on a 1.8 L steamer tank.
How long does the Pulse PRO take to set up, and how much space does it need?
About 15 minutes, no tools. It measures 36" x 36" x 68" and fits users up to 7'1". HoMedics does not publish dimensions or assembly time on its product page.
What warranty comes with each?
The Pulse PRO comes with a 1-Year Limited Warranty and a 30-day return guarantee. The HoMedics product page lists a 30-day guarantee and does not state a warranty length.
Can I use HSA or FSA funds for the Pulse PRO?
The Pulse PRO may be eligible through TrueMed.
Where these numbers come from
Every HoMedics figure on this page comes from HoMedics' own website. SaunaBox figures come from the live Pulse PRO product page. All prices were checked on September 14, 2026 and may change.
- https://saunabox.com/products/pulse-pro-portable-ir-sauna-with-redlights
SaunaBox Pulse PRO product page and .js product data (price, specs, warranty, certifications, included items, press quotes). Retrieved September 14, 2026. - https://www.homedics.com/products/homedics-premium-steam-sauna
HoMedics Premium Steam Sauna product page, product data and product images (price, 135°F, 100% humidity, 1.8 L tank, 1000 W, 60 minutes, 10-15 minute steam-ready, kit contents, fabric, 30-day guarantee). Retrieved September 14, 2026. - https://www.homedics.com/products/premium-steam-sauna-dual-red-light-wands-add-on
HoMedics Dual Red Light Wands for Sauna product page and images (price, 660nm + 850nm, 30-minute auto shutoff, IP65, ultra-low EMF, sold separately). Retrieved September 14, 2026. - https://www.homedics.com/products/hme-fathers-day
HoMedics Premium Steam Sauna + Dual Red Light Wands bundle page ($499.99, was $599.99, up to 130°F). Retrieved September 14, 2026. - https://www.homedics.com/collections/sauna
HoMedics sauna collection (confirms the lineup: Premium Steam Sauna, SaunaZen and Portable Steam Sauna, all steam). Retrieved September 14, 2026.