Shopping for a light therapy bed? Start here. Our guide compares the best red light therapy beds on the market, with a look at features you need.
Red light therapy has become a hot trend for boosting health and wellness. But let’s face it, many red light therapy devices, especially top-of-the-line light beds, come with a hefty price tag.
But are premium red light beds and devices worth the cost?
If your aim is wellness, they are. The best red light therapy beds and other RLT devices offer advantages over cheap alternatives. Some of the benefits include:
- Variety of wavelengths – Can offer treatment for a wider range of conditions with greater precision.
- Medical-grade light intensity – Enables safer and more precise dosing.
- Light pulsing – Pulsed red light may offer additional therapeutic benefits and improve comfort.
- 20,000+ LEDs – More LEDs provides even light distribution over the treatment area.
This guide will help you assess top light bed options. Specifically, we focus on what red light features to look for and provide a comparison of the best red light beds available today.
What Is a Red Light Bed? What Are the Benefits?
You’ll find a variety of red light therapy devices on the market today, from wands and masks, to pads and panels. However, out of all these devices, you can get the most comprehensive treatments from a red light bed.
A red light therapy bed looks like a tanning bed, and it offers “full body” photobiomodulation light therapy treatments.
Top-rated light therapy beds consist of upper and lower LED panels that emit red and near-infrared light. During a red light therapy session, you lie down on the bed for a set amount of time, allowing the light to penetrate your skin.
Benefits of Red / Infrared Light Beds
Compared to consumer RLT products, red light therapy beds offer advantages. They include:
- Treats larger areas simultaneously: Red light beds bathe your entire body in red light, making them ideal if you want to target widespread pain, inflammation, or skin concerns.
- User convenience: Climbing into a bed for a treatment session can be simpler than maneuvering a wand or mask over your entire body.
- Wider spectrum of wavelengths: Many light beds also feature a broader spectrum of infrared light. NIR light is most useful for treating conditions like chronic pain or inflammation.
These benefits are why light beds are becoming increasingly popular in commercial facilities like medical spas and physical therapy clinics. The patient experience is like a trip to the tanning salon.
Best Red Light Therapy Beds for 2024
Hue Light USA offers a state-of-the-art red light therapy bed. Our Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Chamber is one of the best red light beds on the market today.
Here’s a look at our RLT bed and how it compares to other options:
1. Hue Light Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Chamber – (Best Photobiomodulation Bed)
Compared to other top-rated photobiomodulation beds, our Whole-Body Photobiomodulation Chamber offers some key advantages.
First, it offers a wider variety of wavelengths. This includes a full range of visible red wavelengths (effective for treating skin conditions and supporting wound healing). Plus, it’s one of the only light beds on the market to offer 530nm light, a green light wavelength. Green light is also highly effective for skin treatments, and studies suggest it’s effective for pain and migraine management.
As an infrared light bed, the Hue Light PBM chamber offers a full spectrum of NIR light, as well, including 810nm, 850nm, and 940nm infrared wavelengths. Few devices offer the 940nm light, which offers deeper penetration depth for treating deep tissue and muscle-level conditions.
Another key difference: Our red light therapy devices are equipped with variable pulse settings based on the Nogier frequencies. Pulsing red light at these specific frequencies may enhance therapeutic effects. Our devices offer continuous wavelength mode, as well.
Specs:
- Number of LEDs: 38,880
- Irradiance: 34-100 mW/cm2
- Wavelengths: 530nm, 610-633nm, 650nm, 810nm, 850nm, 940nm
- Variable pulse: 8 levels + continuous
- Smartphone/Tablet controls
- LED Warranty: 10 years
Cost:
2. Hue Light Full-Body PBM Panel – (Best Full Body RLT Panel)
Our state-of-the-art PBM panel offers a more cost-effective approach to full-body red light therapynEquipped with 21,000 LEDs (significantly more than most light therapy panels), the Full-Body Panel offers more consistent coverage for whole-body treatments.
The panel includes 5 wavelengths of red and near infrared light, variable pulse and continuous light settings. Our PBM panel is useful for clinics and spas (as it can be positioned over a massage therapy bed). Plus, it can also provide sit-down treatments.
Specs:
- Number of LEDs: 21,000
- Irradiance: 55-90 mw/cm2
- Wavelengths: 630nm, 650nm, 810nm, 850nm, 940nm
- Variable Pulse: 8 levels + continuous
- Smartphone/Tablet controls
Cost:
3. NovoTHOR
NovoTHOR is a light bed that offers red and near infrared light therapy, and it’s the only product available from the company. The bed is sleek in design. However, its range of red and NIR wavelengths is limited. There are only two settings, 630nm and 850nm. Additionally, its irradiance (light intensity) is on the lower end for red light therapy beds at just 32 mW/cm2.
Specs:
- Number of LEDs: 3600
- Irradiance: 32 mW/cm2
- Wavelengths: 630nm, 850nm
- No variable pulse
- T-Max controls / remote control
Cost:
4. Prism Light Pod
The Prism Light Pod is a commercial device with a sleek white shell. In terms of performance, it offers two wavelengths of visible red light (630nm and 650nm), and a single infrared wavelength (850nm). And its light intensity (irradiance) is on par with other systems at 100 mW/cm2.
Specs:
- Number of LEDs: 17000
- Irradiance: 100 mW/cm2
- Wavelengths: 630nm, 650nm, 850nm
- Touchscreen controls
- No variable pulse
Cost:
5. Theralight 360
Theralight markets a variety of red light beds. Overall, the 360 is their premium option, and it delivers a full spectrum of infrared wavelengths (810nm, 850nm, and 940nm). However, on the visible end of the spectrum, the device is limited; it’s equipped with just a single wavelength of red light (635nm).
Specs:
- Number of LEDs: 45000
- Irradiance: 120 mW/cm2
- Wavelengths: 635nm, 810nm, 850nm, 940nm
- Variable pulse: Yes
- Tablet and smartphone controls
Cost:
Why Does a Red Light Therapy Bed Cost So Much?
A premium commercial red light therapy bed costs $100,000+ on average. Why is that?
A main reason is that top red light therapy beds are built with medical-grade components. These aren’t just basic red LEDs; they’re premium-quality LEDs.
Why does LED quality matter?
Premium LEDs use higher-quality LED chips. These chips tend to be larger, which produce brighter and more stable light, and they have a longer lifespan. A cheaper LED’s light quality degrades faster over time.
In addition, light therapy treatments are most effective when using specific wavelengths of red light.
Premium LEDs have better color consistency, and therefore, emit a narrower range of wavelengths around the target color. This ensures a more precise wavelength profile compared to lower quality LEDs. This helps in treatment precision.
Other Light Bed Features Affecting Cost
Beyond the quality of the LED components, here are some other features that can affect the cost of a red light therapy bed:
1. Number of LEDs
The best red light beds typically include 20,000 or more premium LED lights. This helps improve consistency in full-body treatments. However, more LEDs – especially premium LEDs – typically results in a higher price.
2. Wavelengths Offered
A quality light therapy bed typically includes a range of light wavelengths, from visible red to near infrared. However, some may include green wavelengths (which may be effective for skin treatments).
The variety of wavelengths offered allows operators to provide more treatment options. This may increase cost due to more components being needed.
3. Light Intensity
The output of a red light therapy bed (measured in mW/cm²) can significantly affect price. Light intensity determines how much light energy reaches your skin or target tissue. Therefore, devices with a higher output, which is typically adjustable, allow users to properly dose, depending on the condition being treated.
4. Light Pulsing
Most red light devices only offer continuous light. However, with pulsing, the light is turned off and on, based on a specific frequency, measured in Hertz. Some studies suggest pulsed red light may offer advantages and other benefits compared to continuous light.
Additional Features
Quality red light beds also include premium features that can influence price:
- Timers: Built-in timers for safety and convenience add to the cost.
- Voice control or touchscreens: These features increase user-friendliness but can significantly affect the price.
- Warranty: Longer warranties often indicate higher quality components and better customer service, reflected in the price.
Shopping for the Best Commercial Red Light Therapy Beds
Red light therapy is in-demand in the wellness community, and it can be a powerful cash flow driver for a wide range of wellness businesses.
From physical therapy clinics to pain management and sports medicine, a red light therapy bed can be a revenue-driving investment. However, when shopping for a light bed for commercial use, follow these tips:
1. Who Are You Serving?
The best photobiomodulation bed for your business depends on:
- The services you offer, e.g. pain management and sports medicine vs. skin rejuvenation. Specific conditions require different wavelengths of red light.
- The number of clients you treat in a day. A quality device will be backed by warranty and offer support and troubleshooting. Assess the lifespan of the LEDs.
2. Do You Need a Light Bed?
Compare panels and beds. Our red light therapy panel, for example, offers full-body treatments; however, compared to our light bed, it’s more mobile and can be positioned for targeted treatments.
3. Assess Key Features
Know what to look for in a red light therapy device. However, beyond features, the best light therapy bed will also offer:
- Customization: Choose a device that allows you to adjust wavelength, irradiance, and intensity. It is even better if the device includes Bluetooth-enabled controllers, allow you to adjust remotely for your guests.
- Durability and warranty: Consider the expected usage and choose a bed built for commercial use with a good warranty.
- Ease of use and comfort: Think about how easy it is for clients to use the bed and if it provides a comfortable treatment experience.
4. Test the Device (If Possible)
Talk with sellers to test the device on your own. For example, Hue Light USA offers product demonstrations at our corporate headquarters, as well as test sessions at tradeshows and wellness conventions.
If you’d like to test our red light therapy bed (or any of our wellness devices), contact us now to schedule a demonstration.
Conclusion
Buying a red light therapy bed starts with research. First, explore the science of photobiomodulation and learn how it can benefit your or your client’s health. There are numerous potential clinic uses including:
Next, cost and features aren’t the only aspects to consider. If you’re purchasing a red light device for commercial use, you need a partner who stands behind their product, offers financing, and provides marketing support.
With Hue Light USA, you can expect all that and more! Become a partner clinic today.
Hue Light USA distributes state-of-the-art red light therapy beds to wellness businesses throughout the U.S. Contact us today for a quote or to schedule a product demonstration.
