Clearlight Sanctuary vs Premier: Which Infrared Sauna Should You Buy?

If you've narrowed your infrared sauna search down to Clearlight, you're already past the hard part. The remaining decision — Sanctuary or Premier — is the question we get most often as an authorized Clearlight dealer, and almost every buyer arrives with the same confusion: the marketing copy makes Sanctuary sound like the obvious choice, but Premier is the model most independent reviewers actually recommend. This guide breaks down exactly where the two lines differ, where they don't, and which one fits your budget, electrical setup, and wellness goals.

The core difference: full spectrum vs far infrared

Every Clearlight sauna uses the same patented True Wave carbon-ceramic heater technology, independently tested for near-zero EMF and ELF levels. What separates the two lines is which wavelengths of infrared those heaters produce.

The Premier series is far infrared only. Far infrared is the deepest-penetrating wavelength range (roughly 6 to 14 microns), and it's the wavelength most of the research on infrared sauna benefits has actually studied. Far infrared is what makes you sweat, raises core body temperature, and drives the cardiovascular response that most buyers are after.

The Sanctuary series is true full-spectrum infrared. In addition to the far infrared panels lining the walls, every Sanctuary includes dedicated True Wave Full Spectrum heaters on the front wall that emit near infrared (700 to 1400nm) and mid infrared (1400 to 3000nm) on top of the standard far infrared. Near infrared is the wavelength associated with photobiomodulation research — cellular energy, skin effects, and wound-healing pathways. Mid infrared sits between the two.

If your goal is straightforward — deep sweat, cardiovascular benefit, relaxation, recovery — Premier's far infrared covers the research-backed use cases. If you specifically want near infrared exposure alongside your sauna sessions (for skin, or because you've read the photobiomodulation research and want it integrated rather than added via a separate red light tower), Sanctuary is the only way to get that natively in a Clearlight cabin.

Sanctuary vs Premier at a glance

Here's the comparison most buyers want before they go deeper:

The table makes the tradeoff clear: Sanctuary gives you the technology ceiling (full spectrum, Medical Grade Chromotherapy, glass roof, wheelchair-accessible option) at a higher price and generally more demanding electrical. Premier gives you the same heater tech, the same wood, the same lifetime warranty — but stops at far infrared, runs on 120V across the board, and costs less.

Sanctuary models, dimensions, and electrical

Six indoor Sanctuary models cover everything from a single-person unit in a bathroom corner to a five-person cabin in a home gym. Dimensions and electrical requirements below are pulled directly from the Clearlight spec sheets we keep on file as an authorized dealer.

A few things worth knowing about the Sanctuary lineup specifically:

The Sanctuary 2 is the best-selling model for a reason. It fits comfortably in a finished basement, a garage corner, or a spare bedroom, seats two adults, and still runs on 120V — just a dedicated 20-amp circuit rather than the 15-amp standard. It's the entry point to full-spectrum for anyone who doesn't want to hire an electrician to run a new 240V line.

The Sanctuary Retreat is a category of one. It's the only wheelchair-accessible infrared sauna Clearlight makes — low-entry threshold, wider interior, and 85.5 inches of headroom that accommodates taller users standing upright. It's the model we recommend for older buyers, anyone with mobility limitations, or households where aging in place is part of the planning.

The Sanctuary C is the only corner configuration in the indoor Sanctuary lineup. If you're working with a room where an entire wall isn't available but two walls meeting at a right angle are, the C is purpose-built for that footprint. It seats four comfortably and runs on 240V like the rest of the larger Sanctuaries.

Every Sanctuary also supports an optional Smart Device Control add-on for smartphone-based remote operation — pre-heat the cabin from your phone, schedule sessions, and control chromotherapy remotely. It's a standard add-on across the Sanctuary line regardless of model.

If you want to see the outdoor-rated Sanctuary variants (Outdoor 2 and Outdoor 5) — same full-spectrum heating with Cedartec exterior siding rated for four-season use — browse the Clearlight outdoor collection separately. This guide focuses on the indoor lineup where the Sanctuary vs Premier decision actually happens.

Premier models, dimensions, and electrical

Three Premier models cover one, two, and three-person sizing. Every Premier runs on 120V — no dedicated 240V circuit required for any model in the line.

The practical implication: every Premier model except the IS-3 plugs into a standard household outlet. The IS-3 needs a dedicated 20-amp circuit, but that's a far easier ask of your electrician than a new 240V line — most panels have room for one more 20-amp breaker without upgrading the service.

Premier also includes the same True Wave carbon-ceramic far infrared heaters as the Sanctuary. The heating element technology — low EMF, tested emissivity, carbon-ceramic construction — is identical. What you give up moving down from Sanctuary is the full-spectrum front-wall panels, the 96-LED Medical Grade Chromotherapy, and the glass roof. You do not give up heater quality, wood quality, or warranty coverage.

Electrical planning: 120V vs 240V

Electrical is the single most underestimated cost in a Clearlight purchase. The sauna itself is the big-ticket line item, but the electrical work — if your panel isn't already configured for it — can add meaningful expense and scheduling delay.

Here's the simple rule:

This is why the Sanctuary 2 is such a popular middle-ground choice: it's still full-spectrum, it still comes with Medical Grade Chromotherapy and the glass roof, but it runs on 120V. Buyers who want the Sanctuary experience without the 240V electrical bill gravitate to the Sanctuary 2 for exactly this reason.

For a broader breakdown of what running an infrared sauna actually costs month-to-month — heater wattage, session length, local electricity rates — we've published a separate guide on how much it costs to run a home sauna.

When Premier is the smarter buy

Most content written by dealers pushes you toward Sanctuary because Sanctuary has higher margins and more features to talk about. We carry both lines and have no reason to push either one — so here's the honest answer on when Premier is the better choice:

Sanctuary is the better fit if you specifically want near infrared exposure integrated into the sauna itself, you want the Medical Grade Chromotherapy standard, the glass roof aesthetic matters to you, or you need the wheelchair-accessible Retreat model. If you're buying a 3+ person sauna anyway — where 240V is already required for either line — the jump up to Sanctuary is often a smaller relative cost than buyers expect, and worth pricing before deciding.

Chromotherapy, wood, and warranty details

Beyond infrared wavelengths and electrical requirements, three more specs get asked about repeatedly:

Chromotherapy lighting. Every Sanctuary includes Clearlight's Medical Grade Chromotherapy system as standard — 96 LEDs, 12 colors, programmable, integrated into the sauna ceiling and controlled from the main sauna control panel. Every Premier includes the standard 15-LED, 6-color chromotherapy. Premier buyers who want the Medical Grade system can add it as a factory-only upgrade at order time — the LED housing, wiring, and control integration are built into the sauna during manufacturing and cannot be added later as a retrofit. Chromotherapy itself is a wellness add-on rather than a clinically established therapy; we position it as programmable ambient lighting that lets you match the mood of your session, not as a medical treatment.

Wood options. Both lines offer Eco-Certified Mahogany (darker, richer grain, slightly premium) or Basswood (lighter, traditional Scandinavian look, more neutral). The wood is FSC-certified — Clearlight publishes the chain-of-custody documentation. Both species are appropriate for sauna use, dimensionally stable in heat cycles, and hold their finish well over years of sessions.

Warranty. Identical on both lines — lifetime residential, 5-year commercial. The warranty covers the entire sauna — structure, heaters, electronics, and control system. It doesn't cover wear-and-error damage like water rings from wet towels, cosmetic marks, or modifications. As an authorized Clearlight dealer, we handle warranty claims directly through the factory — you don't have to navigate a call center yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Or browse the full Clearlight indoor sauna lineup

Clearlight, Clearlight Infrared, True Wave, Sanctuary and Premier are registered trademarks of Sauna Works, Inc., dba Clearlight Infrared. Sauna Republic is an authorized Clearlight dealer. This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Clearlight wellness devices are FDA registered; they are not FDA approved as medical devices and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease.