There are several different types of infrared heaters used in saunas. So home saunas differ by material of which the heater’s surface is made, thus, this might be ceramic or carbon heaters used.

Ceramic heater elements have lately appeared as the leading technology in the infrared sauna industry due to the fact that they are extremely efficient at radiating Infrared Heat. Indeed, ceramic heaters are the most popular type of heaters, as it provides high emissivity (degree with which material can emit electromagnetic waves), plus add that ceramic is durable, and can have large surface area. These facts result in having lower temperatures and more efficient energy use. However, they are more fragile in comparison with other types of heaters, so additional precautions must be taken when transporting such heaters. Ceramic infrared heaters have the same beneficial effect of useful energy as the sun but without the harmful ultraviolet rays of natural sunlight.

Carbon heaters, on the other hand, are less common type of heaters. These heaters are usually made as thin (about 1mm) carbon plate or film, sometimes enclosed in fiberglass. Carbon heaters are flexible and less fragile than ceramic infrared heaters and have largest surface area than other types. Nevertheless, carbon heaters also have high emissivity.

Nevertheless it should be noticed that in a quality made heater, this is not material that matters much. The thing that is more important as characteristics are surface area and volume of the heater.

Thus, flat ceramic heaters have slower warm-up position, larger surface area, as well as lower temperature and emit rays closer to far-infrared.

And flat thin carbon heaters have fast warm-up, largest surface area, lower temperature and emit rays closer to far-infrared.