Red light therapy has become a popular wellness treatment offered by many clinics and spas, utilizing therapeutic red and near-infrared light to promote healing, reduce inflammation, and improve skin health. Clinics looking to incorporate red light therapy face an important choice between investing in a full-body red light therapy bed or targeted red light therapy panels. Selecting the right device impacts treatment efficiency, client experience, and business return on investment.
In this article, we compare red light therapy beds and panels to help health and wellness clinics decide which device suits their specific needs best.
What Are Red Light Therapy Beds and Panels?
Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to stimulate cellular energy production by targeting the mitochondria. This non-invasive treatment enhances cell function, supports tissue repair, reduces inflammation, and promotes overall wellness—without the risks associated with UV exposure.
Red light therapy beds are large, spa-grade devices designed for full-body treatment, where clients lie down inside a shell that emits red and near-infrared light evenly around their body. These beds typically use specific wavelengths in the 630-670nm range for red light and 810-910nm for near-infrared light, providing comprehensive light exposure for cellular repair and wellness benefits.
In contrast, red light therapy panels are compact devices that emit the same therapeutic wavelengths but focus on localized treatment for specific body parts. Panels can be handheld, wall-mounted, or arranged in large formats, but generally require clients to reposition or stand/sit during treatment sessions to target different areas.
Treatment Coverage and Client Experience
A major advantage of red light therapy beds is their ability to deliver 360-degree, full-body therapy in one session. Clients benefit from a hands-free, relaxing experience reminiscent of a spa or tanning bed, usually with treatment times between 8 and 15 minutes.
Red light panels, on the other hand, provide more targeted therapy, often requiring sessions lasting 20 to 40 minutes for effective treatment of single or multiple areas. Panels necessitate some client movement or staff assistance to reposition either the panels or the client, which can make sessions more active and longer but allows for focused treatment of problem areas like joints or skin concerns.
Operational Considerations
From a practical perspective, red light therapy beds demand dedicated treatment rooms due to their large physical footprint and often require upgraded electrical infrastructure (usually 220V circuits) to power their high-intensity LEDs. This can involve significant installation and maintenance commitments.
Panels are more flexible and portable, easily fitting into smaller spaces and operating on standard 120V outlets. They allow clinics to customize configurations by connecting multiple panels to cover broader areas as needed, making them adaptable for clinics with limited space or multiple treatment rooms.
Cost and Return on Investment (ROI)
Cost is a critical factor when choosing between beds and panels. Red light therapy beds are premium investments, typically costing tens of thousands up to $60,000 or more, reflecting their full-body design and spa-level experience. Panels are far more affordable, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars each, allowing smaller clinics or startups to build modular setups tailored to their budget and client needs.
While red light beds offer faster, whole-body treatments that can increase client throughput, panels provide cost-effective flexibility and scalability, which can also yield strong ROI when aligned with clinic offerings and clientele.
Treatment Efficacy and Application
Red light therapy beds are well-suited for clients seeking systemic and full-body benefits, such as overall wellness, muscle recovery, and reducing whole-body inflammation due to their consistent wavelength and light delivery. Panels excel at targeted treatments, especially for skin health, joint-specific pain, or facial rejuvenation, as they often deliver higher light irradiance per square centimeter, allowing more concentrated energy to penetrate desired areas.
Advanced red light panels may include pulsating light functions that some studies suggest could enhance cellular response. The choice between bed and panel ultimately depends on the clinic’s treatment focus and client demand.
Pros and Cons
Red Light Therapy Beds offer unparalleled comfort, ease of use, and whole-body coverage with shorter session times, making them ideal for wellness centers or spas focused on premium client experiences. However, they require substantial space, higher capital investment, and ongoing maintenance.
Red Light Therapy Panels provide affordability, flexibility, portability, and higher light intensity for targeted therapy, suitable for clinics focusing on localized treatment or those with budget and space constraints. Drawbacks include longer treatment times and the need for client or staff repositioning during sessions.
Which Option Is Better for Different Clinic Types?
Wellness centers and high-end spas with sufficient space and budget often benefit most from red light therapy beds due to their fast, full-body treatments and luxurious client experience.
Clinics specializing in aesthetics, pain management, or those operating in multipurpose or smaller spaces might find red light therapy panels a more practical and versatile choice.
The decision depends on treatment goals, clinic environment, clientele preferences, and financial considerations.
Final Thoughts from Innergy Development
Choosing the right red light therapy device for a clinic depends on individual needs and budget: medical-grade therapy beds are ideal for full-body treatments and high client flow, while panels provide flexible, targeted therapy at a lower initial cost. Evaluating clinical evidence, consulting with manufacturers, and tailoring your choice to your clinic’s specific requirements ensures the best therapeutic and business outcomes.
Innergy Development offers the INNER Light LED Bed, a cutting-edge, medical-grade red light therapy solution featuring 14,400 high-intensity LEDs. Designed for full-body treatment, it uses targeted frequencies to boost cellular energy, reduce inflammation, and support healing from pain, skin issues, and more. Ideal for clinics seeking advanced, non-invasive therapy, this bed blends science, comfort, and holistic care in one powerful device.