What Size Red Light Panel Do I Need?

The honest answer is that panel size is the second question. The first is how much of your body you intend to treat in one session, and how long you are willing to stand there.

Work backwards from coverage

• One joint or one area — a knee, an elbow, a shoulder. A targeted panel is enough, and a large one is wasted money.
• Torso or back — a half-body panel. This is the most common household choice.
• Whole body — a large full-body panel used front and back, or two panels, or a bed.

A larger panel does not deliver a stronger dose. It delivers the same dose over a larger area, which means fewer repositions and shorter total session time. That is what you are buying.

The distance problem

Irradiance falls off sharply as you move away from a panel. A manufacturer quoting irradiance at 3 inches and one quoting it at 18 inches are describing very different devices, and neither figure is useful without the distance attached. Ask for irradiance at the distance you would realistically stand — which for a full-body panel is usually further back than you would expect, because you need the beam to spread far enough to cover you.

This is the practical catch with large panels: to cover your whole body you have to stand back, and standing back reduces irradiance. Check that the panel still delivers a sensible dose at the distance whole-body coverage actually requires.

Calculating session dose

Dose is irradiance multiplied by time. If a manufacturer publishes irradiance in mW/cm² at a stated distance, they can tell you how long a session needs to be to reach a given dose in J/cm². If they cannot, they either have not measured it or would rather not say.

Mounting decides whether it gets used

Decide before buying whether the panel will be wall-mounted, door-hung, or on a stand. A large panel with no mounting plan ends up leaning against a wall, at the wrong angle and the wrong height, and stops being used. Wall mounting needs fixing into structural framing, not plasterboard alone.

The red light therapy buying guide covers wavelengths, dose, thermal management, and eye safety. See also panel versus bed.

Information provided by IMPERVITA is for educational and general wellness purposes and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.