How Much Does Red Light Therapy Cost? (And How Often Should You Go?)
Most price guides online say red light therapy costs anywhere from $25 to $200 a session. That range is real, but it is so wide it doesn't help you plan. Here are actual numbers from my studio in downtown Auburn: $25 for your first session, $45 for each session after that, or $20 to add red light before a massage.
The more useful question is what a course of sessions costs, because red light is not a one-visit treatment. Below I walk through the math, how often to go, and when buying a home device makes more sense than coming to a studio.
Try Red Light Therapy for $25
Your first full-body session at my downtown Auburn studio is $25, with no package and no pressure. Come see how your body responds before you decide anything else.
What a red light therapy session costs
National price guides like Thervo's red light therapy cost page put the average at $25 to $200 per session, and $50 to $200 for full-body treatment. Where you land in that range depends on what you're paying for.
Here is what you pay at Nurture, straight from our booking menu:
First-time introductory session: $25
Single red light session: $45
Red light add-on (20 minutes, before your massage): $20
60-minute massage + red light: $125
90-minute massage + red light: $155
We also offer session packages for people who come regularly. Ask me about current package pricing when you book.
What drives the price
Three things move the cost of a session more than anything else.
The size of the light. A handheld wand or face mask treats one small area. A full-body panel treats you head to toe in one sitting, which is why full-body sessions cost more in Thervo's guide. At Nurture you use a professional-grade, full-body LED panel.
Who runs it. A dermatology clinic pairs red light with medical treatments and prices it like a medical service. A studio like mine offers it as a stand-alone wellness session.
Whether it rides along with another visit. An add-on before a massage costs less than a stand-alone session because you are already here.
How often should you do red light therapy?
For most goals, plan on one to three sessions a week for several weeks. That is the range Cleveland Clinic gives: "one to three times a week for weeks or even months." The American Academy of Dermatology puts it plainly too: "This is not a one-and-done treatment." One study it describes gave 90 patients eight red light treatments to the face over four weeks.
I don't hand everyone the same schedule. Someone coming in for sore muscles needs something different from someone working on skin. At your first visit we talk through what you want from it, and I suggest a rhythm you can actually keep.
What a month of red light therapy actually costs
This is the part most price guides skip. At the single-session price of $45:
Once a week: about 4 sessions, or $180 a month
Twice a week: about 8 sessions, or $360 a month
Three times a week: about 12 sessions, or $540 a month
Your first month is a little lower, since the first visit is $25.
If you already see me for massage, the cheapest way to fit red light in is the $20 add-on. You get 20 minutes on the panel before your massage, which helps loosen your muscles before the hands-on work starts.
Studio sessions or a home device?
I'll be honest here, even though I run a studio. If you know you want red light two or three times a week for months, a home device can cost less over time. The AAD says home devices run from about $100 to more than $1,000. Plenty of them cost less than two months of twice-weekly studio sessions ($720).
There are two catches. The first is power: the AAD notes that "the red light that dermatologists offer is more powerful than that found in devices sold for at-home use." A small mask is not the same as lying under a full-body panel. The second is that people buy a device, use it for three weeks, and put it in a closet.
My suggestion: book one $25 session first. If you love it and want it every other day, then buy a device with confidence. If once a week feels right, studio sessions are the simpler choice.
Does insurance cover red light therapy?
Usually not. Cleveland Clinic says red light therapy "typically isn't a covered treatment" and suggests calling your insurer before you start. Plan for it as an out-of-pocket wellness expense, the same way you would a massage.
What your first session at Nurture is like
Your introductory session is $25, with no package and no pressure. You'll lie back on a treatment table under the full-body panel while the red and near-infrared light does its work, with eye protection provided. The light feels gently warm, and you're welcome to rest, meditate or just breathe. You can read more about the panel and what to expect on our red light therapy page.
If you're still deciding whether red light is worth trying at all, start with my honest look at what the research says about red light therapy.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a first red light therapy session at Nurture? $25. It is our introductory price for first-time visits, so you can see how your body responds before you commit to anything.
How many red light therapy sessions will I need? Most people need a series rather than one visit. Cleveland Clinic describes one to three sessions a week for weeks or even months. I'll suggest a schedule at your first visit based on your goals.
Can I do red light therapy every day? Most people don't need to. One to three sessions a week is the usual range, and Cleveland Clinic describes keeping that up for weeks or months. A steady rhythm you can stick with matters more than packing sessions into a few days.
Do I need to buy a package? No. You can book single sessions at $45. Packages are there for people who know they'll come regularly. Ask me about current package pricing.
Try red light therapy in Auburn
Your first session is $25. Book your red light session online, add red light to your next therapeutic massage, or call or text me at (916) 847-3289. We are at 550 High Street, Ste. 209, in downtown Auburn.
Add Red Light to Your Next Massage
Already on my table for massage? Add 20 minutes of full-body red light before your session for just $20. New to red light? Start with a $25 introductory visit.
Sheri Mueller is a certified Ayurvedic Health Counselor (California College of Ayurveda) and licensed massage therapist with 15 years of practice. She owns Nurture Massage & Wellness in Auburn, CA.
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