A red light therapy spec sheet can look impressive and still leave out the numbers you need to compare two panels. This page is a plain checklist for reading any spec sheet, ours included, followed by exactly what we publish for the FX300 and FX500 and where we do not yet publish something. It makes no health claims; it is about what is written on the product page.
The ten point checklist
Use it as a comparison sheet. If a product page cannot answer a row, ask the seller before you buy.
| Item | What to look for | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Power | Actual power draw at the wall and the supply voltage, not only a "rated" LED total. | Is this what the unit pulls from the outlet, and at what voltage? |
| 2. Irradiance at a stated distance | A number in mW/cm2 next to a distance in inches or centimeters. More than one distance is better, because output falls as you move away. | At what distance was this figure taken, and where on the panel? |
| 3. Wavelengths | The wavelengths in nanometers and how the LEDs split between them, for example 660nm red and 850nm near infrared in a 1 to 1 ratio. | Is there a tolerance, and does the mix match the spectrum you were shown? |
| 4. Measured versus claimed | Whether the figure was measured on the actual product or taken from an LED datasheet or a design target. | Who measured it, with what instrument, and can I see the method? |
| 5. Test conditions | Distance, supply voltage, how long the unit had been on, and whether the figure is a peak at the center or an average across the face. | Was it measured warmed up, at the center or averaged? |
| 6. Size and mounting | Dimensions, weight and how the unit stands or hangs, so you know it fits your space. | Do the listed dimensions match the photos? |
| 7. Warranty | Length in years, who backs it, and how to register. | What is covered, and what do I do if something fails? |
| 8. Return window | How many days, whether opened or used items count, who pays return shipping and whether there is a restocking fee. | Can I return it opened, and who pays shipping? |
| 9. Certifications and standards | Which standards the maker says the unit is manufactured to, and whether a certificate from an independent testing laboratory exists and who issued it. Standards for electrical safety and radio emissions say nothing about whether a light does anything for you. | Can I see the certificate, or is this the maker's own declaration? |
| 10. Regulatory wording | Exact words. "FDA cleared," "FDA registered" and similar phrases mean different things, and clearance belongs to a specific device and specific uses (see the next section). | Which exact model is cleared, and for what use? |
Why distance travels with every irradiance number
Irradiance, written in mW/cm2, is how much light power lands on each square centimeter. It is highest close to the panel and drops as you move back. Our own FX300 page lists 83.5 mW/cm2 at 6 inches and 43.3 at 12 inches. Two panels can only be compared if their figures were taken at the same distance, so be wary of a headline number with no distance beside it. For definitions see our irradiance explainer and distance guide.
What FDA 510(k) clearance does and does not mean
- It is clearance, not approval. A 510(k) is a premarket notification. The FDA reviews what the maker submits and decides whether the device is substantially equivalent to a legally marketed device.
- It belongs to one device and specific uses. It does not carry over to other products from the same brand, and it does not cover uses that were not cleared.
- It is not a quality grade. It does not tell you how bright a product is or how long it lasts.
- A registered facility is not a cleared device. Those are different things. See our explainer on the difference.
- How to check. Ask for the exact device name and look it up in FDA's public device database instead of relying on a logo or a sentence in an ad. Our walkthrough is how to verify FDA claims.
- About AWA. Select devices carry FDA 510(k) clearance for specific, limited uses.
What AWA publishes for each panel
Every value below was read from the live product pages on October 16, 2026: FX300 and FX500. Rows marked "Not published" are gaps on our pages today, not hidden numbers. Where a value appeared in two places on our site with different wording, we left it out of this table.
| Spec | FX300 | FX500 |
|---|---|---|
| Wavelengths | 660nm red + 850nm near infrared, 1:1 ratio | 660nm red + 850nm near infrared, 1:1 ratio |
| LEDs | 60 LEDs (30 at 660nm, 30 at 850nm), 5W each | 60 LEDs (30 at 660nm, 30 at 850nm), 5W each |
| Rated LED power | 300W LED rated (combined LED rating) | 300W LED rated (combined LED rating) |
| Actual power draw at the wall | 84W ±5% at 110V | 85W ±5% at 110V |
| Input voltage | AC 100 to 240V | AC 100 to 240V |
| Irradiance at 6 inches | 83.5 mW/cm2 | 94 mW/cm2 |
| Irradiance at 12 inches | 43.3 mW/cm2 | 74 mW/cm2 |
| Highest irradiance published | 220 mW/cm2 at 1 inch | 220 mW/cm2 at 2 inches |
| Pulsing and dimming modes | 10, 20, 40 and 50 Hz | 10, 20, 40 and 50 Hz |
| Timer | Built in timer with preset options | Built in timer with preset options |
| Rated LED lifespan | 50,000 hours | 50,000 hours |
| Standards the page says it is manufactured to | CE-LVD, CE-EMC, FCC Part 15, RoHS | CE-LVD, CE-EMC, FCC Part 15, RoHS |
| Warranty | 2 year manufacturer warranty | 2 year manufacturer warranty |
| Return window | 60 days from delivery, free U.S. return shipping, no restocking fee | 60 days from delivery, free U.S. return shipping, no restocking fee |
| Distance stated with irradiance figures | Yes | Yes |
| Measuring instrument and method described on the product page | Not published | Not published |
| Wavelength tolerance published | Not published | Not published |
For the full distance by distance irradiance tables see our FX300 and FX500 irradiance specs, and for a side by side see FX300 versus FX500.
Using the checklist on any brand
- Print the ten rows and fill them in for each product you are considering.
- Mark every blank. A blank is information too.
- Compare irradiance only at the same distance, and compare power draw at the wall, not LED totals.
- Compare warranty length and return window in writing.
- Read the exact regulatory wording and ask which model it applies to.
How to cite this page
Suggested citation: American Wellness Authority. "How to Read a Red Light Therapy Spec Sheet: A Buyer Checklist." awarlt.com/pages/how-to-read-a-red-light-therapy-spec-sheet. Accessed October 16, 2026.
You are welcome to quote the checklist with a link back to this page. Corrections or questions: contact@awarlt.com.
General information, not medical advice.