Red light panel numbers explained: why "170 mW/cm²" can mean 57
Red light panels are sold on one big number: irradiance, in milliwatts per square centimetre. But brands measure it in different ways, so the numbers often can't be compared.
A real example
Mito Red Light's product page lists the MitoPRO 1500+ at 170 mW/cm² at 6 inches. On its own testing page, Mito explains this is a solar-meter reading. The independent lab it hired (LightLab International, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited) measured 56.8 mW/cm² on average and 68.2 peak at the same distance (report LLIA002765-004, Sept 2025). Source
For the Joovv Solo 3.0, the brand states "more than 100 mW/cm²" without a distance. An independent database lists a LightLab measurement of 72.4 peak / 59.2 average mW/cm² at 6 inches. Source
How to compare panels fairly
- Ask for the distance. A number without a distance means little.
- Ask how it was measured. A lab spectroradiometer report beats a handheld solar meter.
- Compare average, not just peak. Peak is the brightest spot; average is what most of the area gets.
- Check safety listings (ETL/UL in the US, CE in the EU) in the certifier's own directory, not just the brand's logo.
We don't make claims about what red light does for your health. This guide is only about reading the specs.