Soft coal is characterized by low strength and weak bonds, which play a key role in the occurrence and development of dynamic disasters. A more thorough understanding of the failure mechanics and infrared radiation characteristics of soft coal at various moisture contents is needed. In this study, infrared radiation experiments were conducted for soft coal at various moisture contents. The results indicate that moisture content affects compressive strength and elastic modulus of soft coal with compressive strength and elastic modulus being highest at moderate. Moisture has a substantial influence on the infrared radiation of compressed coal samples. Soft coals with high moisture contents show a smaller fluctuation of the average infrared radiation temperature curve and a stronger direct relationship of temperature and stress in the linear elastic stage. The coal samples with various moisture contents show a warming trend during loading. The increased amplitude of infrared radiation temperature per unit stress shows a linear relationship with moisture content. A large number of high temperature red spots appear along the diagonal line of coal samples with 0% moisture content before fracture, while changes in the infrared thermal image of the coal sample with 4% moisture content were negligible during loading.