12 Must-Have Sauna Accessories for the Best Experience

12 Must-Have Sauna Accessories for the Best Experience

Your sauna is installed, heated up, and ready to go. But before you settle in for your first session, there are a handful of accessories that transform a good sauna experience into a great one. Some protect your health. Some protect the sauna itself. And some just make the whole thing more enjoyable.

Here's what's actually worth buying - and what you can skip.

The Essentials (Buy These First)

1. Sauna Bucket and Ladle

If you have a traditional sauna with stones, this is non-negotiable. The bucket holds water, the ladle pours it over the hot stones to create steam (loyly). Wooden buckets with a plastic liner are the standard - all-wood looks nice but eventually leaks. Stainless steel inserts last longest.

Keep the bucket on the floor near the heater, not on the bench where it can tip. Fill it before your session so the water is ready when you are.

2. Thermometer and Hygrometer

You need to know the temperature and humidity inside your sauna. A combination thermometer/hygrometer mounted at head height on the wall opposite the heater gives you the most accurate reading. Digital versions work but analog wooden models fit the aesthetic better and don't have batteries to replace.

Mount it where you can see it from the bench. Knowing the conditions lets you dial in your preferred temperature and track how long your sauna takes to heat up.

3. Sauna Towels (Dedicated Ones)

You need at least two towels per session: one to sit on and one to dry off with afterward. Sitting directly on the wood is unhygienic and stains the bench over time. Use towels made from linen or cotton that can handle repeated exposure to high heat. Don't use your nice bathroom towels - sauna towels get thrashed.

Some people use a third towel as a headrest. It makes longer sessions much more comfortable.

4. Sauna Headrest or Backrest

Flat wooden benches get uncomfortable after 15 minutes if you're lying down. A curved wooden headrest supports your neck and lets you fully relax without propping yourself up awkwardly. Backrests lean against the wall and give support when sitting upright. Cedar or aspen versions handle the heat well and don't get too hot to touch.

5. Floor Mat

The floor of a sauna gets wet, slippery, and collects sweat and grime. A dedicated sauna floor mat (wood duckboard style or heat-rated rubber) keeps you from slipping and makes the floor easier to clean. Place one inside the sauna and one just outside the door.

Strongly Recommended

6. Sauna Hat

This might look silly, but it works. Felt sauna hats insulate your head from the intense heat at ceiling level. Since heat rises, your head gets the hottest exposure - a hat lets you stay in longer without feeling overheated. This is especially useful in traditional saunas running above 180F.

7. Essential Oil Diffuser or Sauna Scent

A few drops of eucalyptus, birch, or pine essential oil in your bucket water transforms the atmosphere. The steam carries the scent throughout the sauna. Don't pour oil directly on the stones - it can leave residue. Mix it into the water first. For more details, see our sauna aromatherapy guide.

8. Timer

A sand timer (hourglass style) mounted on the wall lets you track session length without bringing electronics into the heat. 15-minute and 30-minute timers are most useful. Yes, your phone has a timer, but your phone doesn't belong in a sauna. Heat and moisture destroy electronics.

9. Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Okay, this is where we contradict ourselves slightly. While your phone shouldn't be in the sauna, a waterproof, heat-rated Bluetooth speaker placed near the door or on a lower shelf can add a lot to the experience. Look for IPX7 rating or higher. Keep it on the lower bench where temperatures are cooler. Learn more in our sauna music and speaker setup guide.

Nice to Have

10. Vihta (Birch Whisk)

Traditional Finnish sauna culture includes gently whisking yourself with a bundle of birch branches. It stimulates circulation, releases a pleasant birch aroma, and feels surprisingly good on sore muscles. Fresh vihtas are seasonal, but dried ones work after soaking in warm water.

11. Sauna Seat Cushion

A thin felt or linen seat cushion provides padding on hard benches and insulates you from direct wood contact. They're easy to wash and dry quickly. Not essential, but nice if you find wooden benches uncomfortable during longer sessions.

12. Exterior Accessories

For outdoor saunas, consider a changing bench near the door, hooks for towels and robes, and outdoor lighting for nighttime sessions. A simple wooden bench right outside the sauna door gives you a place to cool down between rounds without going back inside your house.

What You Can Skip

• Sauna suits. These trap sweat against your skin and can cause overheating. Your body sweats just fine without one.
• Expensive aromatherapy "systems." A few drops of quality essential oil in your bucket water does the same thing as a $200 diffuser.
• Phone holders for the sauna. Just leave the phone outside. The heat and moisture will damage it, and the point of a sauna session is to disconnect.

Build Your Setup

Start with the essentials and add from there based on how you use your sauna. Browse our sauna accessories collection for everything from buckets and ladles to backrests and thermometers. If you're still shopping for the sauna itself, check out our ultimate sauna buyer's guide to find the right model first.