Sauna Accessories Guide
Sauna Accessories: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to finish, enjoy and care for your sauna, picked by the Cedar Sense team in Waubun, Minnesota. Start with the essentials below, then jump to any category.
The essentials checklist
New sauna? These are the pieces most owners use every session.
| Bucket and ladle | Pour water on the stones to make steam |
|---|---|
| Sauna stones | Hold the heat and make the steam. Check if your heater includes them |
| Thermometer | Know when the room is ready |
| Sand timer | Time your rounds without a phone |
| Sauna hat | Keeps your head cooler so you stay in longer |
| Headrest or backrest | Makes long sessions comfortable |
| Wood care | Cleaner and oil keep benches looking new |
Starter kits
Buying your first sauna? A kit is the easiest way to get everything at once. Most include a bucket, ladle, thermometer and sand timer, and some add a headrest.
- Matching pieces that look good together
- Usually costs less than buying each piece
- Great as a housewarming or sauna-delivery gift
SaunaLife Essentials Set 2 | Sauna Bucket Ladle, Thermometer, and Sand Timer
Complete your sauna setup with theSaunaLife Essentials Set 2.
This coordinated collection of
home sauna accessories includes a powder-coated aluminum bucket, bamboo-handled ladle, cedar sand timer, and matching sauna thermometer.
- 1-gallon aluminum sauna bucket
- Long bamboo-and-aluminum sauna ladle
- Western red cedar 15-minute sand timer
- Sauna thermometer with Fahrenheit and Celsius readings
- Available in white or black
The ladle can rest across the bucket or slide through its side openings to serve as a convenient carrying handle.
Buckets and ladles
You need a bucket and ladle to pour water on the stones and make steam (löyly). Wood looks traditional, aluminum and steel are light and nearly indestructible, and lined wooden buckets never leak.
- 1 to 1.5 gallons is plenty for most home saunas
- A ladle 15″ or longer keeps your hand away from the steam
- Wood buckets with a plastic liner are easiest to care for
Harvia Helmi Bucket & Ladle
Bring earthy color and contemporary Scandinavian styling into your sauna
with the Harvia Helmi Bucket & Ladle.
This coordinated sauna bucket and ladle set features smooth curves,
comfortable contrasting handles, and durable plastic construction for
simple everyday use.
- Matching sauna bucket and ladle
- Chocolate-brown earthy finish
- Curved, comfortable design
- Durable and low-maintenance construction
Sauna stones
Stones make the steam. Over time they crack and crumble, so plan to restack your heater once a year and replace broken stones. Always use stones made for sauna heaters, never rocks from outside.
- Split-face stones have more surface area for strong steam
- Rounded stones give softer steam and a cleaner look
- Use the size and weight your heater manual calls for
Thermometers and sand timers
A thermometer tells you when the sauna is ready, and a hygrometer shows humidity. A 15-minute sand timer keeps rounds on track with no phone in the hot room.
- Mount thermometers high on the wall, away from the heater
- Most people enjoy 160°F to 190°F
- Sand timers need no batteries and handle the heat
Comfort: backrests, headrests and cushions
Comfort is what keeps you in the sauna longer. A backrest takes the strain off on upright benches, a headrest lets you lie back, and a cushion softens a hard bench.
- Backrests fit almost any bench
- Headrests are great for long, lying-down sessions
- Pick cushions with heat-safe, stain-resistant fabric
Lighting and ambiance
Soft light behind a backrest or under a bench makes a sauna feel calm. Every light here is made for sauna heat and humidity. Himalayan salt panels add a warm, natural glow.
- Use only sauna-rated lights and power supplies
- Warm white (about 3,000K to 3,500K) feels most relaxing
- Hire an electrician for hard-wired lights
Single-Zone Linear White LED Neon Sauna Light Kit
Create warm, adjustable accent lighting with the
Single-Zone Linear White LED Neon Sauna Light Kit.
This flexible sauna lights LED system is designed for
indirect placement beneath benches, behind backrests, inside coves, and along custom recessed features.
- Choose one 16-foot, two 16-foot, or four 10-foot fixtures
- All connected fixtures operate together as one zone
- Warm 3500K white illumination
- Adjustable from 1% to 100% brightness
- Battery-free wireless dimming control
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi control through the Tuya Smart app
- IP67-rated LED fixtures and connections
Aromatherapy and wellness
A few drops of scent in your ladle water fill the room on every pour. Eucalyptus and birch are Finnish favorites. A sauna whisk (vihta) is an old tradition for exfoliating your skin.
- Mix sauna scents with water. Never pour pure oil on the stones
- Start with a few drops and add more if you like
- Soak a dried whisk in warm water before use
Hats, robes and sandals
A felt or linen sauna hat keeps your head cooler at the top of the room, so you can stay in longer. A robe and sandals make the walk to the cold plunge and back easy.
- Felt and linen hats both work well
- Quick-drying robes are best between rounds
- Sandals give grip on wet decks
Wood care and cleaning
Clean, cared-for wood lasts longer and smells better. Wipe benches after use, clean every few weeks, and oil or wax the benches once or twice a year. Leave the walls and ceiling bare so the wood can breathe.
- Use cleaners made for sauna wood
- Paraffin oil is colorless and protects benches
- Never use varnish or paint inside a sauna
Building materials
Building your own sauna or finishing an indoor room? Start with a vapor barrier and tape, then tongue and groove paneling, bench lumber, a sauna door and vents.
- Foil vapor barrier goes behind the paneling, foil facing in
- Cedar, aspen, alder and thermo-aspen are all great sauna woods
- Plan an intake vent low and an exhaust vent high
Gifts for sauna lovers
Shopping for someone who loves the sauna? These are easy wins, from a Finnish soapstone sausage cooker to a Cedar Sense tumbler.
- Many gifts here are under $100
- Sauna hats and scents are always welcome
- Not sure? A starter kit works for any sauna
Sauna accessory FAQs
What accessories do I need for a sauna?
The basics are a bucket and ladle, sauna stones (if your heater doesn’t include them), a thermometer and a sand timer. A sauna hat, a backrest or headrest, and wood care products make it more comfortable and help it last.
How often should I replace sauna stones?
Check and restack your stones about once a year. Replace any that are cracked or crumbling. Heavy-use saunas may need it more often.
Can I put essential oils on sauna stones?
Not straight. Mix a few drops of sauna scent into your ladle water and pour that on the stones. Pure oil can burn and smoke.
What temperature should a sauna be?
Most people enjoy 160°F to 190°F in a traditional sauna. Start lower if you’re new and work up.
How do I clean a sauna?
Wipe benches after each use, clean them every few weeks with a sauna-safe cleaner, and treat benches with paraffin oil or sauna wax once or twice a year. Don’t varnish or paint the inside of a sauna.
Why wear a hat in the sauna?
Heat rises, so your head gets the hottest air. A felt or linen hat keeps your head cooler so you can relax and stay in longer.
Do you ship accessories?
Yes, we ship across the lower 48. Shipping is shown at checkout. Accessories ordered with a sauna can often ship together.
Need help picking?
Tell us about your sauna and we’ll put together the right set of accessories. Ordering a sauna? Add accessories to the same order so they ship together.
Ask MikeCall 218-760-2041Shop all accessories