Best Sauna Accessories UK: Essential Kit for Every Sauna Session

Good sauna accessories are the difference between a bare hot box and a proper session. None of them are complicated, and you do not need many, but a handful of the right items make a sauna safer, more comfortable and far more enjoyable to use. The trouble is that accessory listings throw everything at you at once, so it is hard to tell the genuine essentials from the nice-to-haves and the pointless.

This guide sorts UK sauna accessories into what you actually need, what is worth adding once you are set up, and what you can skip. It applies to a traditional Finnish sauna, whether electric or wood-fired; an infrared cabin needs far less.

The genuine essentials

These are the items that earn their place from day one.

Bucket and ladle. The single most important accessory for any traditional sauna. You ladle water over the hot stones to create the burst of steam (löyly) that defines a real sauna. A wooden bucket looks the part but can dry out and leak; many people prefer one with a plastic liner, or a brushed aluminium bucket, for durability. Pair it with a long wooden or aluminium-handled ladle so your hand stays clear of the heat.

Thermometer and hygrometer. You want to know how hot and how humid your sauna actually is, both for a good session and to avoid running the heater harder than you need. A combined wood-framed thermometer and hygrometer mounted high on the wall, near the ceiling where it is hottest, does the job. Our sauna heater size calculator helps you match the heater to the room in the first place.

Sauna stones. If you have a traditional heater, the stones are not optional, they are what stores and releases the heat. They break down over time and need replacing every so often, so a fresh set is a sensible early purchase. Use proper heater stones (typically peridotite or olivine), not random garden rocks, which can crack or even explode. Manufacturers such as Harvia publish guidance on choosing and stacking stones.

Towels. At least two: one to sit on (hygiene, and it stops you burning on hot timber) and one to dry off. Choose 100% cotton or linen, which absorb well and survive repeated hot washes.

Worth adding once you are set up

Backrest and headrest. A flat bench is fine until you have leaned against a contoured wooden backrest, after which a flat wall feels punishing. These are the comfort upgrade most people rate highest, and they are cheap relative to the sauna itself.

Sand timer. A wood-framed sand timer (commonly 15 minutes) lets you pace a session without taking a phone into the heat. Simple, heat-safe and oddly satisfying.

Sauna oil or essential oils. A few drops of a proper sauna-grade oil (eucalyptus and birch are classics) added to the water bucket scent the steam. Use oils sold specifically for saunas and only ever diluted in the water, never neat on the stones, where they can scorch or ignite.

Bucket of cool water and a scrubbing brush or vihta. For the full ritual, a birch whisk (vihta) is traditional in Finnish and banya culture. More on that in our guide to what a banya is.

What you can usually skip

Coloured LED mood lighting, branded “detox” salts, and elaborate Bluetooth gadgets add cost without improving the heat or the session. A decent backrest does more for your experience than any electronic add-on. And for an infrared cabin you can skip the bucket, ladle and stones entirely, since there is no heater to steam; a towel and a timer cover it.

How to buy: singly or as a set

You can buy a matching starter package (bucket, ladle, thermometer, hygrometer, timer, backrest, often an oil) in one go, which usually works out cheaper than buying piece by piece and ensures everything matches in wood and finish. Prices vary widely by material and retailer, so check the current price before buying and weigh a bundle against assembling your own from items you actually want. If you are still choosing the sauna itself, start with our home sauna buying guide and what size sauna do I need first, then kit it out.

The short list

If you buy nothing else, get a bucket and ladle, a thermometer and hygrometer, a fresh set of proper heater stones, and a couple of cotton towels. Add a backrest and a sand timer when you can, and a sauna oil if you like scented steam. That is a complete, comfortable setup, and everything beyond it is personal taste rather than necessity.

Frequently asked questions

What sauna accessories do I actually need to start? For a traditional sauna, the essentials are a bucket and ladle for creating steam, a thermometer and hygrometer to monitor heat and humidity, a set of proper heater stones, and a couple of cotton towels. Everything else, like a backrest or sand timer, is a comfort upgrade you can add later.

Can I use any rocks as sauna stones? No. Use stones sold specifically as sauna heater stones, usually peridotite or olivine, because they tolerate repeated heating and cooling. Random garden or river rocks can trap moisture, crack and occasionally shatter when heated, which is dangerous. Replace heater stones periodically as they degrade.

How do I use sauna oil safely? Add a few drops of a proper sauna-grade essential oil to the water in your bucket, then ladle that scented water onto the stones. Never pour neat oil directly onto the hot stones, as it can scorch or ignite. Only use oils sold for sauna use, not undiluted cosmetic oils.

Do I need accessories for an infrared sauna? Far fewer. An infrared cabin has no heater stones to steam, so you can skip the bucket, ladle and stones. A towel to sit on and a timer are really all you need, plus a thermometer if your cabin does not display the temperature.

Is it cheaper to buy a sauna accessory set or individual items? A bundled starter set is usually cheaper than buying each item separately and gives you a matching wood and finish. The trade-off is you may get an item you do not want. If you only need one or two things, buy singly; if you are starting from scratch, a set often makes sense. Check current prices before deciding.