Sauna accessories aren’t alternatives to each other the way two cabins are. A bucket and a thermometer do different jobs, and most owners end up with several.
The catalog prices here run from $22.70 for a sand timer to $324 for a stainless kit. This guide covers what each accessory does and what to check before you buy. Each section has its own deeper article.
Short answer: for a traditional sauna, buy a bucket, a ladle, and a thermometer first, then a towel and a timer. For an infrared cabin, skip the bucket and ladle.
What’s in the category
| Accessory | Example | Price (per listing) | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bucket | Harvia 4L wooden bucket | $31 | Traditional saunas |
| Bucket and ladle | Dundalk cedar bucket and ladle | $119 | Traditional saunas |
| Bucket, ladle, thermometer | Harvia stainless kit | $324 | Traditional saunas |
| Bucket, ladle, thermometer | Almost Heaven red cedar set | See Amazon | Traditional saunas |
| Heater stones | Northwood diabase stones, 45 lbs | See Amazon | Heaters that take 3 to 5 in. stones |
| Thermometer and hygrometer | Harvia Thermo-Hygrometer | $38.88 | Any sauna |
| Sand timer | Harvia 15-minute timer | $22.70 | Any sauna |
| Towel | Harvia cotton towel, 90 x 170cm | $56.80 | Any sauna |
| Backrest | Almost Heaven cedar backrest | $149 | Any sauna |
| Robe hook | Almost Heaven robe hook | $41 | Any sauna |
| Headrest and leg rest | Almost Heaven headrest and leg rest | See Amazon | Benches long enough to lie on |
| Speaker | Almost Heaven Bluetooth speaker | See Amazon | Saunas without built-in audio |
| Heater rail | Harvia Spirit Safety Rail | $233 | Harvia Spirit SP60/90 owners |
Prices from Select Saunas, The Sauna Place, The Sauna Heater, and Almost Heaven listings, checked September and October 2026.
Bucket and ladle
These are for traditional heaters with stones. An infrared cabin has no stones, so there’s nothing to pour water on.
Check three things:
- Is the ladle included? The $31 Harvia bucket is sold without one.
- Is there a liner? Harvia’s KIP heater manual says to use a plastic liner in a wooden bucket to prevent leaks, and to dump the water out after every use.
- How big is it? The Harvia bucket holds 4 liters and weighs 1.8 lbs empty.
The same manual says to use only clean tap water on the stones. Pool or spa water can produce chlorine gas and damage the heating elements.
Thermometer and hygrometer
A thermometer tells you how hot the room is. A hygrometer adds humidity. The Harvia Thermo-Hygrometer shows both on one analog gauge.
Here’s what the spec sheet won’t tell you: where you hang it changes the number. Harvia’s manual gives an example. A reading of 180°F above the heater equals about 165°F on the opposite wall and 140°F at the upper bench.
The sources also disagree on placement. Harvia’s manual says over the heater, 6 inches from the ceiling. Finnleo recommends roughly 1 foot down from the ceiling and at least 3 feet from the heater and door. My rule of thumb: follow your own heater’s manual, pick one spot, and compare sessions against that spot only.
Timers
Harvia’s manual warns against staying in for more than 30 minutes at a time. Cleveland Clinic suggests keeping sessions to around 15 to 20 minutes. So you need a way to see the time.
A sand timer does that with no battery. The Harvia one runs 15 minutes and costs $22.70. Almost Heaven’s costs $54, and its listing doesn’t state the duration.
Towels
Harvia’s manual says each bather should sit or lie on a towel, for sanitation and because it prolongs the life of the benches. thisisFINLAND, a guide to Finnish life, gives the same advice, and adds that the bench may feel hot.
Size is the spec to check. The Harvia towel is 90 x 170cm (about 35 x 67 inches) in 600 GSM cotton terry.
Backrests and hooks
These are comfort items. The Almost Heaven backrest is cedar and costs $149, but the listing doesn’t give dimensions, so check the fit against your bench. The robe hook is red cedar, costs $41, and mounts inside or outside the cabin.
One placement rule from Harvia’s manual: don’t put anything combustible over the heater. It names towels, bathing suits, and wooden buckets and dippers.
Heater guards
Harvia’s KIP manual says a heater fence “is necessary for safety.” Check whether your cabin includes one. If it doesn’t, a rail has to match the heater. The Harvia Spirit Safety Rail fits the Spirit SP60/90 only.
How to shortlist
- Check what came with your sauna. Some cabins include a bucket, ladle, thermometer, or heater guard.
- Traditional heater: get a bucket, a ladle, and a thermometer.
- Any sauna: add a towel per person and a timer.
- Add a backrest or hooks after a few weeks, once you know what you miss.
- Households with children: read the heater guard section of your manual first.
If you’re still choosing the cabin, start with the home sauna buying guide. For heaters, stones, and steam, read the traditional sauna buying guide.
Bottom line: buy the three items the manual calls essential, then a towel and a timer. Let your first month of sessions decide the rest.
Sources
- Harvia, KIP electric sauna heater owner’s/operator’s manual (North America), September 17, 2015: almostheaven.net
- Finnleo, 4” Round Thermometer product page (mounting advice), accessed October 8, 2026: finnleo.com
- Cleveland Clinic, “Get Your Sweat On: The Benefits of a Sauna,” August 12, 2024: health.clevelandclinic.org
- thisisFINLAND, “Bare facts of the sauna in Finland,” accessed October 8, 2026: finland.fi
- Harvia, Spirit SP60/90 safety railing (HSP3M) product page, accessed October 8, 2026: harvia.com
- Specs and prices: Select Saunas, The Sauna Place, The Sauna Heater, and Almost Heaven listings, checked September and October 2026