A sauna wall is a hard, hot, flat surface. It is uncomfortable to lean on for long, so you end up holding yourself upright. A backrest fixes that with a few slats of wood.
It is one of the smaller sauna purchases and one of the easier to get wrong, because listings rarely give the dimensions. This article covers what it does and how to check the fit. For what to buy first, start with the sauna accessories guide.
Short answer: check whether your sauna already includes a backrest. If it doesn’t, measure the bench depth and the wall behind it before you buy one.
What a backrest does
A backrest is a slatted wooden frame that stands or hangs between you and the wall. It does three things.
- It gives you an angle. A wall is vertical. A backrest leans, so you can sit back with your spine supported.
- It leaves an air gap. Slats touch you in strips, with air between them. Less of your skin is pressed against hot wood.
- It fills the curve in a barrel. The wall of a barrel sauna curves away from your lower back. A backrest gives that gap something to rest on.
You may already have one
Run the numbers before you spend anything. Several saunas we list include a backrest or mention one in the specification:
| Sauna | What the listing says |
|---|---|
| Redwood Outdoors barrel | Backrest included with the heater, rocks, and light |
| SaunaLife Ergo E8 | Thermo-Aspen benches and backrests |
| SaunaLife Model G2 | Aspen benches and backrest |
| SaunaLife Model X2 | Aspen bench, backrest, and footrest |
From manufacturer and dealer listings, checked September 2026.
If yours isn’t on that list, look at the parts list that came with it before ordering.
The one we list
The Almost Heaven Cedar Sauna Backrest costs $149 and is described as suitable for traditional and infrared benches. Almost Heaven’s listing doesn’t give its width, its height, or how it mounts.
Here’s what the spec sheet won’t tell you: those are the three things that decide whether it fits. Ask the seller for them. If your sauna isn’t an Almost Heaven model, a generic backrest that suits your bench will do the same job.
How to check the fit
Bench depth. A backrest sits on the bench and takes a few inches of it. On a deep bench that is welcome, because it brings the support forward to meet your back. On a shallow bench it pushes you toward the edge. For reference, the bench in the Almost Heaven Sutton is 23.6 inches deep. Measure yours, subtract the depth of the backrest at seat level, and check that what remains is enough to sit on comfortably.
Wall space. The backrest needs a clear stretch of wall as wide as itself. Windows, lights, and thermometers get in the way.
Bench height. Harvia’s sauna planning guide sets the upper bench 900 mm (about 35 inches) from the floor and the lower bench at 450 mm (about 18 inches). On the upper bench your head is near the ceiling. In a barrel, check that a backrest doesn’t push you forward to where the curve is lower.
Heater panels, in an infrared cabin. The panels behind the bench heat your back. A backrest in front of one blocks part of it. Only use one that is designed for your cabin or that leaves the panel clear.
How it stays put. Some hang from the wall, some screw on, and some rest loose. Loose is easiest and lets you move it between benches. If it screws on, use short screws: the walls on the saunas we list are about 1⅜ to 1.75 inches thick.
Wood and care
Cedar and aspen are the usual choices. Both stay comfortable to touch at sauna temperatures.
Leave the wood bare. Harvia’s heater manual says, “We do not recommend stains or sealers as toxic vapors may appear when heated.” That applies to a backrest as much as to a bench.
The same manual has two care tips that carry over:
- Each bather should sit or lie on a towel, which “will prolong bench life.” Drape the towel up over the backrest as well.
- When wood becomes stained from perspiration, it “may be lightly sanded with fine sandpaper.”
Wipe it with a damp cloth now and then. If it is the loose kind, stand it outside the hot room to dry after a long session.
Is $149 worth it?
For a few cedar slats, it is a lot. What you pay for is a match with the rest of the cabin. In order of value, I’d buy a bucket and ladle, a thermometer, and a timer first. A backrest comes after those.
My rule of thumb: if you sit in the sauna for more than 15 minutes at a time, or you own a barrel, a backrest is worth having. If your sessions are short and your wall is flat, skip it.
Bottom line: a backrest is a comfort upgrade that many saunas already include. If yours doesn’t, get the dimensions before the price.
Sources
- Harvia, KIP electric sauna heater owner’s/operator’s manual (North America), September 17, 2015: almostheaven.net
- Harvia, sauna room planning and installation instructions (bench heights), April 16, 2015: aqualityleisure.net
- Almost Heaven, Redwood Outdoors, and SaunaLife listings (backrests, bench dimensions, wall thickness), checked September and October 2026