How high, deep and long a sauna bench should be according to the makers, which timbers they use, and 31 bench boards, modules, backrests and headrests with prices.
The short answer
- Height: HUUM says the lowest bench level in today’s saunas is generally 30 cm, the next 60 cm and the top one 105 cm.
- Headroom: HUUM’s DROP manual puts the top bench 1,100 to 1,300 mm below the ceiling.
- Depth and length: HUUM says a bench should be at least 60 cm deep, with about 60 cm of sitting space for each person. Harvia gives the same 60 cm for one person’s seat.
- Timber: HUUM says the most common bench woods in Estonia are aspen, alder and thermally treated wood, and Harvia offers its benches in alder, aspen or heat-treated aspen.
This page sets out the bench heights, sizes and layouts that heater and timber makers publish, then lists the 31 bench boards, ready-made modules, backrests and headrests we recorded at UK retailers, with prices checked on 3 October 2026. If your sauna came with its benches, this is for replacing or adding to them; if you’re building one, it’s where to start.
Sauna bench height
HUUM’s guide to planning a sauna bench gives three levels: the lowest is generally 30 cm, the next 60 cm and the top one 105 cm.
The makers also measure down from the ceiling. HUUM’s DROP manual says the distance from the top bench to the ceiling should be between 1,100 and 1,300 mm, and its guide to sauna-building mistakes gives a ceiling height of 2.1 to 2.3 metres. Harvia’s manual for its Cilindro Pro heater says the gap between the upper bench and the ceiling shouldn’t exceed 1,200 mm. Where makers put the heater’s temperature sensor is on our sauna temperature page.
Our tables give each sauna’s external height, not the height inside, and a barrel’s ceiling is curved, so check the internal height in the retailer’s drawings before you plan a second tier. For each model’s stated external height, see barrel saunas and cabin saunas.
Sources: HUUM blog: Planning a sauna bench: practical tips and ideas (by Birgit, 04.09.2025); HUUM: DROP electric heater user manual (EU, 2025); HUUM blog: Building your sauna: 3 common mistakes and architect recommendations on how to avoid them (by Arden Arroval, 01.01.2026); Harvia: Cilindro Pro HPCE2642 EN - Instructions for installation and use of electric sauna heater (PDF hosted by Zöchling Holz). Checked between 1 and 3 October 2026.
Sauna bench size: depth, width and length
- Depth: at least 60 cm, HUUM says.
- Width for each person: about 60 cm of sitting space, according to HUUM. Harvia says a seat for one person is usually 60 cm wide.
- Length: HUUM says a straight bench should be at least 120 cm long, and at least as long as your body if you want to lie down.
At 60 cm a person, the bench length sets the seat count:
| Bench length | Seats at 60 cm each |
|---|---|
| 1.2 m | 2 |
| 1.8 m | 3 |
| 2.4 m | 4 |
That’s worth holding against a retailer’s seat count: a 1.8 m bench seats three at this spacing, however the sauna is described. Compare the sizes on 2 person, 4 person and 6 person outdoor saunas.
Sources: HUUM blog: Planning a sauna bench: practical tips and ideas (by Birgit, 04.09.2025); Harvia: How to design a sauna. Checked between 1 and 3 October 2026.
Sauna bench design and layout
- Straight. Harvia says a simple straight bench is usually the best way to get the most seats into a fairly small sauna, and that a corner or U-shaped bench in a small sauna may end up feeling cramped.
- Corner (L-shaped). HUUM calls a corner bench a good choice for rooms from 2.25 m² upwards.
- Double. HUUM says double benches work best in rooms from 2.34 m² upwards.
- U-shaped. HUUM says a U-shaped layout should start from a 4 m² room.
Whatever the layout, the heater sets limits. Tylö’s US guide for its Sense Sport heater says benches must not be placed over the heater, and Narvi’s manual for its NC wood-burning heaters tells installers to observe its stipulated requirements for sauna benches as well as for walls and floors. HUUM’s DROP manual recommends a safety railing round the heater. HUUM’s article on sauna-building mistakes also says a bench must be stable, and installed so that the hot air circulating in the room can get under it.
Sources: Harvia: How to design a sauna; HUUM blog: Planning a sauna bench: practical tips and ideas (by Birgit, 04.09.2025); Tylö (US edition): Sense Sport heater installation and user guide (SSU 5, 7, 8), p. 1; Narvi: NC 16 / 20 / 20 VS / 24 wood-burning heater manual, English section, p. 21; HUUM: DROP electric heater user manual (EU, 2025), p. 10; HUUM blog: Building your sauna: 3 common mistakes and architect recommendations on how to avoid them (by Arden Arroval, 01.01.2026). Checked 3 October 2026.
Sauna bench wood
What the makers say about bench timber:
- Aspen. Thermory says aspen suits saunas because it doesn’t secrete resin, splinter or overheat. Palmako describes the aspen benches in its barrel sauna as a smooth, resin-free seating surface.
- Alder. Thermory describes alder as a hardy, water-repellent wood that doesn’t overheat.
- Heat-treated timber. Harvia offers its benches in alder, aspen or heat-treated aspen, and HUUM says the most common bench woods in Estonia are aspen, alder and thermally treated wood.
The bench boards we list follow the same pattern: of the 9 packs, 6 are alder and 3 are aspen, heat-treated versions included. For the timbers saunas themselves are built from, see the walls and panelling section of how to build a sauna.
Sources: Thermory: Sauna bench skirt Aspen (product page); Palmako UK: Anita S barrel sauna bundle product page; Thermory: Sauna backrest Alder (product page); Harvia: How to design a sauna; HUUM blog: Planning a sauna bench: practical tips and ideas (by Birgit, 04.09.2025). Checked between 1 and 3 October 2026.
Building sauna benches: boards, modules and fixings
There are two ways to build a bench from bought parts.
From bench boards. Boards sold in packs, to fix to a frame you make. Thermory lists its aspen bench board in eight sizes, from 21 x 65 mm to 28 x 160 mm. The nine packs we recorded start at £76.99; eight are 28 mm thick and eight state a rounded R3 edge. Most are sold in 2.1 m and 2.4 m lengths. The price shown is for the cheapest length in stock when we checked, and the dearest length we noted was £172.99.
From ready-made modules. A bench module is a finished section of bench top. Thermory says its modules can be cut to fit the sauna, with separate modules for corners and bench edges, and that its backrests and bench skirts can be cut if the right length isn’t available. The modules we list are 400, 500 or 600 mm wide and 2.1 m or 2.4 m long.
Three points on fixing them, from the makers:
- Plan the supports before the walls are panelled. Harvia says benches need supports on the walls, so there must be sturdy supporting structures behind the panelling boards.
- Hide the screws. HUUM says benches should have no sharp corners and no exposed screws that can get hot.
- Round the edges. HUUM says rounded edges and smooth surfaces add comfort and safety.
Sources: Thermory: Sauna bench board SHP Aspen (product page, dimensions table in mm); Thermory: Ready-made sauna elements; Harvia support: I am about to start panelling my sauna – what do I need to take into account?; HUUM blog: Planning a sauna bench: practical tips and ideas (by Birgit, 04.09.2025). Checked 3 October 2026.
Sauna bench parts compared
| Item and retailer | Type | Size (as stated) | Material | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauna Headrest or Footrest in Bright WoodFinnmark Sauna · Elsässer | Headrest | approximately 390 × 360 × 110 mm | Bright wood | £35.99Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| SaunaMed Ergonomic Backrest HemlockAqualine Saunas · SaunaMed | Backrest | Not recorded | Hemlock | £40VAT not statedChecked 3 Oct | Check price |
| HaLu Aspen Rectangular Wooden Sauna Headrest/PillowFinnmark Sauna · HaLu | Headrest | 23 × 18 × 6 cm | Aspen | £46.99Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| HaLu Red Cedar Square Wooden Sauna Headrest/Pillow in Gift BoxFinnmark Sauna · HaLu | Headrest | 25 × 25 × 6 cm | Red cedar | £49Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermo Aspen Sauna HeadrestFinnmark Sauna · Nikkarien | Headrest | Not recorded | Thermo aspen | £70.99Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Alder Sauna Wood Bench Boards 90mm (Pack of 4)Finnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench boards | 28 mm thick and 90 mm wide; 2100 mm or 2400 mm lengths | Alder (A-grade) | From £76.99Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermory Alder Sauna Bench Edge Module 140 mm (Left)Finnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench edge module | 200 mm wide by 140 mm thick; 400 mm, 500 mm and 600 mm lengths | Alder | From £76.99Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermory Sauna Backrest for LED Strip AlderFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Backrest | 300 mm wide and 28 mm thick; 2050 mm and 2350 mm lengths | Alder | From £81.18Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Alder Sauna Wood Bench Boards 42mm (Pack of 8)Finnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench boards | 28 mm thick and 42 mm wide; 2100 mm or 2400 mm lengths | Alder (A-grade) | From £84.99Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermo Alder Sauna Wood Bench Boards 90mm (Pack of 4)Finnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench boards | 28 mm thickness and 90 mm wide; 2100 mm or 2400 mm lengths | Thermo alder | From £86.99Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermo Aspen Sauna Wood Bench Boards 140mm (Pack of 4)Finnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench boards | 28 mm thick by 140 mm wide; lengths 1800 mm, 2100 mm, 2400 mm | Thermo aspen | From £89.95Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Aspen Sauna Bench Skirt 16mm x 350mm by ThermoryFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench skirt | 350 mm high and 16 mm thick; 2100 mm and 2400 mm lengths | Aspen | From £90.72Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermo Aspen Sauna Wood Bench Boards 90mm (Pack of 4)Finnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench boards | 28 × 90 mm section; 2100 mm or 2400 mm lengths | Thermo aspen | From £97.99Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Aspen Sauna Wood Bench Boards 90mm (Pack of 4)Finnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench boards | 28 mm thick, 90 mm wide; 2100 mm and 2400 mm lengths | Aspen | From £99.99Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Alder Sauna Wood Bench Boards 160mm (Pack of 3)Finnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench boards | 28 mm thick and 160 mm wide; 2100 mm or 2400 mm lengths | Alder (A-grade) | From £103.99Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Harvia Infrared Prestige IR Wooden Backrest for ECO, WIR & DIR 500/750 Infrared RadiatorsAqualine Saunas · Harvia | Backrest | Not recorded | Wood (species not stated) | £105VAT not statedChecked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Alder Sauna Wood Bench Boards 120mm (Pack of 4)Finnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench boards | 28 mm thick and 120 mm wide; 2100 mm or 2400 mm lengths | Alder (A-grade) | From £109.99Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermory Movable Sauna Bench Alder 400mm x 657mmFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Movable bench | 657 mm long by 400 mm wide and stands 300 mm high | Alder | £115.67Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermory Alder Sauna Backrest 28mm x 310mmFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Backrest | 310 mm wide by 28 mm thick; 2050 mm and 2350 mm lengths | Alder | From £117.94Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermo Aspen Sauna Backrest 28mm x 310mm by ThermoryFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Backrest | 28 mm thick, 310 mm wide; 2050 mm and 2350 mm lengths | Thermo aspen | From £131Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermory Movable Sauna Bench Alder 400mm x 700mmFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Movable bench | 700 mm long by 400 mm wide and stands 350 mm high | Alder | £133.81Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Dark Thermo Alder Sauna Bench Boards 135mm (Pack of 4)Finnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench boards | 27 mm thick and 135 mm wide; 2100 mm or 2400 mm lengths | Dark thermo alder | From £153.89Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermory Alder Bench Module 140 mmFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench module | widths 400 mm, 500 mm and 600 mm; thickness 140 mm; lengths 2.1 m and 2.4 m | Alder | From £162.99Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Tylo Sauna Headrests Narrow Wooden Slats Fixed AdjustableLeisurequip · Tylö | Headrest | 375 x 270 x 80 mm or 425 x 375 x 70 mm | Narrow wooden slats, aspen or alder | From £170VAT not statedChecked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Folding Cedar Sauna Bench | Fits FinSteam Tents & CabinsSteam & Oak · FinSteam | Folding bench | ~120 cm single-tier | Western Red Cedar | £185Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Cedar Sauna Bench SeatSteam & Oak · Holl's | Freestanding bench seat | 534 × 430 × 400mm | Cedar | £199Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermory Aspen Bench Module 140mmFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench module | widths 400 mm, 500 mm and 600 mm; thickness 140 mm; lengths 2100 mm and 2400 mm | Aspen | From £221.34Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermory Movable Sauna Bench Step Thermo Aspen 700 mm x 700 mmFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Movable bench step | 700 mm by 700 mm; lower step at 260 mm and the upper at 500 mm | Thermo aspen | £258.55Checked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Thermory Thermo Aspen Bench Module 140mmFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Bench module | widths 400 mm, 500 mm and 600 mm; thickness 140 mm; lengths 2100 mm and 2400 mm | Thermo aspen | £274.42Price for one optionChecked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Tylo Interior Pre-fabricated Sauna Bench Side PanelLeisurequip · Tylö | Bench side panel | Low: 66x457x446mm (WxHxD); High: 66x857x446mm (WxHxD); Low: 66x457x598mm; High: 66x857x598mm | Aspen, alder, ThermoAspen or ThermoAlder | From £440VAT not statedChecked 3 Oct | Check price |
| Tylo Pre-fabricated Sauna Interior Bench ArmrestLeisurequip · Tylö | Bench armrest | Low: 66x672x446mm; High: 66x1073x446mm; Low: 66x672x598mm; High: 66x1073x598mm | Aspen, alder, ThermoAspen or ThermoAlder | From £499VAT not statedChecked 3 Oct | Check price |
Prices and specifications as shown on each retailer's own website on 3 October 2026; the retailer's checkout price is what counts. Aqualine Saunas and Leisurequip do not say whether their prices include VAT; for the other retailers we recorded the displayed price and didn't check for a VAT statement. “From” marks a starting price where the retailer sells several sizes or options: the shop's own “from” price, or the cheapest size we noted for the item named. “Price for one option” marks the cheapest size or finish in stock when we checked, where another was listed for less. The listings for 2 of these items didn't show whether they were in stock. “Not recorded” means we don't hold the figure, usually because the listing didn't state it. We haven't tested these products. We may earn a commission if you buy through some of these links.
| Type | Listed | From | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bench boards | 9 | £76.99 | £97.99 |
| Headrest | 5 | £35.99 | £49 |
| Backrest | 5 | £40 | £105 |
| Bench module | 3 | £162.99 | £221 |
| Movable bench | 2 | £115.67 | £125 |
| Bench edge module | 1 | £76.99 | £76.99 |
| Bench skirt | 1 | £90.72 | £90.72 |
| Folding bench | 1 | £185 | £185 |
| Freestanding bench seat | 1 | £199 | £199 |
| Movable bench step | 1 | £258.55 | £259 |
| Bench side panel | 1 | £440 | £440 |
| Bench armrest | 1 | £499 | £499 |
“From” is the cheapest listing not marked out of stock. The median is the middle price of all the listings of that type.
This is not every bench part these shops sell. Finnmark’s bench wood collection listed 164 products, and we read the first 19 and recorded nine packs of boards. Many rows are sold in several lengths or widths: “From” marks the cheapest size we noted for the timber named. The same part in another timber is a separate listing and may cost less.
We didn’t record a complete sauna bench kit. Leisurequip lists two Tylö pre-fabricated interiors, from about £2,500, which we left out because we couldn’t confirm what they include; the side panels and armrests above are listed as parts for Tylö pre-fabricated interiors. Aqualine’s bench category had no products when we checked, only an enquiry form for bespoke benches.
Backrests and headrests
10 of the listings are backrests or headrests, from £35.99:
| Item | Type | Size (as stated) | Material | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauna Headrest or Footrest in Bright WoodFinnmark Sauna · Elsässer | Headrest | approximately 390 × 360 × 110 mm | Bright wood | £35.99 |
| SaunaMed Ergonomic Backrest HemlockAqualine Saunas · SaunaMed | Backrest | Not recorded | Hemlock | £40VAT not stated |
| HaLu Aspen Rectangular Wooden Sauna Headrest/PillowFinnmark Sauna · HaLu | Headrest | 23 × 18 × 6 cm | Aspen | £46.99 |
| HaLu Red Cedar Square Wooden Sauna Headrest/Pillow in Gift BoxFinnmark Sauna · HaLu | Headrest | 25 × 25 × 6 cm | Red cedar | £49 |
| Thermo Aspen Sauna HeadrestFinnmark Sauna · Nikkarien | Headrest | Not recorded | Thermo aspen | £70.99 |
| Thermory Sauna Backrest for LED Strip AlderFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Backrest | 300 mm wide and 28 mm thick; 2050 mm and 2350 mm lengths | Alder | From £81.18 |
| Harvia Infrared Prestige IR Wooden Backrest for ECO, WIR & DIR 500/750 Infrared RadiatorsAqualine Saunas · Harvia | Backrest | Not recorded | Wood (species not stated) | £105VAT not stated |
| Thermory Alder Sauna Backrest 28mm x 310mmFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Backrest | 310 mm wide by 28 mm thick; 2050 mm and 2350 mm lengths | Alder | From £117.94 |
| Thermo Aspen Sauna Backrest 28mm x 310mm by ThermoryFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | Backrest | 28 mm thick, 310 mm wide; 2050 mm and 2350 mm lengths | Thermo aspen | From £131 |
| Tylo Sauna Headrests Narrow Wooden Slats Fixed AdjustableLeisurequip · Tylö | Headrest | 375 x 270 x 80 mm or 425 x 375 x 70 mm | Narrow wooden slats, aspen or alder | From £170VAT not stated |
Aqualine Saunas and Leisurequip do not say whether their prices include VAT; for the other retailers we recorded the displayed price and didn't check for a VAT statement. “From” marks a starting price where the retailer sells several sizes or options: the shop's own “from” price, or the cheapest size we noted for the item named. The listings for 2 of these items didn't show whether they were in stock.
In Tylö’s US manual for its Halmstad saunas, the rear backrest attaches to a bracket on the upper back wall. Thermory lists its alder backrest at 28 x 200 x 2050 mm, and one of the backrests above is made to take an LED strip: see sauna lights. One is not a bench backrest: the Harvia backrest at Aqualine is listed as fitting over Harvia’s ECO, WIR and DIR infrared radiators.
Sources: Thermory: Sauna backrest Alder (product page, dimensions table in mm); Tylö (US edition): Halmstad 3 and 4 sauna owner's manual, Rev D, p. 12. Checked 3 October 2026.
Movable and folding benches
Five listings are benches you can move: two Thermory movable benches in alder, a movable bench step in thermo aspen, a freestanding cedar seat and a folding cedar bench that Steam & Oak lists as fitting FinSteam tents and cabins.
| Item | Size (as stated) | Material | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermory Movable Sauna Bench Alder 400mm x 657mmFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | 657 mm long by 400 mm wide and stands 300 mm high | Alder | £115.67 |
| Thermory Movable Sauna Bench Alder 400mm x 700mmFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | 700 mm long by 400 mm wide and stands 350 mm high | Alder | £133.81 |
| Folding Cedar Sauna Bench | Fits FinSteam Tents & CabinsSteam & Oak · FinSteam | ~120 cm single-tier | Western Red Cedar | £185 |
| Cedar Sauna Bench SeatSteam & Oak · Holl's | 534 × 430 × 400mm | Cedar | £199 |
| Thermory Movable Sauna Bench Step Thermo Aspen 700 mm x 700 mmFinnmark Sauna · Thermory | 700 mm by 700 mm; lower step at 260 mm and the upper at 500 mm | Thermo aspen | £258.55 |
We recorded the price each shop displays and didn't check for a VAT statement.
For a tent, check the bench against the tent’s floor size: see sauna tents.
Looking after sauna benches
- Oil, not lacquer. Harvia recommends treating sauna benches with paraffin oil, and says lacquer must not be used on the interior surfaces of a sauna. Tylö’s US manual for its Luleå saunas says not to apply paint, stain or other finish coatings to the interior wood.
- Sit on a towel. Harvia’s maintenance article says to always protect the bench with a bench towel or disposable bench covers.
- Sand lightly if you need to. Harvia says sauna surfaces can also be sanded lightly with sandpaper.
- Let it dry. Harvia says to leave the heater on for about 10 minutes after bathing to dry the wooden parts.
Sources: Harvia Support: Maintaining your sauna; Tylö (US edition): Luleå 3 and Luleå 4 outdoor sauna owner's manual, Rev C, p. 4. Checked between 1 and 3 October 2026.
Sauna bench questions
How high should a sauna bench be?
HUUM says that in today's saunas the lowest bench level is generally 30 cm, the next 60 cm and the top one 105 cm. Its DROP heater manual puts the top bench 1,100 to 1,300 mm below the ceiling.
How deep should a sauna bench be?
At least 60 cm, according to HUUM's guide to planning a sauna bench. It says a straight bench should be at least 120 cm long.
How much bench does each person need?
About 60 cm. HUUM says each person usually needs about 60 cm of sitting space, and Harvia says a seat for one person is usually 60 cm wide. A 1.8 m bench seats three at that spacing.
What wood is used for sauna benches?
Harvia offers its benches in alder, aspen or heat-treated aspen, and Thermory says aspen suits saunas because it doesn't secrete resin, splinter or overheat.
How much do sauna bench boards cost?
The 9 packs of sauna bench boards we recorded at UK retailers start at £76.99 a pack on 3 October 2026, and the dearest length we noted was £172.99. Ready-made bench modules start at £162.99.
Should you oil or varnish sauna benches?
Harvia recommends treating sauna benches with paraffin oil and says lacquer must not be used on the interior surfaces of a sauna.