Backrests and duckboards are small wooden details that noticeably improve sauna comfort. A backrest is an angled wooden panel on the wall behind the upper bench, giving something comfortable to lean against instead of a hot vertical wall. Duckboards are removable slatted wooden mats on the floor, providing warmer, drier, non-slip footing and letting water drain and the floor dry beneath. Both are made from suitable sauna wood, kept smooth, splinter-free and finished only with sauna-appropriate products or left bare, and both are removable for cleaning and drying. Simple to add and easy to maintain, backrests and duckboards make a sauna more comfortable to sit in and safer and more pleasant underfoot.
Some of the biggest improvements to a sauna’s comfort come from the smallest details. Two wooden touches stand out: a backrest to lean against instead of a hot wall, and duckboards underfoot for warmer, drier, safer footing. Both are simple, inexpensive and easy to maintain — and both make a sauna noticeably more pleasant to use. This guide covers backrests and duckboards.
Backrests: comfortable leaning
A backrest is an angled wooden panel fixed to the wall behind the upper bench, giving you something comfortable and cooler to lean against — instead of a hot vertical wall. It improves comfort noticeably for anyone leaning back during a session:
- Angled for a comfortable recline.
- Cooler than the wall behind it.
- Made from suitable sauna wood, smooth and splinter-free.
Some are removable for cleaning. It’s one of the easiest ways to make bench seating more comfortable.
Duckboards: warm, dry footing
Duckboards are removable slatted wooden mats placed on the floor, providing:
- Warmer, drier, more non-slip footing than a bare floor.
- Drainage — water passes through and beneath them.
- Drying — air reaches the floor, and they lift out to dry fully.
They’re a traditional, practical detail, especially useful over a cold or wet floor — see flooring options.
Duckboards help drainage and drying
Because duckboards sit above the floor on slats:
- Water drains through and beneath them rather than pooling on top.
- Air reaches the floor to help it dry.
- Being removable, they lift out to clean and dry fully.
So beyond comfort and footing, they support the drainage and after-use drying that keep a sauna fresh — particularly useful over a floor that sheds or drains water.
The wood
Both are made from suitable sauna wood — the same considerations as benches and lining apply:
- Woods that stay comfortable to touch, resist moisture and don’t splinter.
- Kept smooth, finished only with sauna-appropriate products or left bare — never ordinary varnish.
Because backrests are leaned on and duckboards are stood on barefoot, being smooth and splinter-free matters.
Footing and safety
Easy to maintain
Both are removable, so they’re easy to keep fresh: lift them out to clean, dry and sand if needed, as part of bench and floor care. Simple upkeep keeps them comfortable and hygienic.
Common mistakes
- A rough or splintery backrest or duckboards.
- Ordinary varnish instead of bare or sauna-safe finishes.
- Unstable or poorly made duckboards.
- Never removing them to clean and dry beneath.
- Skipping these details and leaning on a hot wall or standing on a cold floor.
Next steps
Add a backrest for comfortable leaning and duckboards for warm, dry, non-slip footing — both from suitable sauna wood, smooth and sauna-finished, and removable for easy care. Small, inexpensive and simple, they deliver outsized comfort — a natural complement to well-designed benches and a well-drained floor.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sauna backrest?
A sauna backrest is an angled wooden panel fixed to the wall behind the upper bench, giving you something comfortable and cooler to lean against instead of a hot vertical wall. It improves comfort noticeably for anyone leaning back during a session. Made from suitable sauna wood, kept smooth and splinter-free and finished only with sauna-appropriate products or left bare, a backrest is a simple, worthwhile comfort detail. Some are removable for cleaning. It's one of the easiest ways to make bench seating more comfortable. See our guide on sauna benches.
What are duckboards in a sauna?
Duckboards are removable slatted wooden mats placed on the sauna floor, providing warmer, drier and more non-slip footing than a bare floor, while letting water drain through and the floor dry beneath them. They're a traditional, practical detail, especially useful over a cold or wet floor. Made from suitable sauna wood, they can be lifted out to clean and dry, which keeps them and the floor fresh. Duckboards improve comfort and footing underfoot and help with drying, making them a small but valuable addition. See our flooring options guide.
Do duckboards help with drainage and drying?
Yes — duckboards sit above the floor on slats, so water can drain through and beneath them rather than pooling on top, and air can reach the floor to help it dry, which supports keeping the sauna dry. Being removable, they can also be lifted out to clean and dry fully. So beyond comfort and footing, duckboards help with drainage and drying, working with the floor's drainage and the after-use drying habit. They're particularly useful over a floor that sheds or drains water. See our guides on flooring and drying a sauna.
What wood are backrests and duckboards made from?
Suitable sauna wood — the same considerations as benches and interior lining apply, favouring woods that stay comfortable to touch, resist moisture and don't splinter, kept smooth and finished only with sauna-appropriate products or left bare, never ordinary varnish. Because backrests are leaned on and duckboards are stood on barefoot, being smooth and splinter-free matters. Choose a wood suited to sauna use and keep it well maintained. See our guides on best wood for a sauna and bench design for the wood considerations that apply here too.
Are duckboards a slip hazard or do they prevent slips?
Well-made duckboards generally improve footing, providing a warmer, more non-slip surface than a bare wet floor, with the slats giving grip and letting water drain away beneath. That said, any wet surface needs care, and duckboards should be stable, well-made and maintained to stay safe. So duckboards help with slip resistance underfoot rather than causing slips, as part of keeping a sauna floor safe, but they don't remove the need to move carefully on wet surfaces. Keep them sound and the floor draining. See our slip-and-fall prevention guide.
Are backrests and duckboards worth adding?
For the comfort they add, many people find them well worth it — a backrest makes leaning back far more comfortable than a hot wall, and duckboards make footing warmer, drier and more pleasant, while helping with drainage and drying. Both are relatively simple, inexpensive wooden details, removable for cleaning and easy to maintain. So they're small additions with an outsized effect on how comfortable and pleasant a sauna is to use. If you want to improve a sauna's comfort simply, backrests and duckboards are an easy win. See our bench and comfort guides.
