The composite roughness model is applied to bottom backscattering in the frequency range 10–100 kHz. For angles near normal incidence, the composite roughness model is replaced by the Kirchhoff approximation which gives better results. In addition, sediment volume scattering is treated, with account taken of refraction and reflection at the randomly sloping interface. In applying the model to published data it is found that sediment volume scattering is dominant in soft sediments except at small and large grazing angles. For coarse sand bottoms, roughness scattering dominates over a wide range of grazing angles. Implications for acoustic remote sensing are discussed.