A heated towel rail dries towels between showers and keeps them warm, so the bathroom stays fresher and towels never sit damp. Our electric heated towel rails come as 4, 6, 8 and 9-bar ladders in round or square bars, plus slim vertical and horizontal single bars, some with a built-in timer. Most plug into a standard power point or can be hardwired by a licensed electrician. Finishes include chrome, matte black, brushed nickel, brushed gunmetal, brushed brass, light brushed brass and brushed copper - match them with our black bathroom accessories or brushed gold accessories. Need a non-heated option? Browse towel rails and rings, or add a robe hook beside the shower.
Heated Towel Rail FAQs
▸ Are heated towel rails worth it?
For most bathrooms, yes. A heated towel rail dries towels between uses, which cuts the musty smell and mould that damp towels cause, and it means a warm towel on cold mornings. It also gives you a place to dry hand towels, swimwear and delicate washing. The running cost is low, so the main question is wall space and whether you want a plug-in or hardwired connection. In a small ensuite a 4-bar rail or a vertical single bar usually does the job; a family bathroom suits a 6-bar or larger ladder.
▸ Do heated towel rails use a lot of electricity?
No. Our 4-bar rails are rated at 40W, 6-bar rails at 70W, the 8-bar at 95W and the 9-bar at 110W. A 70W rail running for eight hours uses about 0.56kWh, which is roughly 17c a day at about 30c per kWh. You can cut that further by running it only after showers, using a plug-in timer, or choosing a single vertical bar with a built-in timer that switches itself off. There are no moving parts, so there is nothing else to service.
▸ Plug-in or hardwired: which heated towel rail do I need?
Most rails on this page come with a power cord, so you can plug them into a power point and use them straight away - ideal when renovating is not on the cards. For a cleaner look, a licensed electrician can hardwire the rail and conceal the cord in the wall, usually with a wall switch or timer. In a bathroom the power point or connection must sit in the correct wet-area zone, so check the position with your electrician before you drill or tile.
▸ What size heated towel rail do I need?
Count the towels first. A 4-bar rail (about 500mm wide x 520mm high) holds one bath towel and a hand towel. A 6-bar rail (600-620mm wide, 620-674mm high) holds two bath towels or a towel and a bath mat. The 8 and 9-bar ladders stand 912mm and 1030mm tall for busy family bathrooms. On a narrow wall, a vertical single bar is 950mm tall and only 38mm wide, and a horizontal bar is 780mm long. Measure between the vanity, shower screen and door before ordering.
▸ Vertical heated towel rail or a ladder rail?
Choose a ladder rail when you want to dry several towels at once - the bars spread the towel out so it dries faster. Choose a vertical heated towel rail when wall space is tight, such as beside a vanity or door: it is a slim accent that warms one towel or robe on its hooks, and the timer models switch off automatically. A horizontal single bar suits the wall above a bath or under a window. All three are stainless steel and warm up in around 18-22 minutes.
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