12 heated towel rails to suit your bathroom
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As well as being used as a heating solution in the bathroom, towel rails provide us with a stylish way to keep towels tidy and toasty.
Available in dual fuel, electric or hooked up to your central heating, today’s heated appliances offer both looks and warmth for a more spa-like bathroom experience.
Good Homes answers the top questions on these sought-after products, and shares 12 of the best models on the market.
How do heated towel rails work?
Heated towel rails work by using either electricity or hot water to heat up the rails.
If using an electric one, when you plug your towel rail into the power point, the electricity heats up the liquid in the rails which in turn dries your towels.
Hydronic (or water heated) rails use liquid as well, and the unit is connected to the water heating system within your home.
This pumps hot water through the rails heating them up, and thus drying your towels.
Vertical heated towel rails are made of metal bars attached to your bathroom wall, and when connected to the central heating, these can also provide a heat source for your bathroom.
Heated towel rails can help combat dampness in the bathroom, as well as making sure your towels are warm and snuggly after your bath or shower.
Are heated towel rails expensive to run?
Generally not, running costs are usually quite low as the rails heat up very quickly so it doesn’t need to be on very long to make a big impact.
Obviously, like any appliance, if you leave it on all day it will cost more than if you limit its use to when you’re actually needing to warm towels through.
Electric heated towel rails tend to be more expensive to run than the equivalent, as the power requirements cost more.
Can heated towel rails be turned off?
If you have an electric heated towel rail, this will have a switch which you can turn off when you’re not using, saving you money. However, if a heated towel rail is linked to your central heating system it will come on and go off when your heating is on, so keep that in mind.
Can heated towel rails catch fire?
Any electrical appliance can pose a fire risk, but heated towel rails tend to have a minimal risk when used correctly. This is due to their design which incorporates safety features such as automatic shut off and heat regulators.
As already stated above though, it’s important to switch it off when you’re not using and when you’re not in the home.
Let’s shop for heated towel rails
We’ve rounded up the best heated towel rails on the market at the moment, so you can find the perfect fit for your bathroom or en-suite, and your budget.
1. Circular storage
Make your heating a fun feature in the bathroom with Bubbles towel warmer.
Take your pick from plenty of colourful finishes as well as the more subdued white or matt black, creating a complementary or contrasting look that pops out on the wall.
The six-bubble design also has lots of space for all the family’s towels.
- Bubbles towel warmer, available from selected retailers. Find them at archiproducts.com
2. Dual fuel
Milano Elizabeth is a dark gold and white column towel radiator that comes with a choice of Wi-Fi touch screen or round thermostat and cable cover.
Its vintage design is dual fuel so you can use electric or central heating to warm your towels and with the free Smart Life app, you can manage settings and schedules so you always have a warm bathroom to step into.
- Milano Elizabeth white & chrome traditional electric heated towel rail, £554.99 from The Big Bathroom Shop – buy here
3. Distinctive design
With its distinctive design, this Wedge heated towel rail is available in Black or Soft White Matte, makes an instant style statement.
It’s sleek, sophisticated, will instantly give your bathroom a dynamic edge.
- Wedge Towel Warmer in soft white matte, £405. Find stockists at crosswater.co.uk
4. Space saving
Great for small bathrooms and en suites, the Terma heated towel rail is an Incorner design in Modern Grey.
With a high heat output and large gaps between the bars for thicker towels, it’s ideal when there is limited wall space to place the radiator on just one wall and it can be fitted as dual fuel, too.
- Terma Incorner Towel Radiator, £265 from JustRadiators – buy here
5. Regency radiator
Cottagecore fans rejoice! Part of the traditional collection from Zehnder, this heated towel radiator is ideal for a regency scheme.
So if you want to bring Bridgerton vibes into your bathroom, this will make an great period-style purchase!
- Zehnder Balmoral heated towel rail, from £1,763 from Zehnder – buy here
6. Eco offering
Available in Anthracite or White, this energy-efficient aluminium towel warmer heats up quickly and efficiently.
The lightweight aluminium construction is robust yet easy to install.
It’s available in either white or anthracite and in two different heights. We think it would fit perfectly in a family bathroom or an en suite.
- Astute towel warmer, find product at vogueuk.co.uk
7. Luxe look
Bring some bling into the bathroom, cloakroom or en suite with the Arezzo heated towel rail in brushed brass.
Its classic design is made from steel with a high heat output to gently warm towels as well as the room itself.
Matching valves are also available for a co-ordinated look and it can be used as electric only if required.
- Arezzo heated towel rail, £299.95 from Victoria Plumbing – buy here
8. Multi purpose
Get three in one with the Crosswater Artist towel warming radiator.
In four finishes – Cashmere Matt, Storm Grey, Matt White or Onyx Black – it works as a towel warmer, radiator to heat the room and you can also add a solid oak shelf onto any of the bars, handy for plants, shampoos, bubble bath and shower gel.
- Crosswater air brushed brass towel warmer, £402.50 from Sanctuary Bathrooms – buy here
9. Super steel
This ultra-modern steel heated towel rail is available in a clean chrome finish.
Its squared edges provide a contemporary look that will suit a Scandi-chic suite when complemented with different textures such as wood and concrete.
- Eton heated towel rail, £304 from Nuie Bathrooms – buy here
10. Sleek and sophisticated
This timeless classic will take your luxury bathroom to the next level. It’s traditional yet modern and has plenty of space for multiple towels in a family bathroom set up.
- Gibralter floor standing traditional chrome heated towel rail, £167.99 from Bathroom Mountain – buy here
11. Small space saver
This heated towel radiator is a great purchase for small bathrooms that need to maximise on space. What’s more, it has handy protruding rails to hang or stack towels on.
- Laiken chrome heated towel rail, £225.40 from Easy Bathrooms – buy here
12. Luxe solution
Award-winning, prestigious and versatile all in one, this is the stylish choice for a heated towel rail.
All radiator but with the ability to turn into a contemporary towel rail as and when needed, this is ultra contemporary.
It’s available in a water version or electric only, and you can choose from three colour combinations as standard or more than 80 colours and finishes if you want to branch out further.
This means you can have a truly custom look in your bathroom.
- Window Electric, £2,514 – find out more and purchase here
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