Best Towel Warmers and Heated Bar Options for Luxurious Baths
Updated: Mar. 18, 2024
Pamper yourself with a towel warmer, like a towel rail or bucket, that heats towels for a warm, spa-like welcome out of the shower.
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Even on a warm day, there’s an instant chill that comes with stepping out of a steaming hot shower. We deserve better than a cold bathroom, which is why a towel warmer is our new must-have gadget. It’s one cheap bathroom update that might make the end of your shower your favorite part. Who needs the spa when we have a towel bucket or rack?
Towel warmers or towel heaters do just what their name suggests—they heat up towels so that when you’re ready to dry off, you can wrap yourself in fluffy warm goodness. They come in different styles and features, and can help turn your bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary. Our top picks for the best towel warmers—based on size, price point and power sources—will have you never looking back to life without one.
Best Overall Towel Warmer
Anzzi Elgon Wall-Mounted Towel Warmer
We appreciate the versatility and stylish looks of this brushed nickel wall-mounted towel warmer from Anzzi. It can be plugged in or hard-wired, mounts easily to the wall and has a two- or four-hour timer. It’s just over 4 inches deep, so the warmer won’t take up much space in the bathroom.
Pros
- Has 14 bars to hold multiple towels
- Waterproof on/off switch and simple controls
- Heats up to 122 degrees
Cons
- Shallow profile may make it tougher to drape a towel behind the bars
Best Budget Towel Warmer
Paraheeter Wall Mounted Electric Towel Warmer
For a couple of nice warm towels and a modest investment, this sturdy option from Paraheeter, which is available in black and silver, gets our vote. It can be hard-wired or plugged in, and has thick rods to optimize contact with towels. You can even use it for hand towels to turn washing your hands into a luxe experience.
Pros
- Budget-friendly price
- Stylish design
- Timer can be set from 1 to 8 hours
Cons
- Hard-wiring kit not included
- Doesn’t hold as many towels as others
Best Bucket Towel Warmer
Zadro Aromatherapy Hot Towel Warmer
If your objective is a thoroughly heated towel and a spa-like experience, check out this highly rated aromatherapy bucket-style towel warmer from Zadro. The round, 20-liter warmer comes with lavender essential oil, which can be used to infuse warm towels with fragrance. It’s large enough for a bath sheet or two large bath towels, and will also warm a bathrobe.
Pros
- Accommodates oversized towels and robes
- Lightweight and stylish
- Simple plug-and-go mechanism
Cons
- Doesn’t dry towels
Best Hydronic Towel Warmer
Runtal Radiators Solea Towel Warmer
This hydronic towel warmer, which is also available in electric or hard-wired options, connects to your home’s existing radiant or hot water heating system. Hot water runs through its pipes to heat towels, and it can also function as a room heater. It’s available in 10 finishes, so there’s sure to be a color to go with your bathroom style.
Pros
- Hydronic model is energy efficient
- Functions as a room heater
- Available in 10 finishes
Cons
- Expensive
Best Mini Towel Warmer
StateRiver Mini Towel Heater and Steamer
This one really does bring the spa experience to your home! If you love the feeling of a hot towel on your face after shaving, or as part of an at-home facial treatment, indulge in this mini towel warmer. It uses boiling water to heat up hand- or washcloth-size towels in 8 to 10 minutes. It’s small enough that you’re bound to find the right spot for it in your bathroom or powder room.
Pros
- Compact size fits on a bathroom counter
- High temperatures sanitize towels
- Heats up quickly
Cons
- Only has one temperature setting
What to Consider When Buying a Towel Warmer
As comforting as a towel warmer is, it’s important to remember that for most of us, it’s a want, not a need. If your budget for bathroom upgrades is slim, then a towel warmer might slide down your list of priorities. And unlike other products that help you stay warm, like heated vests, a towel warmer serves a single, short-term function—to provide a toasty towel when you get out of the shower or bath.
Ready to make the purchase? Take into consideration budget, space and how much use you’ll get out of the appliance. If you’re looking at wall-mounted towel warmers, you may need to consider professional installation.
Types of Towel Warmers
There are two main types of towel warmers: rail-style warmers that are either freestanding or mounted to the wall, and bucket-style warmers that sit on the floor.
- Rail-style warmers: These can also dry towels, which means you can reuse them more times between washings and avoid that musty wet towel smell. They come with the following specifications:
- Plug-in: These warmers connect to an existing electrical socket. One drawback is that, for safety reasons, the socket may not be that close to the shower, potentially putting the towel warmer out of easy reach.
- Hard-wired: These warmers are connected to the home’s electricity mains and typically require professional installation. But because there are no exposed plugs or wires, they can be installed directly next to wet areas.
- Hydronic warmers: Attached to a home’s existing radiant heat or boiler heating system, these are only an option if you already have (or plan to add) this type of heating. They are energy-saving compared to other types, and also help heat the room.
- Freestanding warmers: These plug-in, portable heaters can be moved from room to room. A downside is that they take up bathroom floor space and could tip over if overloaded with towels or robes.
- Bucket-style warmers: Unlike rail towel warmers, they won’t dry wet towels, and are just used to warm them up. But they may warm towels more evenly and thoroughly than certain rail models. If you remember to insert the towels and turn on the warmer before getting in the shower, that is!
How We Found the Best Towel Warmers
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQ
Do towel warmers dry towels?
If they’re left on, either by way of a timer or manual controls, rail-style towel warmers will also dry towels. However, bucket-style towel warmers are for warming only.
Does a towel warmer use a lot of electricity?
When running, most electric towel warmers consume the equivalent of two incandescent light bulbs. The key is to run them with timers—or at the very least, remember to turn them off—so that they run only a few hours per day. Rail-style heaters allow for more reuses of the same towels, which means you save money with less frequent washing and drying.
Originally Published: March 01, 2023
