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Give your bathroom the luxurious upgrade it deserves. washing sink basin
Whether you're taking a quick shower or a relaxing self-care bath, being greeted by a warm towel after you’ve gotten out is an amazing feeling. And while the idea of investing in a towel warmer might seem like a luxury saved for a hotel or resort, there are tons of high-quality and affordable models designed for use right at home.
Plus, as if being wrapped up in a warm towel isn’t luxurious enough, towel warmers are also cleaning tools that use either electricity or hot water to trap the heat inside the towel, which “eliminates the breeding ground from bacteria,” explains Craig Maclaren-Taylor of Bathroom Butler. Home improvement and towel expert Dan Akkins of Tauwel adds that towel warmers “can also help dry towels faster, reducing the need for frequent washing.”
It can only fit one large towel at a time, and the heating may be a bit uneven.
Since this pick is fairly small, we found the heating to be a bit uneven. Despite its compact size, this towel warmer’s wide base allows you to easily and safely grab the heated towel (or bathrobe or blanket, if you prefer) without knocking it over. The size is also ideal for those with limited space, as you can store it easily in a cupboard or closet when not in use. During testing, we found that towels were warmed up at the lowest 15-minute mark. Even at higher timer settings, the towel wasn’t too hot to handle. And after six months of use, the unit has maintained consistent quality.
Type: Freestanding | Dimensions: 12 by 12 by 13.5 inches | Timer Settings: 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes | Towel Capacity: 1
It can leave some cold spots when heating two towels at once.
When we tested out this warmer for ourselves, we found that it’s very simple to move thanks to its handle, and the stabilizing feet keep it sturdy on the floor or countertop. Both the lid and top edge of the bucket are insulated, so you don’t have to worry about getting burned when reaching in either. The device also helpfully features an LCD display that shows its timer settings of 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes, and it’ll automatically shut off after the chosen time period.
Type: Bucket | Dimensions: 12.6 by 12.6 by 13.4 inches | Timer Settings: 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes | Towel Capacity: 2
The close space between the rack and wall makes it hard to fit more than two towels.
This impressive towel warmer from Pottery Barn features a modern design and is available in three beautiful finishes (chrome, brushed nickel, or matte black). It comes in four sizes, the smallest being 18 inches by 40 inches and the largest being 24 inches by 60 inches. It’s also moisture resistant, so you can put your towels right back on the rack to dry after you’ve showered or bathed. You can even use it to dry your delicates too.
This stylish towel warmer has held up well after six months of daily use, continuing to dry and warm our towels with ease. Because this towel warmer is wall-mounted, it requires an electrician (or a handyman) and will take an hour or so to set up. Pottery Barn, however, does provide all the brackets and hardware for installation. And in our opinion, the hassle is worth it; being wall-mounted means fewer pesky cords and extra space in your bathroom.
Type: Wall-mounted | Dimensions: Four sizes ranging from 18 by 40 inches to 24 by 60 inches | Timer Settings: None | Towel Capacity: 2
It warms towels in just 10 minutes’ time.
Suitable for families or frequent towel users, this larger-than-average TMWings towel warmer can handle the supply and demand of your many towels. It can fit two big bath towels, blankets, or multiple smaller towels with its 20-liter capacity.
During testing, we found that it’s very easy to both load in and take out the towels, thanks to that wide berth. We also really liked the lightweight device’s removable lid and the carrying handle that makes it portable to use outside of just your bathroom. Most importantly, though, we were impressed by how quickly it warms towels, taking just one minute to warm up itself and 10 minutes to provide plenty of heat throughout the towels placed inside. We also appreciated that it also has four timer settings (15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes) to choose from.
We've found that the warmer does take a bit of time to heat our towels to the desirable temperature, sometimes resulting in more of a "wet warm" than a "cozy warm." Still, after six months of use, there have been no significant changes in quality. This warmer comes in two color options (a white base with either gray handles or light wood handles) and conveniently features an indicator light to tell you when the towels are warm. Keep in mind, though, that the plastic legs can slip on the floor, and the tag of your towel can become quite hot during the warming process.
Type: Bucket | Dimensions: 13.2 by 13.2 by 20.5 inches | Timer Settings: 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes | Towel Capacity: 2
The ample space between bars makes adding and removing towels easy.
The long power cord is a bit unsightly.
This towel warmer has maintained its high-quality performance after six months of use, though we did encounter issues with the included dry wall anchors. The brackets came out of our wall around the five-month mark, leading us to reinstall the unit, so we recommend using a stronger dry wall anchor than what's included. It’s also worth noting that the warmer does have a long power cord, which makes for easy installation, but some might find it unsightly. But given that the warmer heats up towels quickly, keeps them warm for longer time increments, and comes in so many colors, we think that these positives outweigh the negatives.
It's designed to run all day, so the heat stays low and steady—and never too hot.
There is no on/off or timer feature.
Another great wall-mounted option, this hardwired towel warmer from Amba runs 24/7 to ensure that you have warm towels at all times. This way, you’ll never have to worry about remembering to turn on your towel warmer before your shower or bath.
When we tested out this towel warmer, we found that it heats up towels (two at a time!) very quickly, and it’s also very easy to add and remove towels as needed due to the large amount of space between the warmer and the wall. There are no timer settings, since it’s designed to be on all day, but you can use the on/off button if you don’t want it to run continuously. If you’re concerned about energy used, the warmer’s energy consumption is similar to one to two light bulbs. Additionally, the temperature is just right, providing an even warming that never gets too hot to touch. After six months of using the heater, we have no complaints.
Type: Wall-mounted | Dimensions: 23.75 by 4.75 by 31.5 inches | Timer Settings: None | Towel Capacity: 2
The 10 bars are big enough for numerous small towels.
The bars don’t always heat up evenly.
For those who want a sizable towel warmer without having to hire an electrician for installation, consider a freestanding option like this one from Amba. The device features 10 bars, enough to hold two large towels or several smaller ones, and is made from sturdy, durable stainless steel that won’t fall over or slip on the floor. It would also make a good addition to laundry rooms to dry delicates and even rain jackets.
You can choose from two finish options for this elegant towel rack: matte black or brushed stainless steel. That’s where the choices end, though, as there are no timer settings; you can either power the towel warmer to keep it on at all times or turn it off when not in use. Since there are no temperature settings, the heating also stays relatively low. After six months of use, we've noticed no changes in quality or performance—the warmer has continued to give our towels a that fresh, post-dryer feel without requiring the effort of actually having to do a load of laundry.
As for cons, we do wish that this device’s power button was easier to push, although it does make it so that it’s hard to turn on accidentally. We also found that the bottom bar was significantly warmer than the top bar. To ensure the most even heating, you’ll want to interlace one large towel between the bars.
Type: Freestanding | Dimensions: 24 by 12 by 38 inches | Timer Settings: None | Towel Capacity: 2
There are no temperature adjustment settings.
Improve your mood, reduce stress, and spoil yourself with a true spa-like experience with the Zadro Towel Warmer, which comes with an aromatherapy diffuser. The ivory-colored, bucket-shaped warmer comes with a bottle of lovely-smelling lavender essential oil, which you can add into the diffuser under the lid.
Not only does this Zadro warmer look good, but it functions great as well. It’s big enough to fit two large towels and features four timer options (15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes), as well as a helpful automatic shut-off. Towels placed into the warmer took just 15 minutes to heat up, with the heat evenly distributed throughout the towels. We did notice, though, that towels at the bottom were a smidge cooler than the ones placed on the top. In terms of the design, the wooden legs at the base kept the warmer sturdy on the ground. The power cord can also be discreetly coiled under the base for easy storage.
After six months of use, this towel warmer still performs as it did when we first opened it. It would be ideal if the device came with temperature adjustment settings, since that would certainly enhance the luxurious feeling created by the aromatherapy. Even still, this is a worthwhile purchase for anyone who wants to feel relaxed and cozy after the shower.
It doesn’t always warm all 12 towels evenly.
For a seriously compact towel warmer meant to be used to heat up washcloths rather than bath towels, check out this tiny, lightweight model made by Elite. The small, white device can hold 12 washcloths at once and quickly heat them up to 160 degrees within its insulated area. Plus, after six months of use, we've noticed no changes in performance.
One of the things we liked best about this plastic towel warmer is how safe it is to use. The door opens very wide to prevent any accidental burns, and the included racks easily slide in and out of the cabinet for when you put your towels in. The warmer itself is controlled with a simple on/off button and also comes with a drip tray that goes under the rack to catch any moisture. Still, we recommend keeping items on the warmer's shelf rather than on the bottom of the cabinet—some of our washcloths were burnt after being left unattended on the bottom for a while.
That said, if you do fill the device up with 12 towels, you’ll find some cool spots in the towels. To get the most even heat, we recommend filling it with fewer towels. Given its small size, it would be ideal for small spaces too.
Type: Cabinet | Dimensions: 17.75 by 10.5 by 14 inches | Timer Settings: None | Towel Capacity: 12 washcloths
Available in black or white, this compact warmer makes for a stylish addition to any space. Though there are four timer settings (15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes), you can’t control the temperature itself. But when we tested the device, we found that it evenly distributed heat throughout the towels at a comfortable, safe temperature in just 10 to 15 minutes. Though the towels aren’t too hot to touch, the set also comes with small wooden tongs to help you take each towel in and out.
As it is made of plastic, this isn’t the sturdiest or most durable warmer out there. The lid also doesn’t fit snugly on the bucket, making it possible for the hot water to escape and ultimately lowering the temperature. Still, after six months of use, the warmer maintained its quality, leaving our towels as soft and plush as they had been at the start of testing. If your main goal is to heat or steam a handful of small towels in one go—and keep your expenses low—this will absolutely do the trick.
For long-term insights, we tested the towel warmers in our own homes, evaluating their performance after two and six months of use.
Wall-mounted: This type of towel warmer comes with hardware to attach it directly to the wall, which can be helpful for freeing up space in your bathroom. Some wall-mounted towel warmers are hydronic, which Akkins says can “[connect] to your home's hot water system and are more energy-efficient, but require professional installation." They also often take up to two hours to fully heat up, adds Maclaren-Taylor. Other wall-mounted towel warmers are dry element (or electric) and get their heat from a wire that “runs throughout the unit and heats up when turned on,” according to Maclaren-Taylor. These only take 10 to 15 minutes to heat up, he explains.
Freestanding racks: Freestanding racks “are great for rental homes,” says Maclaren-Taylor, since they don’t require installation. You can easily place them anywhere in a bathroom, or even opt to place them in laundry rooms or mud rooms. Akkins adds that even though they’re quite versatile, they can take up a lot of floor space. These would work best for more spacious areas.
If you hope to use the warmer to heat up numerous towels at once, you should opt for a freestanding rack or large wall-mounted unit. Depending on their size, these devices can usually heat up a couple bath sheets at once—although the heat might vary on each. If you only want to heat one large towel (or a handful of small towels) at a time, a bucket, cabinet, or small freestanding towel warmer should suffice.
Some towel warmers come with settings that let you determine how long you want the towel to heat up for. Many models offer timers ranging from 15 minutes to an hour, allowing you to customize the experience and ensure a perfectly heated towel when you step out of the shower.
Rejuvenation Traditional Wall-Mounted Towel Warmer: This beautiful towel warmer can fit two large towels and adds a sophisticated look to any bathroom. It performed very well in testing, but the very high price tag is hard to justify for most buyers.
Both experts agree that a towel warmer is absolutely worth it. If you “enjoy the comfort of stepping out of a shower or bath and wrapping yourself in a warm, cozy, towel,” then Akkins says you’ll love having a towel warmer. But they’re not just for luxury—towel warmers are actually quite useful. In addition to providing a place to hang your towels, “their practical uses include eliminating the breeding ground for bacteria by drying the towel rapidly, and keeping it smelling fresher for longer,” Maclaren-Taylor explains. “It’s kind of like that new feature on a car that you thought you didn’t need but now becomes a necessity on every car after that.”
In most cases, no. "Most heated towel racks cost about $7 to $14 per month to run if left on 24 hours,” says Maclaren-Taylor. “To put that in perspective, they use the same energy as the incandescent light bulb.”
While Maclaren-Taylor says leaving the towel warmer on is safe, he notes that, if you’re concerned, you can “link it to a Wi-Fi light switch to program…a routine” and control the power. Akkins adds that towel warmers’ safety settings (like temperature controls and timers) minimize the chance of danger.
Although some warmers can contribute heat to a small bathroom, heating a larger bathroom would require “a dedicated space heater or a bathroom heating system,” says Akkins.
This article was written by Rachel Simon, a writer for Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, and many other publications, and updated by Jamie Fischer, a commerce writer for Real Simple. We tested many towel warmers in our Lab and evaluated them on design, features, value and more. For expert insight, we spoke to both Craig Maclaren-Taylor of Bathroom Butler and Dan Akkins of Tauwel.
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