One of the best upgrades you can add to your bathroom is a towel warmer. There is nothing quite like getting out of the shower on a cold winter’s day and grabbing a luxurious, warm towel.
That’s why you have decided it’s time to install towel warmers in your bathroom – but which should you choose?
In this article, we list our top models (just scroll down a little) and then provide in-depth reviews and a buying guide in case you are still struggling to choose the best warmer for your bathroom.
Let’s get into it!
Disclosure: It is important you understand that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. All opinions are our own we pride ourselves on keeping our articles fair and balanced. For more info see our disclosure statement.
The best Towel Warmer Options
When it comes to picking out the towel warmer for your bathroom or spa, your choices primarily come down to three features:
Price – Do you get value for money? (cheaper isn’t always better)
Capacity – How many towels does it hold?
Style – What style of towel warmer is it and does it require installation?
Keep in mind that you will need to pick a model that suits your unique requirements, don’t just buy one because someone says it is the best.
The following towel warmers offer good features for a good price – these models are what we would buy:
Best Towel Warmer
Amba Curved Towel Warmer
Heats up quickly with ten crossbars for optimal drying.
It also comes with a great 2-year warranty & more than 4 stars on Amazon.
At an upper-mid-tier price but one of the highest storage capacities, we felt that the Amba Curved Towel Warmer was the best choice in terms of pure functionality.
It is a wall mounted electric towel warmer, so it won’t take up floor space and will look great in a modern bathroom, matching your beautiful shower wall options & decor.
The Best Options For A Heated Towel Warmer
Amba RWH-CP Curved Wall Mount Towel Warmer
Key Specifications
- Manufactured from stainless steel
- Built in on/off switch
- 10 cross bars
- Both horizontal and vertical bars are heated
I heard you like bars on your towel warmer. How does 10 bars sound? With the Amba RWH-CP Towel Warmer, you can have 10 bars to warming up your towels, blankets, and robes.
As the second most expensive option on our list, you’ll be happy to know it also has the 2nd highest towel capacity, at a whopping 2-3 towels (depending on size and configuration).
The bars are powered by electricity, producing heat inside with resistors and allowing the heat to emanate through the bars to your towels. This way you get near-direct, even heat distribution on all parts of the towel near the bars.
To maximize the heating/drying speed, draping multiple sections of the same towel on multiple bars allows for more area to be heated simultaneously, and thankfully you’ve got 10 bars. Drape away!
A perk of this wall-mounted model is that not only are the horizontal bars heated, but the vertical bars are as well. This gives you additional space to warm something – a wool hat, some gloves, or other winter wear would likely fit perfectly on the peak of the vertical bars.
You’re also getting a solid 2-year warranty in case something breaks down, making it a bit easier to pay the extra money for this model.
The Bottom Line
For the price, this is likely the best wall-mounted towel warmer option we’ve reviewed. The additional bars allow for more creative towel configurations, allowing you to maximize your space. With tons of 5-star reviews on Amazon, you can trust this choice.
More Info:
User Manual: Download
Dimensions: 31.5 x 4.8 x 23.8 inches
Manufacturers Website: https://ambaproducts.com
Amba RWH-CP Curved Towel Warmer is available on Amazon.
Read more: 39 Amazing Towel Storage Ideas
TWB01 Ultra Large Luxury Free Standing Electric Towel Warmer Review
Key Specifications
- Automatic on/off settings
- Multiple time settings
- Evenly heats with the bucket shape
Do you have limited wall space but still want to enjoy warm towels? The TWB01 Electric Towel Warmer is the best solution. This model is simple and freestanding, perfect for open counter space or an unoccupied corner of the bathroom.
This towel warmer is affordable and electric, able to be plugged into a standard outlet. It has a basic bucket style for warming two full-sized towels and comes in simple pastels which are easy to style. The main colors are a cool white and gray.
There is a built-in cord storage to keep the warmer’s wires hidden when the warmer is not in use.
It keeps things easy to use with a single temperature setting, and the temperature itself is optimal for any situation, especially just getting out of the shower and wanting to warm up.
A built-in timer on the TWB01 allows you to control how long you want your towel warmer to be operational. You can keep towels warm at 15, 30, 45 or 60 minute intervals before the device automatically shuts off for safety.
This model heats evenly and requires no installation or assembly when it arrives. It comes with a 1-year limited manufacturer warranty to cover basic damage and maintenance, and is made of basic metal and plastic.
The Bottom Line
For an affordable price, you are able to get a flexible towel heater that is easy to store when not in use.
You can maximize your space and stay warm on chilly days with little effort when you get the TWB01 Electric Towel Warmer.
WarmlyYours Riviera Towel Warmer
Key Specifications
- 9 bar design
- Hardwired
- Programmable timer or on/off switch
- 2 year warranty
Coming in as the most expensive option of our reviews is the WarmlyYours 9-Bar Towel Warmer.
This stainless-steel wall-mounted towel warmer has 9 hardwire-heated bars that you can hang towels and other items on to slowly warm them. The bars are separated into 3 groups of 3 with a few inches between the sets. This allows you to use more of the bars for heating because they will be more spread out rather than on top of each other, increasing its capacity.
The intelligent design also reduces the risk of mildew and improves heating time because it allows for ample air flow throughout the towels.
The Bottom Line
This product would be a solid choice for anyone with a modern bathroom who’s looking to be able to effectively heat 3 full-sized towels, prefers a wall-mounted warmer, and has a significant budget.
More Info:
User/Installation Manual: Download here.
Dimensions: 24″ W x 32″ H x 5″ D
Manufacturers Website: https://www.warmlyyours.com/
WarmlyYours Riviera Towel Warmer is available on Amazon.
Elite Hot Towel Cabinet Mini
Key Specifications
- Holds 1 full sized towel or 12 facial sized towels
- Internal temperature control – won’t overheat
- Small enough to sit on a dresser
For those who don’t need to heat a lot of towels and other larger items, the Elite Hot Towel Cabinet is a unique mid-low-tier-priced option to consider.
While it does look a bit like a mix between a microwave and an old-fashioned refrigerator, it is still a formidable internal heater that can reach up to 150°F.
Its capacity is about 1 full-sized towel, or a dozen hand-towels at a time (hence the mini) and boasts a solid heating time of around 20-30 minutes for warm towels, and 90 minutes for totally-dried warm towels. The heat time is variable based on how many items are in the heater though, as it is powered by a heating element that surrounds the interior, heating from the outside in.
The Bottom Line
This model is best for personal use where convenience trumps capacity. It has a high maximum temperature and quick heating time, so if you plan to use it just for small towels, it can definitely work.
More Info:
Interior dimensions: 10.5″w x 7 1/4″ d x 5 3/8″ h
Exterior dimensions: 13 3/4″ w x 11″ d x 10″ h
Elite Hot Towel Cabinet Mini is available on Amazon.
Ancona AN-5327 Electric Large Towel Warmer
Key Specifications
- Carbon steel construction
- 7 horizontal bars
- Hardwired
- On/off switch
Priced slightly below the Amba model is the AN-5327 Electric Towel Warmer. This warmer seriously delivers with 7 electrically-heated bars that distribute heat evenly between the uniformly-spaced bars. Despite having less bars than some of the other options, this model’s bars are slightly larger and have more space between each, allowing you to cover more of the towel being heated and fit a similar number of towels to models with more bars.
It should be able to comfortably hold 2 full-sized towels, and more if you get creative or have smaller towels. Just remember that the more of the item is touching the bars, the faster it’ll warm up!
This model does not include a timer or many additional features aside from an on/off switch. However, it is also incredibly energy-efficient thanks to the design of its heating element. This allows it to stay on constantly without draining your electric bill and ensuring you always have a towel on hand.
Being able to reach nearly 160° also means that it will be able to heat the room slightly if left on, making it cozier to dry off in (especially if you add a bathroom heater).
The Bottom Line
Despite having a less bars than the other mounted models, this option is still in the running due to thicker bars and low energy pull, allowing it to be always ready. If you can find a good deal, this is one of the best and chances are you’ll be more than happy choosing this model.
More Info:
Installation Manual: Download
Dimensions: 21.6 x 4.7 x 31.5 inches
Manufacturers Website: https://www.anconahome.com
Ancona AN-5327 Electric Towel Warmer is available on Amazon.
What To Look For When Shopping For Top Towel Warmers
When you’re browsing through different towel warmers online, you’re going to see a lot of information to consider before making your choice. The right model for you depends on what you’re looking for out of the heater. Is it just for you, or your whole family? Do you have the space for a wall-mounted model? These things – and more – are necessary to ask yourself before you make a final decision.
Below we will outline some of the finer details to help you decide on the towel warmer to suit your needs.
Towels Capacity
Maybe the most important distinguishing factor, the capacity is how many towels, blankets, robes, washcloths, and other objects your towel warmers can heat at one time. As long as you have the space for it, a larger capacity towel rack is usually better. However, you will find that increasing the capacity often increases the price.
Heating Source
The source of your towel warmers heat can either come from an electric heating element or a hydronic heater. Choosing between the 2 really depends on the layout of your home, as they can be as easy as plugging into an outlet, or as complex as integrating a hydronic system into your plumbing. Therefore, unless you’re planning a bathroom remodel, you’ll probably end up going electric!
An electric heater uses electricity and passes it through a resistor to convert it into heat, which then radiates out from the heating element. This usually applies to hardwired (attached to your electrical system) and plug-in models (either mounted or standing).
A hydronic system uses hot water to heat the towels, transferring the thermal energy from the water into the bars, cabinet, or bucket holding the towels. These are primarily wall mounted and are very expensive!
Warmer Type
There are 3 primary warmer types – bars, buckets, and cabinet heaters.
A bar heater is usually made of a metal material like stainless-steel, with a heating mechanism running through the warmers bars to provide the heat for the towel warmer. In general, the parts of the item that are touching the bars themselves will dry the fastest, though the heat will spread between nearby lateral bars for even heating. Their capacity often depends on the number of bars, their distance apart, and their size.
Bucket towel warmers are what you expect – warmers that look like buckets. The opening is on top and the towels simply sit inside them, and you place the lid on and let it work. The interior heating element heats from all sides, allowing it to penetrate into the middle of the pile. You’ll find that many bucket heaters have solid capacity, but not as much as a carefully-crafted bar heating configuration will.
Cabinet warmers are similar to a microwave, closet, or cabinet. Like a bucket heater, the towels are warmed by a heating mechanism on the inside the surrounds the items. Once they are done, you can simply open it and grab your bathroom towel. They come in a wide array of sizes and are often the most portable.
Size & Location
Before you pick a model, be sure to measure your bathroom to make sure it fits! Wall-mounted towel warmers take up a significant amount of wall space, so if your bathroom is a little snug, it may be best to get a more portable model like a canister or cabinet towel warmer.
You’ll also want to keep your electrical heater away from any source of water to avoid damage, and preferably out of reach or “bumping into” range because they can get very hot. You may lose some skin if you bump into a wall-mounted model at the wrong time!
Mounting
Depending on how much space you have and where it is, you’ll want to decide between mounted and standalone towel warmers. Wall-mounted models take up less floor space, but much more wall space. Standalone towel racks can get in the way, but you’re able to move them as you need to.
Consider what your bathroom looks like and check your walls for studs to mount it your towel warmers into – otherwise, you’ll risk it pulling out a chunk of your wall!
Timer
If you don’t plan to leave your towel heater on all the time, you can take advantage of a timer. Some models of towel warmers have a timer that lets you choose a specific amount of time to heat for before it turns off automatically. With more advanced models, you’re able to set your towel heater on a schedule to be ready for you when you wake up. Talk about convenience!
Towel Warmer FAQs
How Long Does It Take to Dry a Towel?
The time it takes to fully dry or warm a towel depends on a few factors. The first would be the wattage of your warmer, as that controls how quickly it can heat up and how warm it can get. It also depends on the type of towel warmer you’re using. Even the best models won’t work quickly if it’s overfilled or the items are not positioned correctly on the bars.
In general, you can expect a warm towel in 30 minutes, a hot towel in 60 minutes, and a completely dry and warm towel in about 90 under standard circumstances.
Should I Leave my towel warmer on or Turn It Off?
Depending on the type of heater you use, you may have the option of leaving it on all the time. This is usually common on wall-mounted bar heaters, as they are out of the way for the most part and it is more energy efficient to maintain their temperature than go from cold to hot again. Leaving your heater on can also heat the room, so the electricity or hot water doesn’t go to waste. However, if you don’t plan to use it for a while, definitely turn it off!
What Else Can You Use a towel warmer For?
Just because it’s a towel warmer doesn’t mean you can’t use it for other things! Other potential uses include:
- Blankets
- Robes
- Winter Wear
- Socks
- Wet Clothes
- Heating the Room
Are Towel Warmers Safe?
When it comes to dealing with extremely hot temperatures – especially on exposed bars – there is always a danger. These towel warmers get incredibly hot, and if you forget they’re on or brush up against them, you could be in for some serious pain!
Additionally, electric towel warmers are at risk of shorting out with the introduction of water, so be careful about placing them too close to the shower or sink. Fortunately, outside of the plug, most models do a good job of hiding delicate electronics, so you should be safe!
Finally, if you’re concerned about putting your flammable items directly into something scalding hot, don’t worry too much. These models operate at a low enough temperature that they are not at a high risk for fire unless there is immediate contact made with the heating source. Fortunately, the bars and insulated heating mechanisms block them, so you should be safe!
Will A Towel Warmer Heat a Bathroom?
The short answer is Yes! For more info, we have an article covering that exact question here.
Who Makes The Best Towel Warmers?
In our opinion, Amba and Zadro are two of the top towel warmer brands to check out.
Amba makes a great ten rail model (scroll up to see more details) and our Zadro makes what we believe to be the best bucket towel warmer.
Wrapping Up
A towel warmer is an incredibly convenient machine that helps take the sting out of leaving the shower or bath. By the time your shower is done, you can have a hot towel ready to hug you with heat until you can dry off and get dressed.
Some can even heat the room for you to make it an even more pleasant experience.
Now that you’ve learned just about everything you need to know about choosing the a towel warmer, you’re ready to compare options and choose the right one for you.
If you’re on a budget or looking for a standalone model, our recommendation is the Brookstone Towel Warmer. It offers the best value and solid capacity in a stylish design.
If you’re looking for a wall-mounted model, consider the Amba RWH-CP for its good price, 10-bar heating system, and sold 2-year warranty.
What are you waiting for? The best cure for cold feet are some warmed socks.
