Electric Towel Warmer: Is It Worth Buying? A 2022 Guide

An electric towel warmer is worth buying if you want a quick-drying, warm towel in the bathroom and supplementary heating at the same time. The appliance dries a towel in less than an hour, pre-warms clothes, and as a radiator also heats the bathroom. When buying, power, controls, wiring and design are the main considerations.

Many homes already have smart devices and appliances that make everyday life more comfortable, but the electric towel warmer rarely makes the list. Many people do not even think of it, or do not know that such an appliance exists. In this guide we look at what it is good for, who it pays off for, and what to check before you choose.

What is an electric towel warmer good for?

It dries the towel

Its most obvious use is drying the towel. After a shower or washing, just hang it up, and in less than an hour it is ready to use again – you do not have to put it in the dryer with the clothes. It seems a small thing, but once you get used to it, it is hard to give up.

It keeps clothes warm

Because it gives off heat, it can also pre-warm clothes. On cold winter mornings it is nice when your clothes are waiting for you warm. So that the warmer does not run all night, it is worth setting a timer so that it switches on only in the morning, before you get up.

It provides supplementary heating

A towel warmer also works as a radiator. Many bathrooms and washrooms have no separate heater, and then the warmer provides extra warmth and makes it more pleasant to step out of the shower. Whether it is enough to heat a whole bathroom depends on the size of the room, its heat loss and the power of the appliance. It does not warm cold tiles, however: for that, infrared heating in the bathroom, for example underfloor heating with heating film, is the solution. There are also towel holders built into infrared panels, which give off heat by radiation – we write about infrared panels on a separate page.

What to check before you buy

Power and size

Towel warmers come in various power ratings; in our webshop, for example, there are 350 W, 500 W, 750 W and 1000 W models. The power you need is determined by the floor area, ceiling height and heat loss of the bathroom, and by whether you intend it for drying only or for heating as well. We have also summarised the sizing considerations on the towel warmer category page.

Controls

Today's models come with various kinds of control: the temperature can be adjusted and a timer can be set. You can choose between manual and digital control; digital is generally more expensive, but we think the difference is worth it because it can be set more precisely. With wifi control the warmer can become part of the smart home and be operated from a phone: if it was left on when you left home, you can switch it off from anywhere, which also shows on the electricity bill.

Wiring and safety

A bathroom is a damp room. Choose an appliance that the manufacturer intends for bathroom use, and leave the wiring – especially fixed wiring – to an electrician, who will mark out its position according to the bathroom's electrical safety rules.

Design

It is a fair concern that a plain white radiator will spoil the overall look of a carefully designed, beautifully tiled bathroom. But towel warmers come in many designs and colours: besides white, black, dark shades and chrome finishes are available, and some manufacturers also offer custom colours to order.

Consumption

Consumption depends on the appliance's power and on how many hours it runs. With a timer, a thermostat or wifi control you can avoid the warmer staying on unnecessarily all day.

Is it worth it?

If an always dry, warm towel matters to you and the bathroom also needs supplementary heating, then in our opinion an electric towel warmer is worth the investment: it is a dryer, a clothes warmer and supplementary heating in one. If you are not sure which type suits your bathroom, ask our expert before you buy or add to the basket.

Towel warmers from our webshop

The models below are examples from the range (Hungarian-language shop, delivery within Hungary); you can find the current price and availability on the product page, and the full range in the towel warmer category.

• Tonon OPTI DYNA 350W towel warmer (white)
• Tonon OPTI DYNA 500W towel warmer (white)
• Tonon OPTI DYNA 750W towel warmer (white)
• Tonon OPTI DYNA 1000W towel warmer (white)
• Tonon OPTI DYNA 350W towel warmer (black)
• Tonon OPTI DYNA 500W towel warmer (black)