To help you find the right one for your space, we researched the best towel warmers, evaluating ease of installation and use, heating source, durability, and value. Our top pick, the Zadro Luxury Ultra Large Towel Warmer, has a low-profile footprint, timer settings, and an auto-shutoff safety feature. Here, the best towel warmers. A towel warmer’s main function is to, well, warm towels. But a unit that looks nice well while doing the job is one that’s worthy of top honors. The Zadro Luxury Towel Warmer is large enough to effectively warm not only towels, but also robes, and more. It’s also stylish, thanks to a modern freestanding design complete with sleek lines and a color palette you’d find in a spa. Despite its low profile, our tester was impressed by how much she could fit in this towel warmer. She had no problem loading multiple towels at once, and could easily see it working for bulkier items, too. “I would toss in a blanket or robe before a night on the patio in the chilly air,” she said. “This warmer turns any item into the perfect cozy treat for a cold night.” The unit is convenient, to boot: The bucket-style warmer doesn’t require any installation, and it has a 78-inch long cord that tucks into the base when you’re not using the unit. Just find a space in your bathroom or bedroom, plug it in, and prepare to be enveloped in a warm towel after your shower. (The ultimate indulgence in the depths of winter!) This towel warmer has four timer options, ranging from 15 to 60 minutes. If there’s any downside, it’s that this towel warmer can be too effective sometimes, as the surface inside gets very hot to the touch. Don’t worry, though: This is more of a safety issue for your hands than it is for your home—the unit has an auto-shutoff feature for peace of mind. Price at time of publish: $160 Once installed, operation is seamless: Simply turn the towel warmer on with the flip of a switch. The manufacturer claims that textiles will heat up in ten minutes, but our home tester found it to be even shorter—taking just five minutes. “This means that I don’t have to think ahead or do anything other than turn it on before getting into the shower," she said. “You can hang two towels side-by-side and get them both warm enough for noticeable comfort after your shower.” After you’re done showering, the rust-resistant stainless steel rack will help draw the moisture out of towels, preventing them from developing mildew or a musty smell. You can also use it to dry bathing suits, delicates, and outerwear. Also nice: The towel warmer comes in either a polished or brushed finish, so you can choose the option that best suits your space. Price at time of publish: $300 This affordable electric rack is versatile, too. Place it in a free-standing position, or mount it to your wall to save floor space. Plus, it’s spacious enough to heat towels or even dry clothes; the choice is yours. To operate, simply plug it in and use the remote to turn it on or off and choose from the 2 or 4-hour settings. When the cycle is complete, the unit shuts off on its own. Just make sure you have the right spot for this towel warmer, as the power cord is only 6 feet long. Price at time of publish: $105 This towel warmer can be easily installed on the wall, but it would also make a fantastic addition to a luxury walk-in shower since it’s made of stainless steel and has a moisture-resistant finish. The biggest downside? The unit only has one heat setting, so you can’t adjust it to your exact preferences. Thankfully, it’s hot enough to effectively warm most towels and robes. Price at time of publish: $629-$889 The six wide racks on this warmer accommodate plenty, too. Use it to warm up bath sheets, or place already-damp items on it to help dry them more quickly, so they don’t develop mildew. The unit has an impressive heat output of 273 BTUs per hour for efficiency. Still, there’s no reason to worry about overheating: the unit has integrated overheat protection, which automatically shuts it off if the temperature reaches 150 degrees. And although this towel warmer is definitely more expensive than most, you’ll enjoy a full five-year warranty to insure your purchase. Price at time of publish: $616 Once you’re up and running, you’ll be pleased with the unit’s performance. The seven-bar system has a gentle curve to help accommodate bulkier items. It also heats up to a satisfying 120 degrees Fahrenheit within 20 minutes. Just be aware that this particular towel warmer doesn’t have an auto-shutoff, so be diligent. Price at time of publish: $294 Of course, the sacrifice you make for this space-saving unit is also space—you can’t fit multiple larger towels on this unit at once, and bulkier items like robes will overtake it. That said, if you only have one towel to warm at a time, this is a good option. It runs on a lower wattage, so you don’t have to worry about excess energy use. Because of this, you can also keep the warmer on continuously without worrying about it overheating or causing an electrical hazard. If you do want it off, don’t forget to shut it off yourself, as there’s no auto-shutoff feature. Price at time of publish: $137 The stainless steel towel warmer comes with all of the hardware you need for mounting and doesn’t require any cords, so the resulting aesthetic is nice and sleek. Another nice feature: The unit is engineered to be energy-efficient, so even despite its large size, you won’t be pulling tons of electricity. And, yes, there’s an automatic shut-off—just in case. Price at time of publish: $724 But if you’re game to hire someone for the job, you’ll be happy with both aesthetic and performance. The stainless steel towel warmer comes in your choice of shiny silver or contemporary white. There’s no fussing with settings, either—operation is as straightforward as it gets. Also nice: The towel warmer comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Price at time of publish: $771 It operates much like the ones you’ve likely seen at the nail salon. Like a mini fridge, you simply plug it in and let it heat up. This model heats to a range of 158 to 176 degrees Fahrenheit in about thirty minutes. For best results, the manufacturer recommends wetting towels with warm water and wringing out the excess water before putting them into the warmer. You’ll feel like you’re at the spa each time you pull one of those warm, moist towels out. And don’t worry: There’s not much to do in the way of cleaning. The stainless steel racks are rust-resistant. What’s more, the machine comes with a two-year limited warranty. Price at time of publish: $130
What to Look for in a Towel Warmer
Style
You’ll have several different styles of towel warmers to choose from. Rack-style options are great for larger bath-size towels, while cabinet-style versions are perfect for hand towels and washcloths. Some rack-style warmers offer the advantage of being wall-mounted, freeing up floor space, but free-standing models are also common. There are also barrel-shaped warmers that can also hold robes, slippers, and more. “I prefer towel warmers that are attached to the wall instead of free-standing, so that they don’t take up valuable floor space,” says interior designer Linzie Merchant. Additionally, she recommends considering the finish of the product and how it will look in your space. “For instance, if you have matte black faucets, pulls, etc., opt for [a] matte black towel warmer,” she adds.
Capacity
Whether you get a rack or a cabinet-style version, there are both larger and smaller units to choose from. “When purchasing a towel warmer, you should consider how many towels you actually want to warm at one time,” says Merchant. You’ll save space and minimize energy usage with a smaller warmer, but it may not be ideal for a large household.
Electric vs. Hydronic
Most towel warmers on the market are electric. This type of warmer is either hardwired or plugged into the wall and uses electrical energy to create radiant heat. Then there are hydronic towel warmers, which use hot water from your home’s plumbing system to generate heat. Generally speaking, hydronic models offer more efficient heating than electric warmers, though it depends on the design.
Warm-Up Time
You’ll also want to take note of the warm-up time, as some models heat up faster than others. The average warm-up time is around 15 to 20 minutes, but you’ll find models that take as little as 10 minutes or as long as 40 minutes to heat up. “If you take short showers, you’d want to consider purchasing a towel warmer that heats up quicker,” says Merchant. Additionally, just like a conventional oven, the time it takes to reach the desired temperature (preheat) is different than the time it takes to heat what’s inside.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Brigitt Earley is a freelance writer and editor with nearly 15 years of experience writing about consumer products. Apart from The Spruce, She’s written for a wide range of digital publications, including Apartment Therapy, Good Housekeeping, and Martha Stewart. You can also hang-dry swimsuits, pool towels, delicates, wet shoes, and outerwear on the bars. Depending on how you use your towel warmer, you might consider placing it in your bathroom, laundry room, mudroom, or entryway.
Additionally, following the manufacturer’s instructions carefully when installing and using your towel warmer is important. “Be sure not to overload the unit, and never leave it on when you’re not home,” she adds. “Finally, remember to unplug your towel warmer when you’re done using it—even if it has a safety shut-off.” For this story, Brigitt spoke with Kate Diaz, an interior designer, real estate expert, and co-founder of Swanky Den, and researched the top towel warmers currently on the market. She considered dozens of models from various retailers, checked user reviews, combed through the specs, and studied the key features and prices before making her final selections. Theresa Holland contributed additional research and reporting.
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Here at The Spruce we want to ensure we fully stand behind every product we recommend, and that when we say something is the best, we mean it. You might have noticed The Spruce Approved badge next to the products on this list. Every product with this badge has been rigorously tested in person and carefully selected by our expert team of lab testers and editors. In most cases, we buy all these products ourselves, though occasionally we get samples provided to us directly by companies. No matter how we procure products, they all go through the same tests and must meet the same strict criteria to make the best-of cut. We also pride ourselves on transparency and will always let you know if we received a product for free.
