Heated towel rails: sizes, power and installation

A heated towel rail dries towels faster, helps reduce damp in the bathroom and adds a little warmth on cold mornings. It is a small upgrade that people rarely regret. Here is how to choose one.

Styles

Ladders

A heated ladder has several horizontal bars, so it can hold more than one towel and gives more heat. Ladders suit family bathrooms and wider walls.

Single and double bars

Single or double heated rails look like standard towel rails but warm up. They suit small bathrooms, powder rooms and spaces where a ladder would feel bulky.

Round or square

Many ranges come with round or square bars and mounting plates. Match the shape to your tapware. For example, Phoenix offers the Radii range with round or square plates, and the classic Cromford range suits traditional bathrooms.

Sizing for your wall

• Measure the available wall width and height, allowing space for the towel to hang without touching the floor, vanity or toilet.
• Allow clearance from the shower screen and door swing.
• As a guide, one ladder holds one or two bath towels. A large family may want two rails or a wider ladder.

Power options

Heated towel rails are either hard wired or plug in.

• Hard wired: the cable is hidden in the wall and connected by a licensed electrician. This gives the neatest finish and is best done during a renovation, before tiling.
• Plug in: uses a nearby power point. Simpler for an existing bathroom, but the cable may be visible.

Electrical work in bathrooms has strict rules about distances from water, so your electrician will confirm where the rail and switch can go. Many people add a timer or a switch outside the bathroom so the rail runs only when needed.

Positioning

Place the rail close to the shower so you can reach a towel without dripping across the floor, but outside the wet zone. Mount it at a comfortable height for everyone in the house. Make sure there is solid backing in the wall, as a loaded ladder is heavier than it looks.

Finishes

Heated rails come in finishes such as chrome, matte black, warm or cool brushed nickel and brushed gold. Choose the same finish as your tapware and accessories. Our finish care guide explains how to keep them looking new.

Running cost

Running cost depends on the wattage of the rail, how long it runs and your electricity tariff. A timer is the easiest way to keep it low. Check the wattage in the product details.

Heated towel rails in small bathrooms

In a small bathroom or ensuite, a slim heated rail or a narrow ladder can fit beside the vanity or on the back wall without crowding the room. It also helps the room dry out after showers, which is useful where ventilation is limited. Our small bathroom ideas have more space saving tips.

Adding a rail to an existing bathroom

If you are not renovating, a plug in rail near an existing power point is the simplest option. Check the wall can take the fixings, and that tiles can be drilled safely. A hard wired rail in an existing bathroom may mean cutting into tiles, so it is usually best combined with other work.

Order and install

See heated towel rails at our Reservoir and Geelong showrooms. If you are renovating, include the rail in your plan before tiling, and ask us to quote installation by our qualified trades, a paid service.

Common questions

Does a heated towel rail need an electrician?

A hard wired rail must be connected by a licensed electrician. Plug in rails use an existing power point, positioned to suit bathroom safety rules.

Ladder or single bar?

A ladder holds more towels and gives more heat. A single or double bar suits small bathrooms and powder rooms.

Can I add a timer?

Yes. A timer or external switch lets the rail run only when needed, which helps with running costs.

Where should a heated towel rail go?

Close to the shower for easy reach, but outside the wet zone, at a height that suits everyone in the house.

Do heated towel rails come in matte black?

Yes. Heated rails come in finishes including matte black, chrome, brushed nickel and brushed gold, depending on the range.

Visit us or shop online

See the range in person at our showrooms: Geelong at 35A Ryrie St, Geelong VIC 3220, phone (03) 5223 2765, and Reservoir at 214 Broadway, Reservoir VIC 3073, phone (03) 9867 5051. Both are open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5:00pm, Saturday 9:30am to 3:00pm, and Sunday by appointment only.

Planning a renovation? Request a quote and a free measure, and ask us to include installation by our qualified trades if you would like it quoted. Prefer to shop from home? Order online with Australia-wide delivery, or pick up from either showroom, usually ready in 2 to 4 days.