What are the different types of towel warmers?

There are two common styles of towel warmers that you’ll see in bathrooms. Bucket-style warmers are the most affordable, and they’re essentially just a large, heated bucket that you toss linens into before you get in the shower. There are also rack-style warmers, which can either be freestanding or mounted to the wall and are meant to be used for longer periods of time.

What is the fastest towel warmer?

In general, bucket towel warmers work faster than racks, and the higher the wattage, the quicker they’ll warm up your towels. For fast, even heating, you’ll likely want a model like the Zadro Large Aromatherapy Towel Warmer , which has a high wattage of 480. It will generally be able to heat up towels in just 10 to 15 minutes.

Can you put wet towels on a towel warmer?

Only certain types of towel warmers are designed to be used with wet towels. In general, rack-style towel warmers, whether freestanding or wall-mounted, can be used to dry off wet towels, as they allow for enough air circulation around the fabric. (You’ll generally need to leave them on for several hours for them to work, though.) On the other hand, if you put a wet towel into a bucket-style towel warmer, you’ll likely end up with a linen that’s simply damp and warm — which doesn’t sound pleasant.

Do you leave towel warmers on all the time?

If you have a rack or wall-mounted towel warmer, you may find that it works best if you leave it running 24/7, as this allows it to keep towels warm and dry. “Leaving a towel warmer on all the time is fine — this is another reason why we choose better quality units,” explains Taylor. “I'd be more concerned with how much it's going to cost over a few months of being on all the time!”

The 8 Best Towel Warmers of 2024, Tested by PEOPLE

A person puts a blanket into the TMWings Bucket Towel Warmer. — Photo:
People / Henry Wortock

We can’t all have an in-home spa like Gwyneth Paltrow and Paris Hilton, but you can make your existing bathroom feel a little more luxurious with one-step upgrades like a nicer showerhead and a towel warmer. The latter gadget is particularly great to have during the winter, as it keeps your bath towels (and blankets and plush robes) toasty until you step out of the shower.

Towel warmers come in a few different styles, including buckets, freestanding racks, and wall-mounted units, which are popular for high-end homes. “We install towel warmers on our higher-end bathroom renovations,” says Michael Taylor, director at Form Bathroom Renovations Mornington. “Our clients love having the convenience of warm towels while also achieving a clean aesthetic in their bathroom.”

To help you find the best towel warmer for your home, we tested 29 popular models, including options in all shapes and sizes. We evaluated each one based on its setup, design, heating performance, and value. We also continued testing them at home for several months to see how well they held up over time.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Zadro Countertop Towel Warmer at Amazon $160

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Best Overall, Runner-Up:

Zadro Aromatherapy Towel Warmer at Amazon $200

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Best Budget:

SALE

Live Fine Towel Warmer at Amazon ~~$130~~ $110

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Best Wall-Mounted:

KEG Wall-Mounted Towel Warmer at Amazon $99

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Best Rack:

Amba Solo Towel Warmer at Amazon $280

Jump to Review

Best Small:

StateRiver Towel Heater and Steamer at Amazon $29

Jump to Review

Best Large:

LiveFine Large Bucket Towel Warmer at Amazon $140

Jump to Review

Best for Blankets:

TMWings Bucket Towel Warmer at Amazon $100

Jump to Review

Best Overall

Zadro Countertop Towel Warmer

PHOTO: Amazon

$160 at Amazon $160 at Target $168 at QVC

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

5/5
Heating Performance

5/5
Eigenschaften

5/5
Value

4.5/5

Star Qualities

Compact design is great for small spaces
Wide base feels very stable
Towels reach 100 degrees in 15 minutes

Red Flags

Only fits one towel at a time

The Zandro Countertop Towel Warmer is compact and efficient, making it a top choice for your bathroom. This countertop model is only 13.5 inches tall, so it won’t take up too much space, and it’s the perfect size to hold one large bath sheet.

During testing, we liked that the shallow design makes it easy to grab your warm towel — you don’t have to reach deep into the bucket like other models — and the unit’s wide base makes it stable, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally knocking it over.

This bucket-style warmer is simple to operate. You simply put your towel in and turn on the timer, which has settings for 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. After 15 minutes in the bucket, towels were warmed to around 100 degrees in our tests, and you could likely get them even hotter if you let the bucket heat up for longer. Conversely, you can also gently warm up items, such as a baby blanket, for less time.

Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 13.5 inches | Type: Countertop bucket | Capacity: 16 liters | Power: 210 watts

PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Zadro Aromatherapy Towel Warmer

PHOTO: Amazon

$200 at Amazon $200 at Target $150 at Walmart

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

5/5
Heating Performance

5/5
Eigenschaften

5/5
Value

4.5/5

Star Qualities

Spacious enough for multiple bath sheets or a blanket
Warmed to 115 degrees in 15 minutes
Essential oil diffuser gives a pleasant scent

Red Flags

Bucket can become unstable if power cord is misplaced

You can heat up multiple towels (or even a blanket) in the Zadro Aromatherapy Towel Warmer. This model is a larger option, measuring over 21 inches tall, so it does need to be placed on the ground, but we found that it can comfortably hold two large bath sheets at a time.

The timer offers four settings in 15-minute increments, and after just 15 minutes in the bucket, our linens were warmed to around 115 degrees — perfectly warm to wrap up in without being too hot.

This bucket-style towel warmer has stylish wooden feet on the base that keep it steady, though you have to thread its power cord carefully through the base. Otherwise, it may make the unit unstable. Inside the lid, there’s a wooden disc where you can put a few drops of essential oil, and we found that it lends a faint smell to the towels without being overwhelming.

Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 21.25 inches | Type: Bucket | Capacity: 20 liters | Power: 480 watts

PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best Budget

Live Fine Towel Warmer

PHOTO: Amazon

$110 at Amazon $110 at Target $110 at Walmart

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

5/5
Heating Performance

4.5/5
Eigenschaften

5/5
Value

4.5/5

Star Qualities

Small but efffective
Lid and upper edges of the bucket stay cool to the touch

Red Flags

Need to heat one towel at a time to avoid cold spots

Towel warmers can be pricey, and the Live Fine Towel Warmer was the top-performing budget model during our tests. It’s on the smaller side, so you could easily put it on a counter, but we found that it can still hold two regular-sized towels or one bath sheet.

The bucket was very stable, especially when it had towels inside. The lid and upper edges stayed cool to the touch during operation, so we were never worried about burning our hands when pulling towels out.

This unit has a small digital screen, and you can set its timer to 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes. After 15 minutes of warming, a single towel was close to 115 degrees, though we did notice that there were a few cold spots on it. When we tried warming two towels at once, the heat wasn't distributed evenly, so we’d recommend sticking to one loosely folded towel for the best results.

Dimensions: 12.6 x 12.6 x 13.4 inches | Type: Bucket | Capacity: 10 liters | Power: 220 watts

PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best Wall-Mounted

KEG Wall-Mounted Towel Warmer

PHOTO: Amazon

$99 at Amazon

Our Ratings

Setup

4/5
Design

5/5
Heating Performance

5/5
Eigenschaften

5/5
Value

5/5

Star Qualities

Can be plugged in or hardwired
Can weave towel through bars for more even heating
Space-saving design

Red Flags

Included drywall anchors broke during installation

If floor space is at a premium in your bathroom, the Keg Wall-Mounted Towel Warmer can be installed right on the wall. This unit comes with a six-foot power cord, but you can also hardwire it into your home’s electrical system for a more seamless look. The installation is more complicated than a bucket towel warmer (especially if you’re hardwiring it), and the drywall anchors included with the product broke during installation, forcing us to purchase new ones.

In terms of performance, we were impressed by this rack’s warming ability. It’s only big enough to hold one towel, but we did find that you can layer two on top of each other, and the upper one will still get warm. In around 30 minutes, the towels were pleasantly warm to the touch, and they got even warmer when we wove the towel between the bars. The unit has a two- or four-hour timer that will automatically shut it off as well.

How It's Held Up

We continued to use this towel warmer at home over the course of six months. It consistently took around 30 minutes to warm up towels, so we found that it’s best to preheat the rack before getting into the shower or bath. While its performance remained consistent over long-term testing, we did run into installation problems after a few months. The drywall anchors ended up pulling out of the wall due to the weight of the rack and towels, so we’d recommend installing the rack directly into studs for better security.

Dimensions: 16.4 x 20.86 x 3.15 inches | Type: Wall-mounted | Capacity: 1 towel | Power: 40 watts

PHOTO: People / Megan Wood
PHOTO: People / Megan Wood
PHOTO: People / Megan Wood

Best Rack

Amba Solo Towel Warmer

PHOTO: The Home Depot

$266 at Amazon $266 at Home Depot

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

5/5
Heating Performance

4.5/5
Eigenschaften

4.5/5
Value

3/5

Star Qualities

Felt sturdy and stable with towels inside
Can use to dry towels

Red Flags

Doesn’t warm towels quickly

Bucket-style towel warmers are designed to heat linens quickly — usually while you’re in the shower or bath — but if you want a unit that helps dry off wet towels, the Amba Solo Towel Warmer was the best freestanding rack we tested. It can hold two towels at a time, and we found it quite sturdy when there were linens hung over its bars. It has a five-foot power cord, and it’s simple to operate with a single on/off button.

This towel warmer isn’t the best option for quick heating — after 10 minutes on the rack, towels were only about 10 degrees warmer than their starting temperature. However, if you leave your towels on this rack throughout the day, it will help dry them off, preventing them from getting musty and leaving them nicely warm.

Dimensions: 12 x 33 x 38 inches | Type: Freestanding rack | Capacity: 2 towels | Power: 150 watts

PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best Small

StateRiver Towel Heater and Steamer

Amazon StateRiver Mini Towel Heater and Steamer

PHOTO: Amazon

$29 at Amazon

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

4/5
Heating Performance

5/5
Eigenschaften

4/5
Value

4.5/5

Star Qualities

Evenly heated eight mini towels
Warmed towels to 175 degrees

Red Flags

Unit feels lightweight and flimsy

If you like to use a hot washcloth to clean your face or just soothe yourself after a long day, the StateRive Mini Towel Heater is an inexpensive product to add to your bathroom. Unlike most towel warmers, which use radiant heat to warm your linens, this unit steams them using hot water.

We tested it with the eight mini towels that come with the unit, and we were impressed to find that they were all evenly heated to an average temperature of 175 degrees. The warmth was soothing yet still safe to touch, and it would be a useful gadget for a spa setting or even to pamper yourself at home.

While the towel steamer did perform well, there were a few design features that we didn’t love. The whole thing feels pretty cheap in its construction, with lightweight plastic and a flimsy lid that rests on top of the bucket. The wooden tongs that come with the machine aren’t the best either; they weren’t quite wide enough to firmly grasp a towel from the steamer.

Dimensions: 8.7 x 8.7 x 9.5 inches | Type: Countertop steamer | Capacity: Not listed | Power: 400 watts

PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best Large

LiveFine Large Bucket Towel Warmer

PHOTO: Amazon

$140 at Amazon $140 at Wayfair $140 at Macy's

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

4.5/5
Heating Performance

4.5/5
Eigenschaften

5/5
Value

4/5

Star Qualities

Can fit two bath sheets or three bath towels
Warms quickly
Inside doesn’t get too hot

Red Flags

A bit wobbly

If you generally use bath sheets, which are larger than standard towels, you might want a model like the Live Fine Large Bucket Towel Warmer. It has an 18-liter capacity, and we found that you can fit two bath sheets or three towels inside the bucket. Plus, it was able to warm towels evenly, reaching a temperature of around 100 degrees after just 10 minutes.

Like most of the bucket-style warmers we tested, this unit has a timer that you can set to a maximum of 60 minutes, and its digital screen makes it easy to program. We liked that the interior of the bucket didn’t get overly hot during operation, so we didn’t have to worry about burning our hands while fishing towels from the bottom. However, the unit is slightly wobbly, so you may need to tuck it in a corner to prevent it from being knocked over.

Dimensions: 12.9 x 12.9 x 21.25 inches | Type: Bucket | Capacity: 18 liters | Power: 480 watts

PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Best for Blankets

TMWings Bucket Towel Warmer

PHOTO: Amazon

$100 at Amazon $90 at Walmart $252 at Home Depot

Our Ratings

Setup

5/5
Design

4/5
Heating Performance

5/5
Eigenschaften

5/5
Value

5/5

Star Qualities

Warmed a plush throw blanket in 15 minutes
Sleek, practical design

Red Flags

Tips easily on carpeting

You can enjoy a toasty, warm blanket every night with the Tmwings Towel Warmer. In testing, we found that this bucket-style model is big enough to hold two bath sheets or three standard towels, and we were also able to put a plush throw blanket inside with room to spare. The towels were heated to around 100 degrees after just 10 minutes inside the bucket, and the blanket came out evenly heated, though it did require more time to reach a cozy temperature.

This towel warmer has sleek wooden accents, and it even has a large handle on top, in case you need to move it around your home. The unit is stable on hard floors, but we did find it off-balance and easy to tip over on carpeting.

How It's Held Up

We continued to test this towel warmer at home for six additional months. It does take quite a long time to heat towels throughout, so we recommend preheating them before you hop into the bath. Additionally, it leaves towels a bit damp if they were wet going into the bucket, so we recommend it for blankets more than bath towels.

Dimensions: 13.2 x 13.2 x 20.5 inches | Type: Bucket | Capacity: 20 liters | Power: Not listed

PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock

Other Towel Warmers We Tested

Pottery Barn Classic Towel Warmer: If you don’t mind spending a bit more, this wall-mounted towel warmer has a classic appearance and comes in several sizes and finishes. We were impressed with how quickly it dried wet towels and even clothing, but you do have to leave it on for long periods of time if you want your towels to be warm after your shower. Additionally, after several months of continued use, we found that the rack sits a bit too close to the wall when mounted, making it hard to fit more than one or two towels on the bars.
Vjass Towel Warmer: This wall-mounted towel warmer has a more contemporary design and can either be plugged in or hardwired. It sits fairly flush with the wall, which can make it tricky to hang towels, but it’s able to warm them in around 20 minutes. We also liked that this unit has four heat levels, allowing you to control the temperature more than other models.

Woman looking at freestanding towel warmer — People/Henry Wortock

What to Know About Towel Warmers

Style

The first thing you’ll need to decide is which style of towel warmer will work best in your home. Bucket-style warmers, like our top-rated Zadro Countertop Towel Warmer, are often the most affordable, and they’re easy to set up and use. These warmers are meant for dry towels only, and most people simply place their towels in the bucket and turn the unit on before getting into the bath. Within around 15 minutes, your towel will be toasty warm. The downside of these towel warmers is that they can be quite bulky and take up a lot of space in your bathroom.

Rack-style towel warmers, like the Keg Wall-Mounted Towel Warmer, are another popular choice, offering a different set of benefits. These units come in both freestanding and wall-mounted designs, and they can often be used to dry towels in addition to warming them. Many of them take up less space in the bathroom, but they need to be left on for longer periods of time to be effective.

Capacity

Towel warmers can generally hold between one and three towels at a time, and it’s important to think about how many towels you’ll want to heat at once. Larger models will be able to hold more and accommodate bulky bath sheets, but they also take up more space in your bathroom. Smaller countertop models, such as the Zadro Countertop Towel Warmer, can generally only warm one towel at a time, but they’re also compact enough to tuck under a vanity when not in use.

Installation

Some towel warmers are simply plug-and-play, but others require fairly complicated installation. “If you decide to install a higher-quality towel rail where the electrical cabling is run in the wall, you will need an electrician,” says Taylor. “Regardless of which model you install, you should always backblock your towel rail. This means installing a timber support behind the tiles so the towel rails can be secured to the timber backing.”

Even if you don’t have a hardwired model, any wall-mounted towel warmer should be leveled and securely fastened to the wall, which may require special tools. Keep this in mind when selecting which option will work best in your home.

Price Range

The best towel warmers we tested range from $100 to $300. We even found a mini towel warmer for less than $40. Most freestanding towel warmers fall in the $100 to $200 price range. Wall-mounted units typically cost more than freestanding towel warmers, in addition to the cost of installation.

woman testing temperature of towel warmer — People/Henry Wortock

Behind the Scenes

To find the best towel warmers, we tested a total of 29 products, including 20 freestanding options and nine wall-mounted models. We tested the freestanding options, including bucket-style heaters, in our laboratory, while wall-mounted units were set up in the homes of our testers. For both styles, we evaluated them in the following areas:

Setup: To start, we timed how long it took to unbox and set up each towel warmer. For bucket-style towel warmers, this often took just a few minutes, but the setup was naturally more complex with wall-mounted units. We took note of what tools were needed to install these models, as well as if we needed to hire an electrician or other professional for installation.
Design: Next, we considered the design of the different towel warmers, seeing how many towels they could hold. We also tested them for stability and safety, noting whether they got too hot to the touch.
Performance: One of the most important testing areas was heating performance — after all, that’s why you’re buying a towel warmer in the first place. For this test, we measured the temperature of the towel before putting it in or on the towel warmer, and then again after 10 minutes of heating. We ran this test several times to get a more accurate measurement, and we also noted whether the towels were warmed evenly and if the temperature was comfortable to the touch.
Value: Towel warmers tend to be pricey, so we weighed the performance of each model against its price.

Using our testing results, we scored each product on a scale of one to five in all the different areas. We compiled the data, and the top-scoring products were the Zadro Countertop Towel Warmer and Zadro Large Aromatherapy Towel Warmer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of towel warmers?

There are two common styles of towel warmers that you’ll see in bathrooms. Bucket-style warmers are the most affordable, and they’re essentially just a large, heated bucket that you toss linens into before you get in the shower. There are also rack-style warmers, which can either be freestanding or mounted to the wall and are meant to be used for longer periods of time.
What is the fastest towel warmer?

In general, bucket towel warmers work faster than racks, and the higher the wattage, the quicker they’ll warm up your towels. For fast, even heating, you’ll likely want a model like the Zadro Large Aromatherapy Towel Warmer, which has a high wattage of 480. It will generally be able to heat up towels in just 10 to 15 minutes.
Can you put wet towels on a towel warmer?

Only certain types of towel warmers are designed to be used with wet towels. In general, rack-style towel warmers, whether freestanding or wall-mounted, can be used to dry off wet towels, as they allow for enough air circulation around the fabric. (You’ll generally need to leave them on for several hours for them to work, though.) On the other hand, if you put a wet towel into a bucket-style towel warmer, you’ll likely end up with a linen that’s simply damp and warm — which doesn’t sound pleasant.
Do you leave towel warmers on all the time?

If you have a rack or wall-mounted towel warmer, you may find that it works best if you leave it running 24/7, as this allows it to keep towels warm and dry. “Leaving a towel warmer on all the time is fine — this is another reason why we choose better quality units,” explains Taylor. “I'd be more concerned with how much it's going to cost over a few months of being on all the time!”

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product tester who specializes in home products. In addition to her own research, she put together this list using the notes from the PEOPLE team, which tested all the products in either the lab or in real homes. She also spoke with a bathroom renovation expert for insights on the benefits and installation requirements of towel racks.

Our Expert Panel

Michael Taylor is the director at Form Bathroom Renovations Mornington, a bathroom remodeling company based in Victoria, Australia.

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

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