🛁 Electric heated towel rail

How much does an electric heated towel rail cost to run? Hourly and yearly

Electric towel rail power use and cost per hour, per month and per winter, with and without a thermostat.

Typical power

300 W

Cost per hour

$0.054 · £0.078

Per year · 135 kWh

$24 · £35

With 3 hours a day for 150 days a year, electricity at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh all-in.

An electric towel rail is a small resistive heater: a 300 W model on 3 hours a day uses about 0.9 kWh, and about 135 kWh over a 5-month winter.

The trouble is leaving it on all day: 300 W for 24 hours is over 7 kWh a day, more than the rest of the house.

Consumption compared

TypeUsagekWh/yearCost/year
Small (300 W)300 W135$24 · £35
Large (600 W)600 W270$49 · £70
With thermostat, real average180 W81$15 · £21
With fan heater booster (1,000 W)1,000 W450$81 · £117

Yearly cost with 3 hours a day for 150 days a year.

Work out your cost

Per hour
$0.054
Per month
$2.03
Per year
$24
Energy per year
135 kWh

The price is a typical all-in figure for your country: replace it with yours (bill total ÷ kWh).

How to use less

  • Use a timer or a programmable model: on for an hour before your shower is enough.
  • A thermostat saves energy: the element stops once the towels are warm.
  • To heat the whole bathroom, a heat pump or air conditioner costs far less.
Lower-energy modelsCompare prices and energy labels on AmazonAmazon ↗

FAQ

How much does an electric heated towel rail cost to run?
About 300 W, or 0.3 kWh for each hour of use; from 50 to 1,000 W depending on the model.
How much does it cost per year?
With 3 hours a day for 150 days a year it uses about 135 kWh a year: about $24 · £35 at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh.
How can I reduce it?
Use a timer or a programmable model: on for an hour before your shower is enough. A thermostat saves energy: the element stops once the towels are warm.
🌡️GuideSmart thermostats: how much do they really save?

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