Home › Appliances › Personal Care › Heated Towel Rail › Australia
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Heated Towel Rail in Australia? (2026)
A heated towel rail is a small radiator. Left on all day it can use more electricity than a fridge, which surprises many people. Timers make the difference.
A typical heated towel rail (150 W) costs A$0.052 per hour, or about A$12.60 per month at 8 hours a day in Australia. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (60 W) | A$0.021 | A$0.17 | A$5.04 | A$61.32 |
| Typical (150 W) | A$0.052 | A$0.42 | A$12.60 | A$153.30 |
| High (400 W) | A$0.14 | A$1.12 | A$33.60 | A$408.80 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 438 kWh per year.
In Australia, with electricity at A$0.35 per kWh (source: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27, 2026-07), a typical heated towel rail costs A$0.052 per hour and about A$153.30 per year at 8 hours a day. Each A$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 19.0 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a heated towel rail
- Put it on a timer for an hour before and after showers.
- Choose a model with a thermostat rather than always-on.
- In summer, switch it off entirely.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heated towel rail cost to run?
A 150 watt rail on for 8 hours uses 1.2 kWh a day, 36 kWh a month.
Is it cheaper to leave a towel rail on all the time?
No. Unlike a water heater, it has no storage to protect. Switch it off when not needed.
Do towel rails use a lot of electricity?
Relative to their benefit, yes. A 24 hour rail can cost more than lighting the whole house.
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India