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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Heated Towel Rail in California? (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 $0.052 per hour, or about $12.60 per month at 8 hours a day in California. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (60 W) | $0.021 | $0.17 | $5.04 | $61.32 |
| Typical (150 W) | $0.052 | $0.42 | $12.60 | $153.30 |
| High (400 W) | $0.14 | $1.12 | $33.60 | $408.80 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 438 kWh per year.
In California, with electricity at $0.35 per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical heated towel rail costs $0.052 per hour and about $153.30 per year at 8 hours a day. That is about 94% more than the US national average of $6.48 per month, because electricity in California costs $0.35 per kWh against $0.18 nationally. Each $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