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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Heated Towel Rail in New York? (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 $0.043 per hour, or about $10.44 per month at 8 hours a day in New York. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (60 W) | $0.017 | $0.14 | $4.18 | $50.81 |
| Typical (150 W) | $0.043 | $0.35 | $10.44 | $127.02 |
| High (400 W) | $0.12 | $0.93 | $27.84 | $338.72 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 438 kWh per year.
In New York, with electricity at $0.29 per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical heated towel rail costs $0.043 per hour and about $127.02 per year at 8 hours a day. That is about 61% more than the US national average of $6.48 per month, because electricity in New York costs $0.29 per kWh against $0.18 nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 23.0 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