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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Heated Towel Rail in Texas? (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 $0.024 per hour, or about $5.76 per month at 8 hours a day in Texas. Average running cost
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (60 W) | $0.010 | $0.077 | $2.30 | $28.03 |
| Typical (150 W) | $0.024 | $0.19 | $5.76 | $70.08 |
| High (400 W) | $0.064 | $0.51 | $15.36 | $186.88 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 438 kWh per year.
In Texas, with electricity at $0.16 per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical heated towel rail costs $0.024 per hour and about $70.08 per year at 8 hours a day. That is about 11% less than the US national average of $6.48 per month, because electricity in Texas costs $0.16 per kWh against $0.18 nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 41.7 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