The Brookstone Towel Warmer is our best towel warmer which can hold up to 12 towels that are facial sized or small, wash-cloth sized towels. In addition, the unit does not use bulbs to heat up the towel and warm it and therefore, it gives a very even heating as compared to using bulbs that can easily burn out. Consistent heating is the name of the game because the internal walls are padded with an insulation and heating element for the cabinet and also, you can control the temperature and it has a self-adjusting and regulating feature so it does not go into overheating.
Top Pick: Elite Hot Towel Cabinet Mini
Our step-up pick is the Elite Hot Towel Cabi-Warmer HC-X and it can fit up to 24 towels that are facial-sized. It comes with a pan for water dripping and has a towel rack in its interior. It runs on 180 watts at 60Hz and 110 volts and prevents overheating of the unit due to its internal temperature control feature.
The budget pick is the Brookstone Towel Warmer and within 10 minutes, the towel warmer will keep up a constant heat of 120 degrees and warm up your towels as it should. The power outlet used for this towel dryer is a 120 volts AC outlet. It also has a feature in which it automatically shuts down when not in use for quite some time and up to 2 oversized towels can fit in this towel warmer that has a very large design. The lid is also transparent so you can see what is going on inside the dryer warmer machine.
A Little Background
Towel warmers have been a very innovative and helpful solution to very cold nights and delicate laundry as well as after bath problems. Most spas and massage centers will definitely have a towel warmer but nowadays, even you, at the comfort of your own home, can have a towel warmer that can be used in a variety of ways and not just for warming up manicure towels.
Most often, towel warmers come in two forms: the cabie or cabinet towel warmer and the drying rack towel warmer, in which you can fit in various clothes to dry in place of tossing them into the dryer. Underwear and other delicate fabrics that are usually hand washed will benefit from a towel warmer rack and on the other hand, if you want to keep a towel warmer cabinet for a home spa or massage business then they are definitely a great investment to consider.
How We Picked
Based on the following criteria, we picked the best towel warmer:
Is the towel warmer effective when it comes to heating up towels and other fabrics? You also have to know if the towel warmer gives off consistent heating throughout the duration. A towel warmer should be able to do its job very well and it should not fail.
Does it also warm up other kinds of clothing and fabrics other than towels? Do know if it is usable for other clothing, bed sheets, large towels, robes and others.
How much is the towel warmer’s capacity? Some can accommodate 20 or more while other towel warmers can fit in more, but it depends on your towel size, since not all towels have a similar standard size – what might be a facial towel to you might be too small for another person in another part of the world, so this is more on a personal level of experience.
What is the price of the towel warmer? Most towel warmers are pretty expensive, so you have to make sure they actually work.
What do the reviews say about the towel warmer? Do know if there are flaws that could break the deal and compromise your towel warmer’s safety.
Can it fit for most homes or massage centers? Do know that drying racks are basically for larger homes and towel warmer cabbies are for smaller spaces and this is why they can only accommodate a few towels at a given time.
Does it have enough safety features? A towel warmer is much like an electric kettle – some automatic shut off towel warmers that are substandard might have problems later on and can lead to disasters, so be careful. The drip pans of the towel warmer must be working properly.
Our Pick
Top Pick: Elite Hot Towel Cabinet Mini
The Elite Hot Towel Cabinet Mini can hold up to 12 towels that are facial sized or small, wash-cloth sized towels and is our best towel warmer. With this cabbie, you can control the temperature and it has a self-adjusting and regulating feature so it does not go into overheat as consistent heating is the name of the game because the internal walls are padded with an insulation and heating element for the cabinet.
In addition, the unit does not use bulbs to heat up the towel and warm it and therefore, it gives a very even heating as compared to using bulbs that can easily burn out. The Elite Cabinet Mini is coated in light blue and white color finish. The material is made from sturdy plastic that does not melt and also, the size of the interior of the towel dryer measures 10 inches by 7 inches by 5 inches.
Also good to know is the fact that the temperature remains constant from 150 to 160 degrees as the warmer also has a pan for water dripping and the interior is also designed to have a convenient towel rack. Do make sure the towels have been pre-soaked and then wrung before you roll the towels up on the wire rack inside the towel warmer.
Overall, the Elite Hot Mini is a very reliable towel dryer that is available in single and double size compartments for your convenience. In addition, this towel warmer weighs about 5 to 7 pounds and not really heavy.
Furthermore, the on and off operation feature is very easy to use and convenient. This warmer is perfect for those who own massage parlors, salons and or for home studios and additionally, you may also want to drop your favorite oil blends on the towels after warming if they give off a bad smell. As a whole, this towel warmer is very compact and great for rooms with small space requirements and those who do not need to warm a lot of towels all at once.
Flaws but Not Dealbrakers
Perhaps the only complaint about this towel warmer is that it might not fit a lot of towels all at once, especially for those who own big and busy massage parlors and centers, but otherwise, it is okay for home or small massage parlor use.
Step-up Pick
Elite Hot Towel Cabi-Warmer HC-X
The Elite Hot Towel Cabi-Warmer HC-X prevents overheating of the unit due to its internal temperature control feature and is our step-up pick. Generally, this towel warmer can fit up to 24 towels that are facial-sized and it also comes with a pan for water dripping.
Going inside this warmer for towels, it has a towel rack in its interior. As for power, it runs on 180 watts at 60Hz and 110 volts. As for warmth, it maintains the temperature constantly from 150 degrees to 160 degrees. In addition, you should pre-soak the towels first before rolling and wringing them and placing inside the rack wire of the towel warmer unit.
All towels placed on this warmer and dryer will definitely heat up. This Elite Warmer HC-X weighs 17 lbs and all in all, great for massage parlors that need tons of towels dried up for their customers. It also comes in double and mini size and the dimensions of the inside of the towel dryer are 9 inches by 7 inches by 14 inches. It has a light blue and white color combination finish that provides a peaceful motif for your space. The Elite Hot Towel HC-X can also fit 1 to 2 shirts and is tightly sealed so that the cabinet will not leak water and your clothes will not leak any water or liquid.
To get the best out of this towel warmer, you should put on the bottom rack the wet towels and the dry ones should stay on top and in 30 minutes, all will be ready. Additionally, you can also put in towels that are slightly damp from being dunked into water.
Budget Pick
Brookstone Towel Warmer
For our budget pick, we chose the Brookstone Towel Warmer. With this towel warmer, the lid is also transparent so you can see what is going on inside the dryer warmer machine and up to 2 oversized towels can fit in this towel warmer that has a very large design.
Additionally, it also has a feature in which it automatically shuts down when not in use for quite some time and furthermore, within 10 minutes, the towel warmer will keep up a constant heat of 120 degrees and warm up your towels as it should.
As for its electricity, the power outlet used for this towel dryer is a 120 volts AC outlet. As for the size, the diameter of the base is 12 inches while the diameter of the top is 13 inches and it stands at 22 inches of height. As for its capacity, it is ideally fitting 2 bath towels, roughly measuring 40 inches by 70 inches and can also fit in blankets and robes for quick drying.
Overall, the Brookstone Warmer for Towels weighs 10 lbs. For its technology, the heating element used by this towel warmer is a silicone heating element that is safe to use and it can also work for mittens, hats and gloves that will be especially useful to keep the winter chill away.
It is one of the cheapest towel warmers out there and is coated in color white finish with a sturdy and shiny base made of steel finish. Also, it also works on towels that have been semi-wet and semi-dry and is made from sturdy plastic material. As a whole, it makes a great addition to any home spa or massage parlor for warming towels, robes and others.
This dryer automatically goes off after the temperature has been reached, much like an automatic press-it electric kettle. It comes with a 1 year warranty.
Best Stainless Steel Towel Warmer
Amba RWH-CP Radiant Hardwired Towel Warmer
The Amba RWH-CP Radiant Hardwired Towel Warmer is a stainless steel towel warmer that heats up as quickly as possible. Being made from super durable and rust resistant stainless steel, the drying is optimal because of the 10 crossbars that are on the towel dryer warmer.
Both the horizontal and the vertical bars are highly heated to dry up your towel. When it comes to layout, this warmer is hardwired and has a curved design. It weighs 11 pounds and the voltage is 115 volts and wattage is at 150 watts. You can easily hang 2 bath towels that are fully sized as it heats up your towel very well and not just warms it up.
With a user-friendly approach, it is relatively easy to install with just following the instructions and all in all, a great replacement and alternative to traditional towel racks, especially for those who live in cold countries and places. Additionally, the stainless steel is also highly polished to give it a beautiful finish.
The Amba RWH-CP Warmer comes with a trigger switch for on and off and also, you can also plug it to a programmable timer or use a plug-in that is optional. Furthermore, it has a super elegant steel rack design for drying towels.
Best Freestanding Towel Warmer
LCM Home Fashion Freestanding Towel Warmer
The LCM Home Fashion Freestanding Towel Warmer is our ideal pick as it is a freestanding towel warmer rack. This dryer has a total of 6 bars and do note that this is a freestanding towel warmer design makes it easily displayable on any home space or even your spa or massage parlor. Adding to that, it also doubles as a towel drying rack for ultra convenience.
As for power, the cord that comes with it 6 feet long and has dry lined power for convenience. For ease of use, you don’t need to spend a lot of time with the assembly. In terms of putting it together, it already comes with the freestanding feet or you can choose the wall mounting brackets if you wish and it does not require additional plumbing or wiring to install.
When it comes to safety, this LCM Freestanding Warmer is definitely safe to use in the laundry room and in the bedroom and additionally, you can also use an AC timer for this so you can have a peace of mind with its heating capability.
For its durability, the frame is made from aluminum and brushed with a chrome plating finish. It weighs 8.2 lbs and keeps mildew and mold growth away due to its warming capabilities. As for its heating capability, the maximum temperature it can reach is up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit that can be reached by 30 minutes time.
In terms of power, the outlet plugging is standard at 110 to 120 volts and there is no need to worry about the electric bill since they use very little energy to run. It also has a convenient on and off switch and furthermore, it has been approved and certified by UL standards. The whole towel warmer rack has a height of 35 inches.
Ideal Towel Warmer for Wall Mounting
Warmrails HSKC Kensington Wall-Mounted Towel Warmer
The Warmrails HSKC Kensington Wall-Mounted Towel Warmer is an ideal wall mounted towel warmer. It has been given a chrome finish that will last for a very long time and you can choose between chrome finish and nickel finish.
It can warm up just about anything – from baby blankets to swimsuits, hand washable clothes and delicate fabrics as well as beddings and sheets and it is an alternative rack for drying so you do not have to depend on your dryer all the time. When it comes to assembly, you can easily mount on any wall surface as it weighs only 0.2 oz where you can choose between soft wired and hardwire.
For its heating ability, it warms to a temperature of around 150 degrees Fahrenheit. For its power, the unit has wattage of 105 watts. In its performance, not only does it dry up towels, it keeps them fresh and warm. As for the size, the height of this towel dryer is 39.5 inches.
This towel warmer can run for up to 24 hours without overheating and when you order, the package includes the electrical cord that is measuring at 7 feet, an off and on switch that is illuminated, installation hardware and also the user’s manual. As for reliability, you can dry up as many towels and delicate fabrics all at once with this rather large wall mounted towel dryer. It stands with a 1 year warranty for this product.
Double Cabinet Towel Warmer for Bigger Storage
Elite Hot Towel Double Cabbie
The Elite Hot Towel Double Cabbie has two doors, up and down, so you can conveniently store many towels all at once. The design is a bit similar to double door refrigerators, providing convenience and it also comes with an interior towel rack as well as a water-drip pan.
For power, it runs at 110 volts at 60 Hz with 180 watts of power and for capacity, it can fit in most facial sized towels. It weighs 27.6 lbs and as for safety, does not overheat due to its technology that controls the inner temperature and keeps it as constant as possible. In reliability, consistent heating does the job with your towels to make sure they get even heating using the internal walls that are bound by a padding heating element with proper insulation within the cabinet.
With a light blue and white color finish, you can fit in about 48 small towels on this towel warmer with this Elite Double Cabbie. In terms of consistency, the temperature it can constantly keep is up to 150 to 160 degrees. As a precaution, you should pre-soak the towels first before putting them in. It also comes in single and mini sized dryers. There is a 1 year warranty for the electrical components and 30 days warranty for material and workmanship factory defects.
Towel Warmer that is Ideal for Home or Commercial Spa
Spa Luxe Hot Towel Cabinet
The Spa Luxe Hot Towel Cabinet is perfect and ideal for spas, massage parlors, and massage centers or just for home use. With its build, the interior of this towel warmer is divided into 2 shelves that have a mount drip tray at the bottom to keep and catch the falling water from the drying process. For its heating capability, this warmer can heat up to 160 degrees.
This warmer weighs 17.1 lbs and the capacity of this towel dryer is that it can hold up to 24 regular towels that are typically used for manicure. As for performance, the towels are kept moist, warm and steamy after being inside the machine. With its physical aspect, the clean color of this towel dryer will definitely complement your home or spa space.
In terms of usability, it has a single door design with two shelves, up and down. For its size, the towel dryer stands at 14 inches high and has a depth of 10 inches. When it comes to durability, the aluminum interior is rust proof. For its electrical details, the plug is made for North American standards at 110 volts.
Towel Warmer with UV Sterilizer
Pursonic Deluxe Towel Warmer UV Sterilizer
The Pursonic Deluxe Towel Warmer UV Sterilizer is an ideal sanitizing towel warmer. It comes with a UV sterilizer to kill 99.9 percent of bad bacteria and germs that might get in the way of your towels and to ensure that they remain the best for hygiene purposes, coated in gray and white color finish.
In terms of temperature, the thermostat is made from bimetallic strip. For UV sterilizing, a bulb is already installed within the unit for the purposes of UV sanitation. For temperature, this towel dryer warmer is self regulating when it comes to its temperature. On its size, it has 15 lbs of weight and it has a capacity of 24 facial towels.
As for electrical specs, it runs at 180 watts 18L and at 110 volts and 60 Hz. The temperature of the cavity is from 158 degrees Fahrenheit up to 175 degrees Fahrenheit. For its wash cloth capacity, it can hold from 80 to 96 of its kind and it comes in double and mini version sizes.
Overall, the Pursonic Deluxe with Sterilizer is a great and convenient way to warm up your towels for spa, massage parlor or home use. Additionally, there is also an interior towel rack and a water-drip pan. For its international competence, it conforms to global safety standards such as CE certification. It is under a 1 year warranty that is hassle-free.
Best Jumbo Size Towel Warmer
Towel Spa 75000 Jumbo Towel Warmer
For a jumbo sized towel warmer, we recommend the Towel Spa 75000 Jumbo Towel Warmer which has an automatic shut down feature when not in use. In usability, it is very easy and simple to use as a towel warmer and dryer. For flexibility, it works on not just towels, but also robes and blankets and similar fabrics. Additionally, this towel warmer is big enough to fit a lot of towels but also very compact and will fit most spaces.
In terms of speed, within minutes, your towels will be toasty hot. It can accommodate 40 by 70 inch bath towels up to 2 of its kind and can warm up within 5 minutes or less.
Coated in a gray and white color finish, this towel warmer has been certified and conforms to UL listing standards. The power cord is very long at 73 inches and the unit weighs 8 lbs. Overall, this is great for warming up towels on a very cold day. Having a freestanding towel dryer design, it runs at 120 volts and with a power of 500 watts at 60 Hz. For its size, this towel dryer stands 10 inches high. Additionally, you may also put children’s pajamas in this towel warmer due to its large capacity.
The Competition
Brands of towel warmers that did not make it to our lists are substandard and have no safety features and furthermore, they have not been priced properly.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the benefits of having and using a towel warmer or towel dryer?
A: According to the website Re Williams , you can easily and conveniently warm your towel after use with the towel warmer and it can be used to dry up delicate fabrics and garments that are usually hand-washed and cannot be thrown into the dryer, such as underwear and bathing suits.
During the winter, towel warmers can also act in warming up mittens, gloves, scarves, coats and earmuffs before going outside. Also, pajamas can also benefit from towel dryers if you usually feel cold at night. Most poorly ventilated bathrooms may also benefit from the heat produced by towel dryers. Generally, towel warmers are not just for spas or massage parlors – they can also be use for homes and are very easy to install .
Q: How do I take care and perform maintenance on my towel warmer or towel dryer?
A: According to the website Educated Esthetician , make sure your towel warmer is cleaned frequently after use by wiping when spilled with something or using essential oils to keep them smelling fresh. Do know that leaving the cabbie door open can also help ventilate the inside of the towel warmer. The drip tray must, of course, be cleaned and emptied after use.
Door seals / rubber gaskets should be kept away from metal and you should perform maintenance much like cleaning up a regular refrigerator. Do not leave towels that have not been used in there for the rest of the night. Most cabbies have a UV light function but you should not thoroughly depend on its anti-bacterial power. Last but not the least; you should use it often so that it will not break down after long months of being unused.
Wrapping It Up
The Brookstone Towel Warmer is our overall best towel warmer due to its affordability, versatility and easy to use functions as a towel warmer that can fit a fair amount of facial towels all in all. It may have a few flaws here and there, but generally, it is THE towel warmer to get for a home spa or massage center.
Jen Miller is a former electrical engineer and product specialist with more than 20 years of product design and testing experience. She has designed more than 200 products for Fortune 500 companies, in fields ranging from home appliances to sports gear and outdoor equipment. She founded Jen Reviews to share her knowledge and critical eye for what makes consumers tick, and adopts a strict no-BS approach to help the reader filter through the maze of products and marketing hype out there. She writes regularly and has been featured on Forbes, Fast Company, The Muse, The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha and MindBodyGreen.