Electric radiant floor heating vs. heated towel rack: running cost
A heated towel rack is cheaper to run: about $32 a year versus $69 for an electric radiant floor heating at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $37 difference.
| Electric radiant floor heating | Heated towel rack | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 600 W | 100 W |
| Watt range | 150–3,000 W | 40–400 W |
| Typical use | 6 hours a day for 7 months a year | 6 hours a day |
| Energy per year | 384 kWh | 175 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 5.4¢ | 1.4¢ |
| Cost per day | 32¢ | 8.6¢ |
| Cost per month | $9.86 | $2.63 |
| Cost per year | $69 | $32 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $167 | $76 |
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What drives the difference
- Electric radiant floor heating: Electric floor heating mats and cables draw about 12 W per square foot of heated area. The floor thermostat cycles them to hold surface temperature.
- Heated towel rack: Most wall-mounted towel warmers draw 40-150 W. Many are wired to run 24/7, which costs about 3-4 times as much as running them on a timer.
Ways to cut either cost
Automatic shutoff prevents 24/7 operation.
See options on AmazonSchedules heat only when the room is used.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, an electric radiant floor heating or a heated towel rack?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), an electric radiant floor heating costs about $69 a year versus $32 for a heated towel rack. That's $37 more, or 2.2× as much.
How many watts do electric radiant floor heating and heated towel rack use?
An electric radiant floor heating typically draws 600 W (range 150–3,000 W). A heated towel rack draws 100 W (range 40–400 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.