The Best Towel Racks For Your Bathroom

Towel racks help keep bathroom countertops and floors free of debris. They’re typically wall-mounted, though some can be freestanding.

Choose from various materials, including stainless steel, brass, and iron. These options are rust-resistant in moisture-prone areas, and some are visually appealing as well.

Signature Hardware Wulan Teak Hanging Towel Rack

We love the look of this hanging towel rack from Signature Hardware. Its skinny frame and rungs lend a minimalist aesthetic without sacrificing sturdiness or functionality. Plus, it’s made of solid teak, a renewable material that holds up well in moisture-prone spaces. And it’s available in four finish options: white wash, gray wash, light ash gray, and natural teak.

If you’d prefer to mount your towel rack behind the door, we recommend this option from Franklin Brass. It promises a universal fit and comes with all the necessary installation hardware. Its square-shaped hooks are big enough to hold two bath towels or bath sheets and have a higher-than-average weight capacity. And the rack itself is crafted from drop-forged brass, which involves hammering compressed metal to remove air bubbles and create reliably strong shapes.

Unlike the other wall-mounted designs we tested, this electric towel rack—which you’ll have to hardwire into your home’s electrical system—has multiple bars (10 in total). Its stainless steel construction is rust-resistant, and it warms up quickly. Plus, it’s easy to adjust the temperature using a touch-sensitive control panel.

Aside from determining how many bars you want your rack to have, we also consider its capacity and overall durability. Unless you’re looking for a heated model, freestanding racks or ladders like the Crate & Barrel Jackson Black Towel Ladder tend to be large and sturdy enough to support several towels at once. However, you might be limited to how much space they’ll take up on your bathroom floor.

Moen Genta LX Towel Bar

This wall-mounted option from Moen is sleek enough to fit in any contemporary bathroom but also versatile enough for a transitional design. It’s crafted of solid zinc—an incredibly durable metal that resists rust and corrosion in wet spaces, like bathrooms.3 And it comes in your choice of finish, from towel rack matte black to chrome to brushed nickel. This rack has three wide bars that are big enough for bath towels and sheets, plus two hooks on the bottom for robes or smaller bath linens.

Our home tester loved this freestanding rack for its pared-down look and generous capacity. The 10 curved rungs are designed to accommodate up to five bath towels, washcloths, or bath sheets—plus you can use it for other types of clothing items, such as swimsuits and pool towels.

Another plus: this rack warms up quickly, which helps towels dry faster and prevent musty odors. Unfortunately, this heated rack requires professional installation and hardwiring, so it’s a good idea to consult a licensed electrician.

The slim frame and rounded rungs on this rack are designed to give it a minimalist vibe, without sacrificing sturdiness. Its slim footprint takes up minimal floor space, and it features felt tips on the top and rubber caps on the feet to prevent slipping and damage to walls or floors.

This compact combo rack-and-shelf is perfect for small bathrooms. Its narrow footprint doesn’t take up much floor space, and it has a shelf above the rungs for extra rolled or folded towels, personal hygiene products, candles, or other bathroom necessities. Plus, this rack is made from powder-coated steel, so it’s durable and easy to clean.

Moen Iso Stainless Steel Towel Rack

Carlie Rice, a social media manager at online design studio Havenly, helped us research the best towel racks for our guide. She narrowed down options to visually appealing choices that are sturdy enough for a range of sizes and styles of bath linens. For the final selections, she took into account the capacity, weight limit, installation type and method, and other standout features.

If you’re looking for a sleek and durable option, this stainless steel wall-mounted towel bar from Moen is the way to go. It’s easy to wipe clean and designed to resist rust in moisture-prone areas. It also has a higher-than-average weight capacity, so you don’t have to worry about it falling down. And it comes with all the installation hardware you need, including drywall anchors and screws that match the finish of the unit.

The Iso rack’s minimalist style and modern European aesthetic lend it a pared-down, fashion-forward presence. The telescoping machined metal design features a mixture of curved and straight lines that work well with both traditional and contemporary decor schemes.

For a similar look, check out the Moen Iso Double Towel Bar, which also has a mixed-line geometry and is available in several finishes to complement your bathroom decor. This model has a more narrow footprint than the other models we tested, but it’s still able to accommodate multiple towels or washcloths at once.

If you prefer a more classic look, Pottery Barn’s Mercer Train Rack is another solid choice. It’s crafted of drop-forged brass—a process of hammering compressed metal to remove air bubbles and create reliably strong shapes—and sealed with a thickly plated protective lacquer for extra durability. It’s heavy, though, and may require professional installation if you choose to mount it on your wall.

Room & Board Slim Towel Rack

Incorporate a free-standing rack into your bathroom for a sleek, minimalist look. The slim frame and rungs on this towel stand from Room & Board add a modern touch to your space without overcrowding it. The 10 curved bars are big enough to hang two bath towels or sheets at once, and the shelf above provides additional storage for toilet paper rolls, personal hygiene products, plants and more.

A metal towel ring may be more suitable for traditional bathrooms, but it can still complement your contemporary decor. This Gatco metal towel holder is a good choice, with its chrome effect that’s sleek and stylish. It’s compact in size, measuring only 31.7″ high and 15″ wide. The chrome finish also makes it easy to wipe clean.

If you prefer to keep your home’s interior design clean and uncluttered, a wall-mount towel rack may be the best option for you. This one from Room & Board has a slim, minimalist frame and rungs that hold just two towels at once. It’s a great option for those with a small bathroom who want to minimize clutter, but don’t want to sacrifice storage space.

Another way to keep your towels organized is by hanging them on a towel ladder. This freestanding towel ladder from Crate & Barrel has five rungs that are each 2 feet wide, which is ample space for hanging multiple towels or washcloths. The ladder has felt tips on the top and rubber caps on the feet to prevent slipping or scratching.

If you’re looking for a more stylish alternative to the classic towel rack bar-type towel rack, consider this modern-looking option from Room & Board. It’s sleek and contemporary in style, with a curved frame that looks more like a piece of art than a standard bathroom accessory. The ten curved bars are large enough to accommodate two or three bath towels or sheets, and there’s a shelf above the holder for storing extra folded linens.

Amba Radiant Curved Hardwired Electric Towel Warmer

Amba is a leader in bringing affordable, stylish heated towel racks to consumers. Its Radiant collection offers both hardwired and plug-in options and comes with straight or gently curved horizontal bars in a 10-5 configuration. The brushed stainless steel finish adds a classic look to any bathroom layout. It’s designed to warm towels quickly and keep them at an optimum temperature so you can step out of the shower or bath feeling refreshed.

The power button is located at the bottom or top of one vertical bar. To turn the unit on, simply press and hold it for a few seconds. Then, wait until the indicator light illuminates green. If you don’t use the towel warmer for more than a couple of hours, we recommend setting it to its lowest settings so that it doesn’t consume excess energy. For even greater efficiency, a digital heat controller can be added to the unit for more precise control.

Towel warmers are not just for bathrooms; they can also be used in mudrooms, laundry rooms, and bedrooms to provide extra comfort after you come inside from the cold or when you’re covered in dirt and grime. They’re especially useful if you live in a climate where it gets very cold or if you work outside for extended periods of time, as they can be used to keep your hands and arms warm. Depending on the model and installation location, Amba’s heated towel racks consume between 110 and 150 watts of electricity per hour, which is less than a few light bulbs.