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Last updated: 17 Jan 2023

Organize Your Towels With the Best Towel Bar

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By Old House Journal Review Team
Published 7:40 am
Show contents
The Best Towel Bar Models of 2023 in Detail
  • 1 Amazon Basics Towel Bar
  • 2 Marmolux Acc Towel Bar
  • 3 Moen Towel Bar
  • 4 KES Towel Bar
  • 5 NearMoon Towel Bar
  • 6 JQK Towel Bar

The right towel bar will keep your towels in an ordered and aesthetically pleasing way. It will also complement your bathroom’s decor. You might be surprised how much larger your bathroom will look with correctly stored towels. A towel bar is a simple and often minor expense that can make a world of difference to the appearance of your bathroom and your happiness.

The best towel bar for you depends on your individual needs, tastes, and how much space you have to spare. Later in the article, we will discuss several factors and features you should consider to make the best purchase possible. But, first, you should look at the best towel bars in 2023. We have compiled a list of the best towel bars for a small to mid-range budget. Check them out below!

The Best Towel Bar Models of 2023 in Detail

1

Amazon Basics Towel Bar

– Best Overall
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The AmazonBasics Modern Towel Bar comes in chrome, oil-rubbed bronze, polished chrome, and satin nickel finishes. You can buy this product as an individual towel bar or as part of a set with a towel ring. This product is available in 18-inches or 24-inches. 18-inches is the standard size for a towel bar and will fit a bath towel and a hair towel or hand towel on top. The towel bar comes with different fixtures. You can choose from several styles, including traditional, modern, classic, or standard, so you will find a towel bar that perfectly suits your bathroom decor in this selection. This towel bar comes with mounting hardware and can hold a weight of up to 10kgs.

Pros
  • Available in different colors
  • Available in different sizes
  • Available with different wall mounts
  • Mounting hardware included
Cons
  • Once mounted, the screws stick out a little
2

Marmolux Acc Towel Bar

– Elegant Looks
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The towel bar from Marmolux Acc is made of excellent 304 Stainless Steel, which resists corrosion and is suitable for humid settings. It can easily accommodate one large bath towel or two hand towels. The matte black finish on the towel rail is unique and offers an elegant and contemporary look making it a great way to update your bathroom’s look and feel. The coating offers a smooth and durable surface that is resistant to daily wear and tear, rusting, and cracking. It has 20 inches of usable length, allowing it to fit into smaller areas. 

Pros
  • Durable stainless steel resistant to corrosion 
  • Elegant matte black finish suitable for contemporary homes 
  • Small enough to mount anywhere 
Cons
  • Small size not suitable for large bathrooms 
3

Moen Towel Bar

– Runner Up
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The Moen Preston Collection Towel Bar is available to buy individually or in a three-pack. It is also available in chrome or nickel. This towel bar is 24-inches long and can hold several towels at once. If you like this product, the company offers many other bathroom accessories that match it. Its stamped steel mounting bracket is highly durable and will hold much weight. This product also comes with the necessary mounting hardware and installation template, so you will have everything you need to set it up. In addition, this towel bar is corrosion-resistant, so you can enjoy the practicality and fabulous style of this product for years to come.

Pros
  • Available in two colors
  • Wall mounting hardware included
  • Corrosion-resistant
  • Long towel rail (24-inches)
Cons
  • The bar feels lightweight and like it won’t hold a lot of weight.
4

KES Towel Bar

– Honorable Mention
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The KES 12 Hand Towel Bar is available in 10 sizes from 9-inches to 38.3-inches. It is also available in four colors: brushed brass, brushed gray, matte black, and polished silver. You can attach this towel bar to the wall by glue or by screw mounting installation. The mounting hardware and glue are included. The bar, mounts, and screws are all rust-resistant so that you can enjoy this product for a long time. The hand-brushed steel finish is scratch-resistant. This product can take a substantial amount of wet towel weight of 5kgs. If you like a particular colored towel bar, this company also offers other accessories to match, including towel rings, toilet paper holders, and towel hooks.

Pros
  • Available in several sizes
  • Two mounting options
  • Available in different colors
  • Rust-resistant
Cons
  • The towel bars are a little shorter than advertised.
5

NearMoon Towel Bar

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The NearMoon Towel Bar is available in several sizes, including matte black, brushed gold, chrome finish, black and gold, and brushed nickel. It is also available in several sizes, including 9-inches, 12-inches, 16-inches, 18-inches, 24-inches, 27-inches, and 33-inches. This vast selection means you will easily find a perfect match for your bathroom. 

The towel bar is made from rust-resistant stainless steel. Thanks to the included wall mounting hardware and detailed instructions, you can easily mount this on your bathroom wall. The invisible screw design makes this one of the sleekest and stylish towel bars we have come across. The bars are also scratch-resistant, keeping the appearance of a brand new product after many years of use.

Pros
  • Available in a  variety of sizes
  • Available in a  variety of colors
  • Stainless steel bar
  • Included wall mounting hardware
Cons
  • The size runs a little small.
6

JQK Towel Bar

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The JQK Bath Towel Bar comes in several sizes, including 12-inches, 15-inches, 20.5-inches, 27-inches, 33-inches, and 33-inches. It is also available in colors including black, gold, chrome, oil-rubbed bronze, and brushed stainless steel. This fabulous towel bar is made from premium-grade stainless steel that will last a lifetime. This product comes with the mounting hardware necessary for wall-mounted installation. It also comes with easy-to-understand installation instructions. The mounting brackets have a rotate-proof locking design, so your new towel bar will not come loose. This product is strong enough to hold a wet bath towel without issue. If you love this design, you should check out the JQKs other bathroom accessories. 

Pros
  • Available in several sizes
  • Available in several colors
  • Mounting hardware included
  • Made from durable and rust-resistant stainless steel
Cons
  • Some customers have received products missing mounting hardware

Buying Guide for the Best Towel Bars

Things To Consider When Choosing a Towel Bar

Materials used

A towel bar can be made from a variety of materials. We love the look of bamboo towel bars. However, if you wish to use a wooden towel bar, you must ensure it has been properly treated. Without treatment, wood will crack, swell, and may become moldy. 

Alternatively, you can choose rust and corrosion-resistant metal. These are usually mild steel and aluminum. Either material is excellent for a towel rack. You can buy these towel bars coated with other metals to make them look like different metals.

Color

You can get towel bars with metallic finishes such as bronze, gold, or silver. You can also get towel bars that are usually painted black or white. However, we are confident you will find whatever color you can imagine online, even if it is custom-made.

Shelf and rail

Some towel bars come with a bar to hang a couple of towels from and a shelf to store folded towels upon. This is a good option if you have a large family and many towels.

Single rail

A single rail towel bar is a single rail attached to the bathroom wall. It can generally hold one or two towels, depending on its size.

Size

The size of your towel bar should depend on how many towels you have and the size of your bathroom. The standard dimensions of towel rails are 400mm, 600mm, and 900mm.

Weight capacity

Check that the towel bar can hold the weight it is required to do. For example, if you prefer large fluffy towels with a high thread count, you will need to ensure you get a towel bar that can hold a substantial amount of weight.

Tiered multiple towel rail hanger

A tiered multiple towel bar hanger is attached to a wall like a single rail. It usually has four to six rails in different positions. It is an excellent option for people who do not have much space but many towels.

Standing towel bar

A standing towel bar is a perfect option if you are renting a home. It may be a single bar on two legs or a shelving unit for folded towels. This allows you to have a towel bar without damaging the surface of your walls. It also means you can quickly move the rack if you move house.

Heated towel rail

You may like to buy a heated towel rail. A heated towel rail is a towel bar that heats up similarly to a radiator. There is nothing more luxurious than the feeling of using a warm towel after a bath or shower. However, this type of towel bar is much more expensive than one that is not heated. 

Over the door

Instead of getting a towel bar attached to a wall, you might want to buy a product that you can hang over your door. You can buy a towel rail with a hook at the top for this purpose. These usually come with three towel bars, but you can find them with more or fewer towel bars too.

Chair towel rack

A chair towel rack is a chair you can sit on, but the backrest consists of several towel bars. You can fold some towels on the chair and hang some from the towel bars. These towel racks have a unique and quirky style while being entirely practical.

Towel storage rack

Not technically a towel bar, but certainly worth a mention – the towel storage rack looks like large outlines of tiered rounded baskets. To use it, you roll up your towel and place one in each “basket.” Storing your towel as a rolled-up item will make your bathroom look tidier and larger than if you hang your towels.

Leaning ladder rack

A leaning ladder rack is only suitable for large bathrooms. As the name suggests, it is a ladder with many rungs (towel bars) that will allow you to hold many towels. You may like to get a vintage step ladder to achieve the same effect. For example, you can put a plant pot on the top step and towels on the others.

Swivel towel rack

A swivel towel rack consists of several towel bars that connect to a single bar. You can move the bars individually to pull them out one at a time. This is a clever way of storing your towels because it saves a lot of space.

Wall-mounted

When buying a wall-mounted towel bar, ensure the product has the mounting hardware needed to attach it to the wall. This is usually the case, so don’t bother buying anything that includes everything you need.

How Do We Choose the Best Towel Bars?

To choose the best towel bars, we consider how many towels the towel bar can hold and the durability of the material used. In addition, we take into account the style and how much space the towel bar uses. We also read many customer reviews to ensure we only recommend popular and reliable products. 

Towel Bar Price Range

A towel bar can cost as little as $8 and as much as $50. A single towel bar attached to a wall will be the cheapest option. 

Towel Bar FAQ

Q: Whereabouts should a towel bar be hung?

A: A towel bar should be hung 48-inches above the floor to prevent any towels from touching the floor. Hang it close enough to your shower or bath to reach it from the shower or bath area, but in a location where your towel will remain dry. For example, you may want to palace a towel rack in the shower, so you can leave damp towels on it to dry out.

Q: What is the difference between a towel bar and a grab bar?

A: A grab bar is made to support a person's weight and help them in or out of a bath or shower. It is often placed next to a toilet to assist people who have difficulties getting on or off the toilet without one. A grab bar will also have a textured service to make it easier to grip. A towel bar is not designed to support a person maneuvering around a bathroom but is used to store towels.

Q: Are heated towel rails as warm as radiators?

A: Heated towel rails do not reach the same temperatures as working radiators. However, you may find that a heated towel rail produces more than enough heat to keep you warm. Having a warm towel wrapped around you will undoubtedly help.

Bathroom Hardware
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By Old House Journal Review Team
The Old House Journal Review Team’s product reviews and in-depth guides are here to help you restore, repair, update, and decorate your home. The content is created by The Old House Journal Review Team. The Old House Journal editorial staff is not involved. Old House Journal is reader-supported: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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