550mm Wide Electric Towel Rails
14 years supplying UK bathrooms, est. February 2012. Free delivery on orders over £200. 5-year manufacturer's warranty on all towel rails.
550mm Wide Electric Towel Rails
When you have a bit more wall space to play with, upgrading to our 550mm wide electric towel rails is a fantastic choice for larger family bathrooms. At 55cm across, these generously sized radiators give you the luxury of spreading your towels out fully, allowing for significantly faster drying times and reducing damp odours. Because they are 100% electrically powered, they provide a reliable, standalone drying hub that works all year round, totally independent of your home's central heating boiler.
Specifications & Heat Output
Every 550mm electric towel rail arrives fully sealed and pre-filled with a specialised anti-corrosion thermal fluid. To help you match the heating capacity to your specific bathroom, the table below outlines the bar configurations and estimated BTU outputs across standard Delta T (ΔT) ratings.
| Height (mm) | Bar Layout | Total Bars | ΔT30 (Heat Pump) | ΔT50 (EN442) | ΔT60 (Traditional) | Price* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600mm | 3 + 4 + 4 | 11 | ~665 BTU | 1,195 BTU | ~1,505 BTU | £108.95 – £121.95 |
| 800mm | 3 + 4 + 8 | 15 | ~805 BTU | 1,455 BTU | ~1,825 BTU | £119.95 – £129.95 |
| 1000mm | 4 + 4 + 4 + 7 | 19 | ~945 BTU | 1,705 BTU | ~2,140 BTU | £128.95 – £147.50 |
| 1200mm | 4 + 4 + 5 + 10 | 23 | ~1,125 BTU | 2,015 BTU | ~2,535 BTU | £136.95 – £169.95 |
| 1400mm | 4 + 5 + 6 + 10 | 25 | ~1,295 BTU | 2,325 BTU | ~2,925 BTU | £144.95 – £178.95 |
| 1600mm | 4 + 6 + 7 + 10 | 27 | ~1,465 BTU | 2,645 BTU | ~3,325 BTU | £152.95 – £188.95 |
| 1800mm | 4 + 7 + 8 + 12 | 31 | ~1,640 BTU | 2,945 BTU | ~3,705 BTU | £160.95 – £203.50 |
*Prices are estimates based on your chosen finish and electrical element. Highly polished Chrome reflects some heat, meaning it generally provides slightly less ambient room warmth than matte or painted alternatives.
Premium Finishes
Our 550mm collection is designed to be a prominent feature in your bathroom, available in highly durable finishes to suit any decor:
- Crisp White: A minimalist, highly efficient finish that seamlessly blends into light-coloured tiles and walls.
- Brilliant Chrome: A classic mirror polish that perfectly matches your existing taps and shower enclosures.
- Matte Anthracite & Black: Dramatic, modern tones that hide fingerprints and serve as a striking focal point in contemporary homes.
Element & Control Options
Take full control over your bathroom's climate and your running costs by choosing the right electrical setup:
- Standard & LST Elements: Choose a reliable single-heat element for steady warmth, or a Low Surface Temperature (LST) variant to cap the maximum heat for family safety.
- Thermostatic Elements: Adjust the temperature manually to strike the perfect balance between cosy towels and energy efficiency.
- WiFi Smart Elements: Connect to your home network and schedule precise, automated drying cycles using your smartphone.
- Wall Timers & Boosters: A highly recommended upgrade for standard elements. Hardwiring into a timer allows you to activate 1 to 5-hour boost cycles, ensuring the rail shuts off automatically to save on electricity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much actual hanging space is there on a 550mm towel rail?
The total physical width of the radiator is 550mm. Subtracting the 80mm taken up by the two vertical upright bars leaves a remarkably generous internal horizontal hanging space of 470mm. This allows you to spread out large bath sheets easily, ensuring they dry thoroughly and quickly. If 470mm is more than your wall allows, our 500mm option gives 420mm of internal space and needs just 600mm of wall clearance.
What size gap on my wall do I need to mount this?
To guarantee a clean installation with plenty of flat wall space for the mounting brackets and sufficient edge clearance to slide your towels on and off, we recommend allowing an overall wall space of around 650mm. Outfitting a larger bathroom with no wall constraints? The 600mm rail fits two full-size bath towels completely side by side.
Can the heating element be installed on either side of the towel rail?
Yes, the electrical heating element is fully reversible and can be installed in either the left or right-hand vertical tube. However, the element must always be installed at the bottom of the radiator. Fitting it at the top bypasses the built-in overheat protection and is extremely dangerous.
Do I need to fill or bleed this electric towel rail?
No. Our electric towel rails arrive fully sealed and pre-filled with a specialised thermodynamic fluid designed to prevent internal rust. Because they are standalone electric units and are not connected to a wet central heating system, they will never need to be bled, flushed, or topped up.
Can I use this towel rail when my central heating is off in the summer?
Absolutely. This is the primary benefit of an electric-only towel rail. Because it operates entirely independently of your main boiler, you can enjoy warm, dry towels during the hot summer months without needing to switch on the heating for the rest of your house.
Are electric towel rails expensive to run?
To keep your running costs as low as possible, avoid leaving a standard heating element switched on continuously. We highly recommend wiring your standard element into a wall-mounted booster timer, allowing you to run the rail for a set 1-to-5 hour drying cycle before it turns itself off. Upgrading to a thermostatic or WiFi element also allows you to strictly monitor and control your energy output.
