600mm Pipe Centre Towel Rails | 650mm Wide Chrome
14 years supplying UK bathrooms, est. February 2012. Free delivery on orders over £200. 5-year manufacturer's warranty on all towel rails.
600mm Pipe Centre Towel Rails — What It Means and Which Rail You Need
If you have measured the distance between your two existing wall fixings or valve connections and got 600mm, you need a towel rail with a 600mm pipe centre. That means a rail that is 650mm wide overall — because pipe centre is always 50mm less than the total width of a standard ladder-style towel rail.
Pipe centre is the distance between the centre of your flow pipe and the centre of your return pipe — or equivalently, the distance between the two wall bracket fixings, measured centre to centre. It is not the overall width of the rail. A 650mm wide towel rail has its fixing points 600mm apart, with 25mm of rail body extending beyond each fixing on either side. This is why you cannot simply order a rail that matches your wall measurement — you need to add 50mm to find the correct overall width.
Not Got 600mm? Use This Guide
If your measurement is 600mm between centres, every rail in this collection is the correct fit. If your measurement is different:
- 350mm between centres → you need a 400mm wide rail
- 400mm between centres → you need a 450mm wide rail
- 450mm between centres → you need a 500mm wide rail
- 500mm between centres → you need a 550mm wide rail
- 550mm between centres → you need a 600mm wide rail
- 600mm between centres → you need a 650mm wide rail — this collection
- 650mm between centres → you need a 700mm wide rail
How to Measure Your Pipe Centre
If you are replacing an existing towel rail, measure from the centre of one wall plug or valve connection to the centre of the other. A tape measure between the midpoints of both valve bodies gives the same result. If your existing valves are angled or offset, measure between the pipe entry points at the wall rather than the valve bodies themselves.
If you are installing fresh with no existing fixings, you are free to choose any pipe centre — in which case browse by overall width rather than by pipe centre, starting with our 650mm wide chrome towel rails.
What Is in This Collection
All seven models are 650mm wide chrome central heating towel rails, available in seven heights from 600mm to 1800mm. These connect to your existing hot water system via standard 15mm compression valves. Heights run from a modest 600mm (supplementary heat, lower bar count) up to 1800mm (maximum output, suitable as a primary heat source in a medium bathroom). See the individual product pages for BTU figures at each height.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 600mm pipe centre mean?
600mm pipe centre means the distance between the centre of your flow pipe and the centre of your return pipe — or the distance between your two wall bracket fixings, measured centre to centre — is 600mm. A rail with a 600mm pipe centre is 650mm wide overall. The pipe centre is always 50mm less than the overall width of a standard ladder towel rail.
My wall fixings are 600mm apart — which rail do I need?
You need a 650mm wide towel rail. A 650mm wide rail has a pipe centre of 600mm — the fixing points sit 600mm apart, which will align directly with your existing wall plugs or valve positions. All seven rails in this collection are 650mm wide and will fit your existing pipework without any redrilling.
How do I measure my pipe centre accurately?
Measure from the centre of one wall plug or valve connection to the centre of the other, using a tape measure. If your existing valves are angled or awkward to reach, measure between the pipe entry points at the wall surface rather than across the valve bodies. The measurement should be taken horizontally between both points.
Can I replace my existing towel rail without changing the pipework?
Yes, if your existing pipe centres are 600mm. The rails in this collection connect to the same valve positions as your current rail — no pipework changes, no redrilling, no retiling. You will need to replace the existing valves with new towel rail valves (standard 15mm compression fittings) unless your current valves are already compatible.
What if my pipe centre measurement is not exactly 600mm?
A measurement within ±5mm of 600mm will usually still work with a 650mm wide rail, as compression valve fittings allow a small amount of horizontal adjustment. If your measurement is significantly different — 550mm or 650mm — choose the corresponding rail width rather than trying to stretch the pipework to fit.
