How many hot towels do I need per client?

A standard hot towel shave service uses 2-3 towels: one to soften the beard before shaving and one to soothe the skin after. A premium service may use 3-4 towels with a mid-shave refresh towel. Most barbershops budget 2 towels per client for haircuts that include a hot towel finish.

What temperature should hot towels be?

Hot towels should be heated to 70-76°C (158-170°F) in a towel warmer. They cool slightly during wringing and application. Always test on your own wrist before placing on the client face — it should feel hot but comfortable. Too hot risks burning the skin, especially on sensitive areas.

How many towels should I have in stock?

Keep at least 2-3 days worth of towels in stock at all times to account for laundry turnaround. If you use 20 towels per day, stock 40-60 towels minimum. More is better to handle busy periods and laundry delays. Towels should be replaced when they lose their softness or become thin.

How much does a hot towel service cost to provide?

Each towel use costs approximately 10-20p when factoring in laundry costs (water, electricity, detergent, softener). A towel warmer uses about £0.50-£1 of electricity per day. With 2 towels per client, the cost is approximately 25-45p per service. This is usually built into the service price.

CutCalcs

Hot Towel Calculator — Quantities & Service Planning

Calculate hot towel quantities, heating times and water temperature for services.

Clients Per Day

Towels Per Client

Working Days/Week

Laundry Cost Per Towel

Default: £0.15

How We Calculate This

This calculator estimates daily, weekly and monthly hot towel requirements based on your client volume and towels per service, plus stock and cost calculations.

The formula

Daily towels = Clients per day x Towels per client

Stock needed = Daily towels x 2.5 (buffer for laundry turnaround)

Monthly cost = Monthly towels x Laundry cost per towel

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always perform a strand test before chemical services.