A heated mirror is one of the most consistently useful upgrades in a UK bathroom. Drawing typically 20–100 W, the demister pad behind the mirror keeps the glass clear within minutes of a shower, eliminating the wipe-down that precedes every use of an ordinary mirror. Add integrated LED lighting and magnification, and the combined fitting replaces multiple separate products. Costs range from about £105 for a basic demister pad (£25–£80 for the pad plus £80–£150 to wire it in) behind a standard mirror, to £500+ for a large illuminated frameless mirror with colour-adjustable lighting and sensor switching.

Beyond the mirror, understanding the rest of the bathroom extras market, heated towel rails, shaving sockets, extractor fans, and smart controls, helps prioritise a bathroom renovation budget effectively.

Bathroom Electrical Zones

Before specifying any electrical fitting in a bathroom, you need to understand BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations 18th Edition) bathroom zones, which dictate IP ratings and permitted fittings:

ZoneLocationMinimum IP ratingPermitted fittings
Zone 0Inside the bath or shower trayIPX7Only SELV (separated extra-low voltage) fittings specifically rated for this zone
Zone 1Above the bath/shower tray up to 2.25 m height; shower enclosureIPX4SELV or 230V fittings rated IPX4 minimum; RCD protected
Zone 20.6 m outside the bath rim; up to 2.25 m height; outside the shower enclosureIPX4IPX4 minimum; RCD protected
Outside zonesRest of the bathroomIPX0+Standard fittings permissible; still RCD required

Zones 1 and 2 together cover the space up to 2.25 m above the floor (or up to a higher fixed shower head) and 0.6 m out from the edge of the bath or shower tray.1 The Building Regulations call this space a special location, and any addition or alteration to a circuit within it is notifiable.1 Section 701 of BS 7671 requires equipment in Zones 1 and 2 to have at least IPX4 protection, or IPX5 where water jets are likely to be used for cleaning.2

All circuits in or passing through a bathroom must be protected by an RCD, and this is non-negotiable in any installation.3 In practice, this means bathroom circuits should be on an RCD or RCBO at the consumer unit.

Only SELV (separated extra-low voltage, no more than 12 V a.c. or 30 V ripple-free d.c.) fittings should be used in Zone 0.4 Shaver supply units with an isolating transformer are permitted in Zone 2 and beyond, provided they are placed where direct shower spray is unlikely.2

Switches: standard rocker switches are not permitted inside bathroom zones, pull-cord switches are used instead, or switches positioned outside the room.4

Heated Mirrors

Demister Pads (Behind Existing Mirrors)

A resistive heating element bonded to the back of a mirror glass. Controlled by a wall switch (outside the zone) or by a motion sensor or mirror illumination circuit. A 300 × 400 mm pad typically runs at 20–40 W; a full 600 × 800 mm mirror demister uses 60–100 W.5

  • Supply cost: £25–£80 for the pad only
  • Installation: new wiring in a bathroom is usually notifiable under Part P, so it is normally done by a registered electrician; typically £80–£150 per fitting added to a bathroom electrical project

Illuminated Mirrors with Integrated Demister

The most popular current format. LED lighting (usually along one or two edges, or as a backlit glow) combined with a rear demister pad, sold as a single unit. Features to compare:

  • Colour temperature range: 3,000–5,000 K adjustable (warm to cool) is ideal, cooler light suits make-up application; warmer suits a relaxing soak.
  • CRI: aim for CRI ≥90 for accurate colour rendering
  • Magnification zone: a 5× or 10× magnifying insert is useful for contact lens users and shaving
  • Sensor switching: infrared hand-wave sensor turns lights on/off without touching wet hands to a switch
  • Display: some mirrors incorporate an integrated clock, temperature display, or Bluetooth speaker

Sizes from 500 × 700 mm to 1,200 × 700 mm are common. Prices:

Mirror typeSupply priceInstalled cost
Basic illuminated (no demister)£60–£150£130–£250
Illuminated + demister (standard)£130–£300£220–£450
Premium large illuminated + demister£300–£600+£450–£800+
Framed illuminated (oak, walnut)£200–£500£300–£650

Heated Towel Rails

Hardwired Electric Towel Rails

Usually wired from a fused spur, or a new circuit, and controlled by a timer or thermostat. No plumbing connection required, the best choice for bathrooms being renovated without extending the central heating system, or for en-suites and cloakrooms remote from the boiler.

Typical output: 60–250 W depending on size. Running cost: a 100 W rail on 4 hours/day at 26.32p/kWh (Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026) costs approximately £38/year.6

Styles: straight ladder rails, curved, angled, and dual-fuel (works either from the central heating system OR an electric element, ideal for summer use when the boiler is off).

  • Supply cost: £80–£400
  • Installed cost (hardwired): £150–£500 (add £80–£150 for wiring if a new circuit is required)

Plumbed Towel Rails (Central Heating)

Connected into the heating circuit via a manifold or direct T-junction. Requires a plumber and (for new pipework runs) a decorated chase. Output is higher and consistent across the heating season; cost per heat output is lower than electric if the boiler is already running.

  • Supply cost: £80–£400
  • Installed cost: £200–£600 (includes plumbing; assumes heating pipes are accessible nearby)

Shaving Sockets

A standard 13 A socket is not permitted in a bathroom unless it can be fitted at least 2.5 m from the edge of the bath or shower tray.3 Shaving sockets (BS EN 61558-2-5) incorporate an isolating transformer that provides 230 V and 115 V output and galvanic isolation, preventing electric shock. Shaver supply units conforming to BS EN IEC 61558-2-5 may be fitted within that 2.5 m, but keep them out of Zones 0 and 1 and away from direct shower spray.3

  • Supply cost: £15–£45 (illuminated, dual voltage)
  • Installed cost: £60–£120 added to a bathroom rewire project

Extractor Fans

Building Regulations Part F sets a minimum extract rate for a bathroom of 15 l/s for an intermittent fan, or 8 l/s for continuous extract.7 For a new bathroom, Approved Document F expects an extract fan whether or not the room has a window, and where there is no openable window an intermittent fan should keep running for at least 15 minutes after the room is vacated.7 When an existing bathroom is refurbished, any existing fan should be kept or replaced; if the room had no fan, one is not required unless the work makes the ventilation worse.7

Extractor typeSupply costNotes
Basic axial fan£20–£50Wired to light switch; check it is rated for at least 15 l/s
Timer fan£30–£70Runs on for set time after light off; better air change
Humidity-sensing fan£50–£120Activates on humidity spike; quieter cycling
Inline centrifugal fan (ducted through loft)£80–£250Quieter; suits higher-resistance duct runs

All fans require a dedicated switched live from the light circuit or a separate switch, and must be RCD-protected.

Budget Summary: Typical Bathroom Extras

ItemBudget rangeMid-rangePremium
Illuminated demister mirror£220–£300 installed£300–£450£450–£800+
Electric heated towel rail£150–£250 installed£250–£450£450–£650+
Shaving socket£60–£90 installed£80–£120-
Extractor fan (humidity sensing)£120–£200 installed£180–£280£300+
Bathroom downlights (per fitting)£40–£70 installed£60–£100£100–£150+

For a full bathroom renovation, allow roughly £700–£1,700 for all the electrical extras (mirror, towel rail, humidity-sensing fan, four downlights, shaving socket), running from the bottom of the budget column to the top of the mid-range column above, over and above the main sanitaryware and tiling costs.

References (7)

Figures in this note were checked against the sources below on 2 October 2026. Superscript numbers in the text point to them. Every source the site cites, by topic.

  1. 1technicalvery strongMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.RN-JYJ3I5The document that decides what electrical work a homeowner may legally do themselves, and the exact list of notifiable jobs. Regulation 12(6A), reproduced at paragraph 2.5, makes only three things notifiable: the installation of a new circuit, the replacement of a consumer unit, and any addition or alteration to existing circuits in a special location. Regulation 12(9) defines special location as, in a room containing a bath or shower, the zone extending vertically from finished floor level to 2.25 metres (or the shower head position if higher) and horizontally 600mm from the edge of the bath tub or shower tray. Paragraph 2.7 states that all other electrical installation work is not notifiable, namely additions and alterations to existing installations outside special locations, and replacements, repairs and maintenance anywhere. Paragraph 2.8 gives worked examples: a built-in cooker is not notifiable unless a new cooker circuit is needed, and connecting an electric gate or garage door to an existing isolator is not notifiable but running a new circuit from the consumer unit to that isolator is. Paragraph 2.2 confirms Part P reaches outdoor work including fixed garden lighting, pond pumps and outbuildings such as sheds, detached garages and domestic greenhouses. Notifiable work must be certified by self-certification by a registered competent person, third-party certification, or a building control body (paragraph 3.1), with the compliance certificate issued within 30 days (paragraph 3.4). Note that Approved Document P is a source of guidance rather than a ban: non-notifiable work still has to comply with BS 7671.
  2. 2technicalstrongThe IET, guidance.RN-76NYWBThe IET's technical article on Section 701 of BS 7671, locations containing a bath or shower. Explains the zones, 0, 1 and 2, what equipment and IP rating is permitted in each, the supplementary bonding rules and where a socket may and may not go. This is the source behind every statement about what can be installed near a bath, and it is written by the IET's own chief engineer answering the questions their helpline actually receives.
  3. 3technicalstrongElectrical Safety First, guidance.RN-5XVQAQStates that sockets are not allowed in a bathroom or shower room, apart from shaver supply units, unless they can be fitted at least 2.5 m from the edge of a bath or shower tray. Shaver points are permitted within that 2.5 m provided they are SELV or conform to BS EN IEC 61558-2-5. Recommends a ceiling-mounted pull-cord switch in preference to a wall light switch because of dampness and wet hands. Confirms all circuits in or passing through bathrooms or shower rooms must be protected by an RCD. General guidance keeps outlets at least 30 cm from water or heat sources.
  4. 4technicalstrongNICEIC, guidance.RN-8VV8NHNICEIC's householder guide to BS 7671 bathroom rules. It defines zones 0, 1 and 2 and covers sockets, shaver sockets, switches and RCD protection.
  5. 5technicalsupplier figureHeat Mat, guidance.RN-5XUB80A UK distributor's page for demista mirror heaters: a 500 x 500 mm pad draws 50 W, about 200 W per square metre, which puts a 300 x 400 mm pad near 24 W and a 600 x 800 mm pad near 96 W.
  6. 6technicalvery strongOfgem.RN-YYE8U2The live source for any running-cost sum in a heating note. For 1 October to 31 December 2026 the direct debit cap is 26.32p per kWh for electricity with a 54.83p daily standing charge, and 7.97p per kWh for gas with a 29.68p daily standing charge, giving a typical annual dual fuel bill of £1,723, a 4% rise on the previous period. Ofgem states these are the average unit rate and standing charge for direct debit customers in England, Scotland and Wales; gas prices include 5% VAT while electricity carried no VAT in this period. The cap is reset every three months, so any note quoting a pence-per-kWh figure should be dated against this page.
  7. 7technicalvery strongMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.RN-QD1SFFTable 1.1 sets minimum intermittent extract rates: kitchen with a cooker hood extracting outside 30 l/s, kitchen without one 60 l/s, utility room 30 l/s, bathroom 15 l/s, sanitary accommodation 6 l/s. Extract terminals and fans other than cooker hoods should be as high as practicable and no more than 400mm below the ceiling; a cooker hood should sit between 650mm and 750mm above the hob if the manufacturer gives no figure. Table 1.7 requires background ventilators of at least 8000mm2 equivalent area in habitable rooms and kitchens for a dwelling, 10,000mm2 for a single-storey dwelling. Background ventilators should be at least 1700mm above floor level and at least 500mm from a fan in the same room. On replacement windows, paragraph 3.14 says new windows must carry background ventilators no smaller than the originals, and paragraph 3.15 gives the fallback minimums where the old size is unknown: 8000mm2 habitable rooms, 8000mm2 kitchen, 4000mm2 bathroom. Paragraph 3.32 confirms that replacing an extractor fan or cooker hood on existing cabling is not notifiable.

  1. Approved Document P, Electrical safety: Dwellings, 2013 edition incorporating 2010 and 2013 amendments, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, accessed 30 September 2026. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  2. Section 701: Locations containing a bath or shower, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, accessed 2 October 2026. electrical.theiet.org

  3. Electrical safety advice for the bathroom, Electrical Safety First, accessed 30 September 2026. electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk

  4. Bathrooms and electrics, NICEIC, accessed 2 October 2026. niceic.com

  5. Mirror demister, Heat Mat, accessed 2 October 2026. heatmat.co.uk

  6. Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges, Ofgem, accessed 29 September 2026. ofgem.gov.uk

  7. Approved Document F, Ventilation, Volume 1: Dwellings, 2021 edition, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, accessed 14 September 2026. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk