A hands-free towel dispenser for dispensing a measured sheet from a roll of towel material includes a housing having an internal volume so as to retain at least one roll of towel material therein. An electronically powered dispensing mechanism is contained within the housing for dispensing a measured sheet from the roll of towel material upon actuation of the dispensing mechanism. A sensor is contained within the housing to detect an object placed within a detection zone of the sensor. Control circuitry is configured with the sensor and dispensing mechanism to initiate a dispense cycle upon detection of an object by the sensor. The sensor is disposed relative to the housing such that the detection zone is defined substantially below a bottom surface of the housing requiring that an object must be placed at a location below the housing to be detected by the sensor.