A bathroom is frequently a haven, meticulously curated to provide cleanliness and comfort. The smallest details, such as soap scents, shower curtains, and, in this case, bath towels, can make or break the atmosphere of your space. Whether you prefer plush towels to dry off after a soak or thinner clothes for a more aesthetically pleasing look, the style you select is critical for upgrading your powder room.
Best Bath Towels 2023
A high-quality bath towel can make or break your daily showering experience. Your towel should feel soft against your skin and dry you quickly while remaining durable over time —particularly so that it does not become rough after repeated washing. It also helps to use one that dries quickly to prevent mildew and is large enough to keep you warm.
The best bath towels are made from high-quality materials, such as premium cotton with extra-long staple fibers to improve strength, softness, and absorbency. Whether you prefer to wrap yourself in a plush, spa-like towel or quickly dry off with a textured waffle towel, the right bath towel can make or break your daily shower experience.
Continue reading for more bath towel recommendations based on our lab testing. You’ll also find more information on what to look for when buying bath towels based on your needs and preferences.
Read on to learn more about the best bath towels to buy :
Havly Classic Bath Towel
Testers gave the Havly Classic Bath Towel a perfect five-star rating on all one of our evaluation criteria, including absorbency, earning it the top spot on our list. Turkish cotton quickly dried wet hands with only one pass and quickly absorbed 1/4 cup of water without spilling any extra.
Given that this towel is made of Turkish cotton, we think it will only get softer with repeated use. The tightly packed loops give it a robust and velvety texture that stays the same after washing. The towel is made with “Wünderweave Technology,” a gradient weave that is two-thirds plush and soft and one-third textured and quick-drying, according to the manufacturer.
We were especially struck by this towel’s rich feel and capacity to absorb moisture while staying lightweight and quick to dry, among the many distinctive attributes that make it stand out. The towel’s strong, bleach-proof hanging loop, which one reviewer described as a “small luxury,” is another noteworthy aspect. While the towel itself is only offered in white, the loop is available in eight different colors. We appreciate that it is measured at 30 x 58 inches, which is a wonderful size for accommodating most body shapes without being too large. Additionally, it has Oeko-Tex Made in Green certification, giving you the assurance that it is secure for both you and the environment.
White Classic Luxury Cotton Bath Towels
This White Classic set is an excellent value because it includes four towels for less than the price of our best overall pick. This pick is “nicely plush, absorbent, and stylish,” according to our testers, and “feels like a towel from a nice spa or resort.” It’s made of 100 percent combed cotton.
Each towel has a weight of 700 GSM, which accounts for its luxurious feel and ample absorbency. It dried wet hands in two to three passes in our testing and absorbed an entire 1/4 cup of water without dripping. However, even after being air-dried overnight, it was still a little damp—a trade-off for its high GSM. There was no visible wear and tear after washing and drying these towels. It’s important to note, though, that they did pick up some dirt from the other towels they were washed with, so it would probably be preferable to wash these separately.
The thick accent stripe gives these towels a spa-like vibe in terms of style, and the set is offered in a range of hues, from neutrals to jewel tones. The towels also have Oeko-Tex certification. Keep in mind that these towels, which measure 27 x 54 inches, are the smallest we recommend if you usually like oversized options. It should be mentioned that these towels may only be purchased in sets of four and not individually.
Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towels
The Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towel is thicker than many of the other options we tested and has a luxe, hotel-quality feel that will last wash after wash. This towel is slightly longer than average, making it ideal for taller users or those who prefer more coverage. It’s made of 100 percent Turkish cotton that’s been finely combed for a soft, blanket-like texture and comes in a whopping 25 colors. The large, loop-pile weave and 700 GSM weight give it a plush feel that sets it apart from the competition.
We were particularly impressed with this towel’s absorbent properties during testing: it was able to absorb up to a quarter of a cup of water in just a few minutes and dry our testers’ hands in two passes. While we weren’t crazy about the colorway we tried—”Mediterranean Blue” looked more like surgical paper towels than the Mediterranean Sea—there are plenty of neutral options available online.
Coyuchi Temescal Organic Towels
Bath towels are an item that you’ll use nearly every day, depending on your schedule, so it’s often worthwhile to splurge. Coyuchi’s Temescal Organic Towel was one of our top picks among the dozens of towels we tested due to its high-quality construction and thoughtful design. These towels have a soft and plush feel that you’ll appreciate using because they’re made with 100 percent organic, GOTS-certified Turkish cotton. They come in five different colors and sizes, including a bath mat and a six-piece set.
The Temescal Organic Towel’s absorbency is one of its primary selling points. The thin cotton is weaved into ribbed channels, which according to Coyuchi, increases drying power. When put to the test, we discovered that this towel quickly absorbed water off our tester’s hands, and the water it did so with was scarcely perceptible on the towel. The towel continued to function roughly the same after a cycle in the washer, with little to no changes to its general appearance or texture.
Serena & Lily Fouta Bath Towel
Turkish towels, which are also known as Hammam, Fouta, or Peshtemal towels, are created from 100% Turkish cotton and are typically flat-woven, light, and quick to dry. The double-sided design of Serena & Lily’s Fouta bath towel, which has traditional Turkish cotton weave on one side and soft terry fabric on the inside, gives it the best of both worlds. Unsurprisingly, we discovered the terry cloth side to be more absorbent. However, it didn’t absorb as much as some of its rivals when submerged in a bowl of water.
One tester, who appreciates that this towel gives you “the elegant design of a Turkish towel and the drying factor of a typical towel,” says, “I have always enjoyed the style of Turkish towels but never bought them because they’re normally thin and not that absorbent.”
One of the lightest and most compact towels we evaluated, the towel has a weight of 420 GSM. It is offered as part of a set and features a nautical stripe pattern in three coastal-inspired colors.
Casaluna Waffle Bath Towel
These aren’t your traditional terry towels: Waffle-weave (also known as lattice-weave) bath towels are much thinner and dry much faster. But don’t be fooled by its appearance; this Casaluna towel is still very absorbent, and the textured surface draws moisture away from the skin faster. Indeed, testers claim to have been able to dry their hands in just one pass.
We would recommend this towel to anyone looking for a quick-drying towel, especially those living in humid climates where thick terry cloth towels can take a long time to dry and risk developing a musty odor. This is also a good option for people who don’t have enough space in their bathroom or linen closet for extra-thick towels. We also think it’d be a good hair towel because it’s lightweight and won’t strain your neck.
Given their performance in our testing, our testers were pleasantly surprised to learn the price of these Casaluna towels. According to them, these towels have a high-end appearance, and the textured design looks nice hanging on a bathroom hook. The towel is available in a variety of trendy colors and also in hand towel sizes.
Riley Spa Towel Collection Bath Towel
Riley’s bath towel is the only one on our list made of Egyptian cotton, which accounts for its rich, luxurious feel that is nothing short of spa-worthy. The fibers are dense and extremely absorbent because they are made of fine-combed, long-staple cotton. This towel dried our hands in one to two passes (both before and after washing) and absorbed the entire amount of water in 20 seconds.
The drawback to Egyptian cotton’s incredible absorbency and luxurious feel is that it retains moisture, requiring ample time and space to dry after each use. After 12 hours of air drying, the towel was still slightly damp in our tests. Remember this if you live in a humid climate or don’t have a place to hang your towel to dry after each use.
There were no loose threads or puckering along the binding after washing, and the attached hanging loop remained intact. The bath towel is somewhere between a standard bath towel and a bath sheet in size, so you can snuggle up in it while getting ready in the morning.
Simply Vera Vera Wang Signature Bath Towel
While not quite a bath sheet, this oversized towel offers significantly more coverage than a standard bath towel. “I really liked the size of this towel,” one tester says. “When wrapped around my body, it didn’t feel too short.” During our lab tests, this towel dried wet hands in a few passes while struggling to absorb all of the water in the bowl. Surprisingly, its absorbency improved after washing and drying, and because it’s made of zero-twist cotton, it retained its softness. It’s also been tested and certified Made in Green by Oeko-Tex, which means it’s free of harmful substances and sourced sustainably.
The towel is available in a variety of colors, each with a striped stitching pattern that gives the towels a more upscale look and feel. There are also matching bath sheets, hand towels, and washcloths available. Overall, we believe this oversized pick is a great buy because it is one of the least expensive on our list. “This is a great option for the performance, look, and price,” one tester says.
Final Words
A bath towel is an essential bathroom accessory that everyone should own. In this article, we have reviewed the best bath towels to make it easy for you to choose the right bath towel for your needs. We have handpicked different bath towels available in different qualities and budgets. Hopefully, this blog will be helpful for you to choose the right bath towel based on your budget and needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should Bath Towels be Replaced?
Bath towels typically last two to three years, depending on the quality of the towels and the amount of use they receive. Check your bath towels on a regular basis to see if they need to be replaced. If you notice signs of wear, such as thinning or fraying edges, or if they are no longer as absorbent as they once were, it may be time to replace them.
How Many Bath Towels Do You Need Per Person?
Each adult in your household should ideally have four bath towels. Four towels are enough to allow for laundry rotation and for times when the towel from the previous use hasn’t had a chance to dry. The White Classic Luxury Cotton Bath Towel Set is quick-drying and absorbent and comes in a set of four.
Is Egyptian or Turkey Cotton Better for Towels?
Egyptian and Turkish cotton are superior because they have long fibers that make the cotton much stronger and smoother than regular cotton. Egyptian cotton towels are soft, thick, and extremely absorbent. Turkish towels dry quickly, are lightweight, and have a slightly lower absorbency. She adds that these towels soften with use, and the only major difference is drying time — Egyptian cotton takes longer to dry because the fiber is more absorbent.