The Best Bath Towels

There’s nothing like getting out of a relaxing bath or refreshing shower and cocooning yourself in a luxe bath towel. But not all bath towels are created the same, and we can all agree that there are so many options out there. So we’ve compiled a list of our favorites, at all different price points, to help you choose the best one that works just for you.

• Best Overall: Parachute Classic Towel
• Best Budget-Friendly: Wamsutta Hygro Duet Bath Towel
• Best Waffle Weave: Snowe Honeycomb Bath Towel
• Best Classic: Lauren Ralph Lauren Sanders Bath Towel
• Best Organic: Boll & Branch Plush Bath Towel
• Best Plush: Brooklinen Super Plush Towels
• Best Turkish Towel: Serena & Lily Fouta Bath Towel
• Best Luxury: Altom 600 GSM Luxury  Bath Towel
• Best Quick Dry: Havly Bath Towel

What to Consider Before Buying

There’s a whole wide world of bath towels on the market, which means it can be hard to figure out exactly what you’re looking for. Depending on the material, bath towels can be plush, lightweight, heavy, textured, and everything in between. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular types:

• Egyptian cotton towels: These are the classic bath towels that you’re used to. Egyptian cotton fibers tend to be extra-long and highly absorbent, producing dense towels that are super soft and plush.
• Turkish cotton towels: Sometimes called Peshtemal, Hammam, or Fouta towels, they’re made of long-staple Turkish cotton that’s more lightweight and fast-drying than Egyptian cotton towels.
• Waffle-weave towels: These towels have a unique honeycomb pattern that creates more surface area, resulting in better absorbency and a faster drying time than any other towel type. They feel different from classic cotton towels, so may take some getting used to.

Besides considering the material of the towel, you’ll want to think about weight, longevity, and ease of care. Pretty much all bath towels are machine washable, but some require more care to keep them in good shape—especially white towels, which can get dingy rather quickly. When it comes to weight, towels are measured by GSM (grams per square meter). Most towels range between 300-900 GSM, with 900 being the heaviest. It’s good to remember that a lower GSM doesn’t mean lower quality—it just means the towel has a lighter weight (and most likely dries faster).

And of course, there’s the whole bath towel vs. bath sheet dilemma. Simply put, bath sheets are just larger bath towels, and they’re best for taller people or those who really like to wrap themselves up in their towel. Bath towels are typically 52″ x 27″ while bath sheets are around 60″ x 35″ (most of the options on this list fall somewhere in between).

Another word you’ll see a lot on this list? OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, which means the towel is free of harmful synthetics and dyes. (Read more about this certification (and why it’s important.)

What We Look for in a Bath Towel

We tested a wide range of bath towels for our list, judging them on the follow criteria:

• Texture: How does the towel feel? Is it soft and plush or more textured? Does it feel good right out of the shower and keep us warm?
• Absorbency: How quickly did we feel dry after a shower? How long did the towel take to hang-dry when not in use?
• Longevity: How does it hold up after a few washes? Does it get softer over time or rougher?

We know, we know—Parachute again? The popular DTC brand has dominated our lists of the best linen sheets, best bathrobes, best duvet covers, etc., but it really is one of the best bedding and bath companies out there. This bath towel hits the sweet spot: It’s warm and plush, yet textured and absorbent. It’s a also perfect mid-weight, soft, and cozy. Out of all the towels we tried, this is the one we keep reaching for weeks later—and it’s only gotten better with washing.

Specifications:

• 100% long-staple Turkish cotton
• 56″ x 30″
• 700 GSM
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified
• Available in 6 colors

Who It’s Best For: Those who are looking for something warm and weighty but not overly plush; those who like a clean, modern look.

Good to Know: Parachute’s towels are free of synthetic dyes, making them safer for you and healthier for the planet. However, this makes them susceptible to discoloration when exposed to certain harsh chemicals found in certain skincare items (thinks benzoyl peroxide) so if you’re worried about possible discoloration, opt for a white set.

If price is the most important factor to you, we heartily recommend Bed Bath & Beyond’s Wamsutta towels. We first tried them years ago and still prefer them over many of the more expensive brands we’ve tried since. Absorbent, soft, and available in an array of colors, you really can’t go wrong here—and after 2+ years of using them, we found that they haven’t changed in quality.

Honorable Mention: Target’s Made By Design bath towels, which cost just $6 and have a slightly plusher feel.

Specifications:

• 100% cotton with hygro twist loops for softness and absorbency
• 54″ x 30″
• 625 GSM
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified
• Available in 28 colors

Who It’s Best For: Those who want to stick to a budget; those who dislike ultra plush towels.

Good to Know: This towel is pretty lightweight and a tad textured, so skip if you prefer fluffiness.

Snowe’s Honeycomb towel was the first waffle weave we tried, and we were so excited about it that we wrote a one-off review. The benefit of waffle weave is the lightweight feel and unbeatable absorbency, and this towel delivers on all counts. Not only that, but it also just looks really good too, which doesn’t hurt. We were worried about how well it would wash, but after several months, it’s still absorbent and hasn’t started looking worn (a problem you can run into with lightweight towels).

Honorable Mention: Serena & Lily’s St. Helena Bath Towel ($42), which is double-sided with a terry cotton back if you want the best of both worlds.

Specifications:

• 100% long-staple cotton with a puckered texture
• 58″ x 30″
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified
• Available in 3 colors

Who It’s Best For: Those who want something different from typical terry cloth towels; those in warm, humid climates who need something fast-drying and lightweight.

Good to Know: The thin, lightweight feel takes some getting used to (it’s not exactly warm and cozy), but the absorbency more than makes up for it.

Then again, there’s nothing wrong with a classic. Ralph Lauren’s Sanders towel is mid-weight and soft, with a ribbed cotton dobby and a turned hem. They last a long time, too—we have a friend who has had these for three years and still swears by them. Unfussy, simple, and always in style. Plus, they’re pretty much always on sale at Macy’s.

Honorable Mention: The White Company’s Luxury Egyptian Cotton Towels ($32), which look and feel great but are a tad too short.

Specifications:

• 100% cotton
• 56″ x 30″
• Made in Green by OEKO-TEX
• Available in 12 colors

Who It’s Best For: Those who want to stick to the classics at a decent price.

Good to Know: Keep an eye out for discounts and coupons to score an even lower price. Also available at Neiman Marcus.

Boll & Branch’s bath towel has the classic look you know and love, but it’s made with organic materials so you can feel better about your purchase. Therefore, it’s more expensive than non-organic options, but worth the higher price if you want something that’s made of organic materials and produced in ethical conditions. Plus, it holds up well after several months of washes.

Specifications:

• 100% organic cotton
• 58″ x 30″
• 700 GSM
• Fair Trade Certified; GOTS certified; OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified
• Available in 3 colors

Who It’s Best For: Those who care where their products come from; those who like a plush feel.

Good to Know: All of Boll & Branch’s products, including the towels, are made without harmful chemicals, in factories that prioritize workers’ livelihoods and practice responsible waste and water management. Plus, all of their packaging can be recycled or repurposed.

If you’re searching for the fluffiest, plushest, coziest towel on the market, let us introduce you to Brooklinen’s Super-Plush towels. Available in a set of two, these towels are the key to turning your tiny bathroom into a home spa. They’re thick (820 GSM—most towels fall between 300-900 GSM) and honestly could be used as a throw blanket.

Specifications:

• 100% Turkish cotton
• 58″ x 30″
• 820 GSM
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified
• Available in 4 colors

Who It’s Best For: Those who want luxury.

Good to Know: Brooklinen also has Mid-Plush and Ultralight towels. We’re big fans of the Mid-Plush if you don’t love the plush feel, but we recommend skipping the Ultralight—there are better lightweight options out there.

A modern update to traditional Turkish towels, Serena & Lily’s Fouta towel is lightweight, aesthetically pleasing, and absorbent. It’s double-sided, with a smooth front and terry cotton back, and features subtle striping for a unique look. The double-weave makes them a bit plusher than other Turkish towels, and they’re still holding up after several months.

Specifications:

• 100% long-staple Turkish cotton
• 56″ x 30″
• 420 GSM
• OEKO-TEX certified
• Available in 3 colors

Who It’s Best For: Those who like the look of Turkish towels but want something slightly more substantial; those who live in warmer climates and need something fast-drying and absorbent.

Good to Know: Many people use their Turkish towels at the beach as well as after their showers.

If luxury is what you’re after, you can’t do much better than Altom from Elder & Ivory. Egyptian-Quality Cotton Highly Absorbent Solid Medium Weight Towel Set includes everything you need for your bathroom refresh. Each towel is made from Egyptian-Quality Cotton that has a highly absorbent terry cloth weave, designed to keep you cozy and dry.

Specifications:

• 100% long-staple cotton
• 600 GSM
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified
• Available in 10 +colors

Who It’s Best For: Those who value quality and craftsmanship; those looking to invest in towels that they’ll have for years; those who prefer a plush feel.

Good to Know: Keep an eye out for Nordstrom sales; also available at Bloomingdale’s.

Havly is a newer towel brand that we recently discovered, and we have to say that we’re pretty wowed. They currently sell just one towel, but what a towel it is! It features a softer, plush section for drying your face, and a more textured section for drying your body. It’s designed to dry fast, and it really does—we noticed a difference right away. The only downside is that it does come at a higher price.

Specifications:

• 100% sustainably sourced Turkish cotton
• 58″ x 30″
• 750 GSM
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and Made in Green certified
• Available in 5 colors

Who It’s Best For: Those grossed out by using the same towel to dry your face and your body; those who have tried it all and want something new.

Good to Know: These towels are expensive. Comparably priced towels on this list are made of organic materials or come from luxury brands; this one is neither. Havly says they’ll last for 1,000 washes, so if that’s the case, then they’re definitely worth the premium price.