The 8 Best Bath Towels The Spruce Has Tested

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These tester-approved picks deliver plushness, absorbency, and quick drying time

Choosing a bath towel seems simple—but it’s nearly impossible to predict a towel’s performance just by looking at it. Sure, you can feel the fibers in person if you’re shopping in-store; but you can’t really determine a towel’s absorbency, fluffiness, or drying capabilities until you’ve hung it up in your bathroom.

Plus, deciding which bath towels are the best does come down to personal preference. Despite my love for thick, fluffy towels, I need something that dries quickly since my bathroom doesn’t have much ventilation. However, after testing over 150 options, we found options that offer a happy medium between a luxe texture and fast drying time. Other testers prefer a thin, lightweight option and don’t need all the extra fluff.

So, after over 600 hours of inspecting, soaking, laundering, and drying various bath towels, we narrowed down our list to the best performers. Whether you’re looking for a plush cotton towel or a lightweight, waffle-weave one, these towels passed our tests with flying colors and will make perfect additions to your daily routine.

Editor’s Note: This list was updated in October 2024 to include additional shopping context and buying considerations.

Best Overall: Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Organic Quick-Dry Bath Towel

Buy at Potterybarn.com

What We Like

Medium-weight is suitable for everyday use
Fluffy and dense
Highly durable
Luxurious, high-end texture

What We Don’t Like

Not as absorbent as other options on this list

Our favorite towel is the Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Organic Quick-Dry Towel—we love it so much, we’ve retested this product twice and it continues to perform exceptionally across the board. At 550 GSM, this towel offers a medium-weight construction that’s versatile and suitable for most households.

What we love most about this towel is that it offers a premium feel without sacrificing performance and dependability. The texture is fluffy and dense, but not overly so. It has a substantial construction but isn’t too heavy, which makes it both comfortable and effective. We have noticed a slight change in softness, but it still feels great against the skin, with no rough texture or scratchiness.

The towel is made from organic long-staple Turkish cotton, which gives it a standout texture that makes it the softest we’ve tested. It has a notably luxurious and high-end feel, and we think it offers great value considering its price point. For reference, our best luxury pick, the Boll & Branch Plush Bath Towel, is around $15 more.

Compared to thicker options with slower drying times, this one was only slightly damp by the 30-minute mark and completely dry in one hour, making it a great choice for everyday use. However, while still highly absorbent, other options on this list performed slightly better in our absorbency tests.

We did notice that after laundering this towel, the texture became just a tiny bit less soft, but the difference was barely perceptible. We found this was standard across the board for every towel we tested, and many options had a more drastic change after the first wash.

The towel also proved highly durable, as it held up well after abrading the fabric and was highly stain-resistant. We would add more Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Bath Towels for our linen closet, even outside of testing.

_{Size: 55 x 28 inches | Material: Organic long-staple Turkish cotton | Weight: 550 GSM | Certifications: Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX | Return Window: 30 days}

Best Budget: Better Homes & Gardens Signature Soft Mélange Bath Towel

Buy at Walmart.com

What We Like

Retains softness
Unique, two-sided color
Larger than most standard-sized towels

What We Don’t Like

Small lose threads after first few washes

After six months of testing, the Better Homes & Gardens Signature Soft Mélange Bath Towel has earned a spot in our linen closet. At just $9, this towel offers a ton of value with a budget-friendly price tag—but that’s not the only selling point. It’s also a top performer in terms of its soft, fluffy texture, absorbency, and unique two-tone color design.

This towel weighs 586 GSM, making it the perfect medium-weight option. It’s made with 90 percent cotton and 10 percent viscose, and even after six months of weekly use, it still offers a cozy feel. It has lost a bit of softness, but it’s to be expected when you use it as much as we do. But even after several cycles in the wash and weekly rotations, it still feels pleasant against the skin, with no scratchiness.

Beyond the normal wear and tear that comes with regular towel use, we haven’t noticed any significant change in quality. There were a few lint sheddings, but it’s no longer an issue after the first few washes. The loops are a bit flatter but tend to fluff right back up after laundry day.

For testing purposes, we kept one towel untouched and compared it to the Soft Mélange Bath Towel we use weekly, and there’s truly no difference between the two, not even in color vibrancy.

With an impressive $9 price point, this budget-friendly pick leaves us impressed every time. It’s soft, super absorbent, durable, and has a gorgeous, two-tone design that comes in various colors. Better Homes & Gardens and Walmart knocked it out of the park with this towel.

_{Size: 56 x 30 inches | Material: Cotton, viscose | Weight: 586 GSM | Certifications: Made in Green by OEKO-TEX | Return Window: 90 days}

How often should you replace bath towels?

Generally, you should replace your towels every two years. If your bath towels are not absorbing water as well as they used to, developing odors, or have frayed edges and holes, it’s time to replace them.

Best Luxury: Boll & Branch Plush Bath Towel

Buy at Bollandbranch.com

Buy at Nordstrom.com

What We Like

High-quality construction
Very absorbent
Plush and soft texture
Dense, substantial weight

What We Don’t Like

Softness fades in time

Depending on your schedule, bath towels are an item you’ll use nearly every day—so oftentimes, it’s worth it to splurge. Out of the dozens of towels we’ve tested, Boll & Branch’s Plush Bath Towel is one of our top choices for its quality construction, impressive performance, and thoughtful design.

Made with organic long-staple cotton, these towels have a soft and plush feel you’ll appreciate use after use. Even after multiple runs through the washer and dryer, this towel continued to feel like a luxury product. Its absorbency was also impressive.

This towel soaked up water quickly and effectively, and it felt cozy to wrap up in after a hot shower. We were also pleasantly surprised by how quickly it dried, despite its plushness and density.

Over the course of six months, though, we noticed some changes in this towel’s texture. Although it was super plush and fluffy for the first couple of months of testing, we noticed it got rougher after around six to 10 rounds in the washing machine. While it’s still plenty thick, it’s no longer as soft as it was upon arrival.

That being said, we haven’t found any loose threads, snags, or other signs of wear and the quality has held up very well. However, we had to swap this towel out in the California summertime because it was a bit too thick to dry between uses. All things considered, while this product is more expensive than other options we tested, we think it’s well worth the price tag.

_{Size: 58 x 30 inches | Material: Organic long-staple cotton | Weight: Not listed | Certifications: GOTS-certified organic cotton, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | Return Window: 30 days}

Best Quick-Drying: Frontgate Egyptian Cotton Bath Towel

Buy at Frontgate.com

What We Like

Dense, heavyweight construction
Maintains quality over time
Surprisingly quick drying time considering its plushness

What We Don’t Like

Bulkier than other options

Reaching for a still-damp towel after stepping out of the shower can be particularly unpleasant; luckily, the Frontgate Egyptian Cotton Bath Towel boasts a speedy drying time, making it ideal if you live in a humid climate or take more frequent showers. What’s more, a faster drying time can help prevent musty smells from occurring since mildew thrives in moist environments.

We’ve actually re-tested the Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towel multiple times, and it’s consistently one of the top performers. This towel has a thick, luxe, hotel-quality feel that holds up wash after wash. Available in a whopping 27 colors, it’s made with long-staple, finely-combed Turkish cotton for a soft, blanket-like texture.

Despite its substantial construction, it was completely dried in just 30 minutes, making it the fastest drying option we tested. The large, loop-pile weave and 800 GSM weight give it a plush feel that’s a step above the rest—it’s the heaviest option on this list, so its impressive drying time is especially notable.

During our lab testing, we learned this is a slightly longer-than-average towel, perfect for taller users or those who like more coverage. Just note that because of its thickness, this towel is bulkier and may take up more real estate in your linen closet.

In our long-term testing, we grew to love this towel even more. After six months, we found it was easy to launder and maintained its spa-like feel, but it was a tad less soft, which we feel comes with long-term use. While some shoppers might wish the price were a tad cheaper to stock several at a time, we think the towel is well worth the investment.

_{Size: 58 x 30 inches | Material: Long-staple Turkish cotton | Weight: 800 GSM | Certifications: None listed | Return Window: 90 days}

Best Waffle Weave: Boll & Branch Waffle Terry Bath Towel

Buy at Bollandbranch.com

What We Like

Dual-sided design offers both terry cloth and waffle weave
Lightweight yet durable
Convenient hanging loop

What We Don’t Like

Waffle weave can take some getting used to
Loose threads causes some unraveling

Lightweight and exceptionally absorbent, waffle weave towels are a highly effective and design-forward alternative to your standard terry cloth towel. Our favorite of the category is the Boll & Branch Waffle Terry Bath Towel, which seriously impressed us with its thoughtful design, unique construction, and impressive absorbency.

If you’re used to using thick and fluffy towels, waffle weave towels may take some getting used to. However, this towel offers a dual-sided design with a terry cloth material on one side and a waffle knit on the other. Although it still doesn’t have the same weight as plush towels, this towel is a great pick for those looking for a lightweight, compact, and effective towel.

We also love that there’s a hook loop for easy hanging. It’s also highly absorbent and quick-drying. However, after six months of use, the loose thread from when we first started testing it has since started to unravel in a few places, creating a ragged look. We still love the texture and lightness of the towel, but we recommend being a bit gentler while washing so it doesn’t unravel.

_{Size: 58 x 30 inches | Material: Organic long-staple cotton | Weight: Not listed | Certifications: GOTS-certified organic cotton, Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX | Return Window: 30 days}

Best Set: Crane & Canopy Plush Towel Essentials Bundle

Buy at Craneandcanopy.com

What We Like

Cozy and plush
Durable and stain-resistant
Absorbent and quick-drying
Monogramming available

What We Don’t Like

Fragile towel hook loop

If you’re looking to upgrade your bath towels, washcloths, and hand towels all at once, check out the Crane & Canopy Plush Towels. You can either purchase the bath towels individually or as a bundle for added convenience.

During lab testing, we were immediately impressed by the luxurious texture of this towel. It feels plush and supremely soft with a moderately dense weight of 600 GSM. This product also comes with a hanging loop, but we found it felt a bit weak and prone to tearing. In general, though, the construction quality was sound and the towels looked high-end.

Based on our lab tests, we think it’s an upgrade from most everyday towels. We found it handled our stain and abrasion tests quite well, suggesting impressive durability. We also appreciate how absorbent and quick-drying this towel is despite its substantial weight.

This set comes with two washcloths, two hand towels, and two bath towels for $135. Plus, you can personalize your towels by adding a monogram for an extra $10, which may be worth it if you live in a larger household and want to keep track of which towel belongs to who.

_{Size: 56 x 30 inches | Material: Long-staple Turkish cotton | Weight: 600 GSM | Certifications: None listed | Return Window: 30 days}

Softest Bath Towel: Southern Living Turkish Cotton and Modal Bath Towel

Buy at Dillards.com

What We Like

Luxurious texture
Visually appealing design
Absorbent, heavyweight construction

What We Don’t Like

Longer drying time

A soft towel can enhance your bathroom routine, and Southern Living’s Turkish Cotton and Modal Towel provides a truly cozy experience. (Southern Living is owned by The Spruce’s parent company, Dotdash Meredith.) During lab testing, we were huge fans of the towel’s fluffy and plush texture, which we couldn’t get enough of.

We also were impressed with its attractive design, which featured a decorative series of five double-welts on each end rather than the standard band. The loops seemed durable, dense, and compact, and we liked its heavier 700 GSM weight.

Although the towel performed well in our absorbency test, it took a bit longer to completely dry (around two hours) than other options we tested. However, this tends to be standard for plusher, heavier towels.

We also liked that the soft texture didn’t change post-wash, and the towel felt as good as new with no signs of wear. What’s more, after six months of use, the towel’s performance, texture, and overall quality stood the test of time. The towel is just as soft as when it first arrived, which is especially impressive since many lose their plushness over time.

_{Size: 56 x 30 inches | Material: 80 percent cotton, 20 percent modal | Weight: 700 GSM | Certifications: None listed | Return Window: 30 days}

Best Heavyweight: Brooklinen Super-Plush Turkish Cotton Bath Towels

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Brooklinen.com

What We Like

Thick, plush, and cozy
Includes two bath towels
High-quality construction

What We Don’t Like

Slow drying time

A heavyweight towel can provide a soft and luxurious feel when drying off after a steamy shower, allowing for a more comfortable and enjoyable experience compared to thinner, rougher towels. Brooklinen’s Super-Plush Bath Towel boasts a thick and cozy texture and a substantial construction that we love even after six months of consistent use.

With a heavy weight of 860 GSM, these towels were amongst the most absorbent we tested and felt very high-quality. However, because of its heaviness and thickness, this Brooklinen Turkish Cotton Towel isn’t as quick-drying as a waffle towel or the Frontgate Egyptian Cotton Bath Towel (our best quick-drying pick). We found this Brooklinen towel to still be damp the next day. So, we wouldn’t recommend using it as your hair towel but as a body towel instead.

The Brooklinen Super-Plush Turkish Bath Towels are still in perfect shape even after being used regularly for over six months. They definitely check off every box in the durability department.

_{Size: 58 x 30 inches | Material: Turkish cotton | Weight: 820 GSM | Certifications: OEKO-TEX Standard | Return Window: 365 days}

Final Verdict

Our overall best bath towel is the Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Organic Quick-Dry Towel, a luxurious option that earned high marks for its exceptional softness and efficient drying time. We also recommend the Better Homes & Gardens Signature Soft Mélange Bath Towel, our best budget pick, a highly absorbent and durable option made from cotton.

How We Tested the Bath Towels

We’re always testing the best new bath towels at The Spruce, and as of today, we’ve tested a total of 152 in The Lab and countless hours at home. So, it’s safe to say we know a thing or two when it comes to finding the best bath towels.

After testing in the lab and evaluating each towel’s initial texture, fibers, and overall quality, we then took the towels home and put them through a series of tests over a span of six months. We assessed each towel pre and post-wash to determine its softness, thickness, and weight.

After three and six months, we noticed a slight change in softness from regular wear and tear. Some towels’ lack of durableness is more noticeable than others, with loose threads and unraveling.

We also tested each towel’s absorbency by noting how well it absorbed moisture from our hands and a bowl of water. To see how fast or slow each towel dried, we conducted a drying test, hanging each towel on a drying rack and feeling the dryness level after 30 and 60 minutes.

We performed a stain test using mascara and foundation on a dry section of the towel. We evaluated how well each stain lifted by pre-treating the infected areas with a stain remover and one cycle in the wash.

How to Choose the Best Bath Towel

Identify Durable and Absorbent Materials

While many people don’t think about the fibers their towels are made from, this is one of the most important considerations, as fibers perform differently in terms of absorbency, softness, colorfastness, and durability.

In our latest round of testing, we found that all of our favorite picks were made from cotton or a cotton blend, despite testing a range of fabrics, including microfiber, bamboo, and linen. I’ve also found that all of my personal favorite towels are made from cotton, and they’ve proven to be incredibly durable, even withstanding years of makeup stains.

There are several types of cotton towels available, including Egyptian cotton, Turkish cotton, organic cotton, Supima cotton, and more. Egyptian, Turkish, and Supima cotton towels are the most luxurious types you can buy and tend to have a higher price point than towels made from other materials. They are typically made from long-staple fibers, so they are super soft and absorbent

Our overall best bath towel, the Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Organic Quick-Dry Towel, is made from 100 percent organic long-staple Turkish cotton. The Frontgate Cotton Bath Towel (our best quick-drying pick) is another great option made from Egyptian cotton.

If you prefer to shop organic, there are many great options available. These towels are generally made from 100 percent cotton and are certified by a third-party vendor. These towels are made from cotton that is not treated with pesticides. These are very soft and plush but may take longer to dry than other options.

Multiple products on this list are made with GOTS-certified organic cotton, including our best luxury option, the Boll & Branch Plush Bath Towel.

Prioritize Larger-Sized Towels

You should always check the size of bath towels before you buy them. There’s nothing worse than getting your towels home and realizing they’ll barely wrap around your body! Standard bath towels are usually between 27 to 30 inches wide and 52 to 58 inches long.

Towels that are 27 x 52 inches may be perfect for smaller adults, but they likely won’t suffice for larger adults. Keep this in mind, especially if you’re shopping online and can’t see the towel in person before you buy.

If you want to bundle yourself up in a towel, look for bath sheets, which are larger, spa-like towels that typically measure between 35 to 40 inches wide and 60 to 70 inches long. Personally, I prefer the extra coverage of a bath sheet since I can use it as a towel wrap, since I tend to lounge around post-shower for a bit before getting changed.

As you might expect, bath sheets generally cost more than standard towels. Many of our favorite bath towels also come in bath sheet sizes, including our best heavyweight pick, the Saatva Plush Towels, which are oversized and reliably cozy.

Pay Attention to Fabric Weight

All fabrics, including towels, have a weight that’s measured in GSM, or grams per square meter. In general, towels typically weigh between 300 and 900 GSM—the lower the number, the lighter the towel will be (and the quicker to dry). There’s no “right” towel weight; it’s simply a matter of personal preference. Some people like lighter towels, while others prefer heavy, dense ones.

Towels with a weight range of 300 to 400 GSM tend to be lightweight, with a quick dry time.
400 to 620 GSM towels are suitable for everyday use, as they have a medium weight and a moderate dry time.
620 to 900 GSM towels are heavyweight, plush, and take longer to dry.

As a general rule of thumb, towels with a GSM of 300-400 are great for humid areas, while products between 400 and 600 GSM offer a happy medium between plush and lightweight.

While heavier towels typically take longer to dry, we were surprised to find in our testing that our best quick-drying pick, the Frontgate Egyptian Cotton Bath Towel, is our heaviest option at 800 GSM.

A Tip From Our Writer

If your bathroom has poor ventilation like mine, you may want to steer clear of heavyweight towels with a super high GSM—even if the fluffy texture may seem enticing. I don’t have a bathroom exhaust fan in my NYC apartment, and an ultra-plush towel tends to smell mildewy pretty quickly. This is also true if you live in an especially warm climate, as thicker options may take extra long to dry.

Don’t Overlook a Towel’s Absorbency

Absorbency may be important, but it’s often hard to discern when you’re shopping in-store or online. There’s no way to measure a towel’s absorbency without trying it, but you can look for a few indicators that a towel will soak up plenty of water.

For one, thicker, heavier towels are generally more absorbent, as previously noted. This means towels with a higher GSM will soak up more water—but, remember, they take longer to dry out.

Further, towels made from premium cotton varieties, such as Egyptian or Pima cotton, tend to be more absorbent, as are products made from a cotton-rayon blend. (Towels made from these types of cotton tend to be my favorite, as they effectively soak up moisture from my thick hair without causing any damage.)

One of the most absorbent towels we’ve tested is the Southern Living Turkish Cotton and Modal Bath Towel (our best plush pick), which has a heavyweight construction and earned a perfect score in this category.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Bianca Pineda, a commerce writer who has written about all things bath-related at The Spruce since 2022. A hot shower and a plush towel are Pineda’s ultimate self-care ritual. However, because of the lack of ventilation in her NYC apartment bathroom, she needs a towel that dries efficiently and resists a musty smell.

Currently, Pineda is testing the Cozy Earth Luxe Bath Towels, which she loves for their soft, fluffy texture. For this roundup, she not only considered her own texture preferences, but also included a wide range of options to suit different lifestyles and climates. She has also worked on numerous other related roundups, including Best Bath Sheets, Best Showerheads, Best Small Bathtubs, and Best Bath Pillows.

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