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The Best Bath Towel

Last updated on August 15, 2024
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Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

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Our Picks For The Top Bath Towels

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
 Top Pick

American Soft Linen Extra Plush Cotton Bath Towels, 6-Piece

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American Soft Linen

Extra Plush Cotton Bath Towels, 6-Piece

Sick of bath towels that don't offer enough coverage? These soft Turkish cotton towels are extra-large in size, measuring 27 inches by 54 inches. They're available in 15 different colors, including bright white, Colonial blue, Malibu peach and sage green.

Overall Take

Oversized OptionThis bath towel set of four is elegant, absorbent and extremely durable.

 Runner Up

Great Bay Home Classic Ultra-Soft Cotton Bath Towels, 6-Piece

Great Bay Home

Classic Ultra-Soft Cotton Bath Towels, 6-Piece

The first thing you'll notice about this cotton bath towel set is the stunning textured lattice weave design. In addition to the attractiveness of the set, you'll enjoy how quickly the towels fluff back up after each wash. The towels are also constructed from a super soft cotton that is highly absorbent.

Overall Take

Attractive Lattice WeaveWith this cotton bath towel set, you'll receive two bath towels, two hand towels and two washcloths.

 Runner Up

White Classic Luxury Egyptian Cotton Bath Towels, 4-Piece

White Classic

Luxury Egyptian Cotton Bath Towels, 4-Piece

Made from soft Egyptian cotton, these bath towels are spun from 700 GSM long-staple cotton. Each set includes four towels, available in white, grey, black, navy blue, light blue, brown, burgundy, green, beige or pink. Unlike other towels, they retain their softness even after multiple washes.

Overall Take

Soft Egyptian CottonEgyptian cotton is known for its softness, and these bath towels are made from fluffy, soft cotton.

 Runner Up

Amazon Basics Linen Quick-Dry Soft Towel Set, 2-Piece

Amazon Basics

Linen Quick-Dry Soft Towel Set, 2-Piece

You won't have to worry about being dripping wet for long with these highly absorbent soft towels. They are made from 100% cotton and are imported. The towels also have an attractive border detailing.

Overall Take

Quick AbsorbingThese cozy and soft towels get you dry in a hurry.

Buying Guide

It’s a chilly winter morning, and you’re rushing to make it to work on time. You wash up in a nice warm shower and step out only to be hit with a cold, scratchy towel that leaks more water than it absorbs. Oof. 

You don’t have to sing the Rough Towel Blues every time you step out of the shower. If you know how to shop for bath towels, you’ll turn every shower into a luxury experience.

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You’ll obviously want your bath towel to be very absorbent, and 100% cotton towels will absorb the most water. However, sometimes pure cotton towels take a long time to dry. Cotton/polyester or cotton/rayon blends are a good choice if you’re looking for a quick-dry towel.

The softest towels are made with Egyptian or Pima cotton or regular cotton with a bit of rayon added. “Zero twist” cotton means that none of the cotton loops on the towel are twisted together, increasing surface area for a plusher, more absorbent towel. Towels often feel softer when you first purchase them because manufacturers cover them with a fabric softening finish. That finish wears off after a wash or two. Rely on the information about your towel’s construction, not its feel, when you’re buying. 

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Durability is key when you’re buying towels — you don’t want to have to buy another set a few months after your initial purchase! Heavier towels will last longer than lighter ones, and they’re also more absorbent. Towel weights are given in GSM, which stands for grams per square meter. Towels in the 500-700 GSM range are the sturdiest, but some brands go as high as 900 GSM. 

Ring-spun cotton is also more durable than other kinds of cotton. “Ring-spun” means that the cotton loops on the towel are twisted tightly together, so the loops are strong and smooth. Towels with a high twist or towels with combed cotton (where the cotton is brushed to remove shorter fibers) are also more durable. 

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Check out our Tips & Advice for care and cleaning instructions that will help your towels last.

What to Look For

  • You should always wash and dry your bath towels before you first use them. This will get rid of any coatings the manufacturer has placed on the towel and create better absorbency.
  • Colored towels can bleed badly during their first few washes unless you choose a colorfast option. Wash them with like colors in warm water the first few times you throw them in the washing machine. You can use color-safe detergent or use half of your regular detergent with a half cup of white vinegar. This helps set your towel’s color.
  • Wash and dry towels in a separate load from your other clothes and linens. You’ll need to use the hot water and the higher heat setting on your dryer cycle to successfully wash your towels, and that can shrink and damage your clothes. 
  • Make sure your towels are completely dry before you fold them up and place them in your linen closet. Damp towels are a breeding ground for mold. 
  • Wash your towels frequently. Every three to four days is ideal. Towels that are double-stitched are durable enough to withstand frequent washings. 

Bath Towel Rankings

More to Explore

“Don’t forget to bring a towel!” This harmless beachgoing advice took on a new meaning in 2001, when “South Park” released an episode titled “Towelie.” As the show’s core four characters struggled to retrieve a video game console, a friendly but odd talking towel appeared every time the boys mentioned anything related to water. 

Showrunners Matt Stone and Trey Parker created Towelie to mock the way “South Park” was being merchandised, but the new character took on a life of his own. Towelie’s bottomless well of towel-related advice (and his so-heavy-it’s-impressive marijuana use) turned him into a fan favorite. 

We’re not sure if Towelie’s made from ring-spun cotton or a rayon blend, but he’s definitely soft, durable and silly enough to stick around for years to come. 

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