The 15 Best Bath Towels, Tested in Our Homes

Best Overall

Frontgate Resort Collection Bath Towel

$65 at Frontgate

If you're looking for a plush towel to completely envelop you after a bath or shower, this pick from Frontgate brings that luxurious feeling together in a towel that's also functional. We were immediately impressed with this extra soft towel that's made from 100 percent Turkish cotton. We liked the soft, thick feel and appreciated the weave design, too.

Given the wide range of colors and styles (hand, bath, sheet, and washcloths), there are options for every bathroom, style, and towel user. If you're looking for a great housewarming gift, this towel is the perfect pick. Grab a bath sheet for a full spa experience post-bath or a standard bath towel for quick showers. This is the towel you accidentally wear around the house for two hours post-shower because it's so comfy.

Measurements: 30 x 57 inches | Material: 100% Turkish cotton | Colors: 27

Best Budget

West Elm Everyday Textured Organic Towels

$6 at West Elm

Who would have thought that West Elm would house our favorite budget pick? In terms of design, we noticed right away that this towel is somewhat thinner than others on our list, but it offers a unique and subtle looped texture that is lightweight and dries fairly quickly. While the texture is a little rough and it won’t stack up against more dense, plush towels, it still offers a softer texture than your standard terrycloth option. It’s a little on the small side, but while it might not cover you completely post-shower, it will dry you off quickly.

The towel held up well in our tests. We washed it to see how the material changed; it didn’t at all. Thanks to the thinner material, the bath towel dried in just two hours. We won’t say this bath towel is in the luxury category, but for being a basic towel, it’s solid, effective, and cheaper than other towels on our list. 

Measurements: 27.1 x 53.8 inches | Material: 500 GSM terry cloth | Colors: 10

Best Set

White Classic Luxury Cotton Bath Towels

$55 $50 at Amazon $46 at Walmart View on Whiteclassic.com

Outfitting your bathroom with towels can be quite a feat, but the White Classic Luxury Cotton Bath Towels come in a collection of four, making this purchase a one-stop shop. We think the bundle comes at a great value — less than $50 for a whole set — since many brands sell one towel for the same price. However, while these towels are very plush and absorbent, the material is not the softest.

These towels passed the hand washing test, drying our hands with just a few pats, and absorbed a bowl of water with ease, ensuring a drip-free dry. This would be a great addition to both your main and guest bathrooms — or even as a starter set for a first-time home buyer.

Measurements: 28 x 54.5 inches | Material: 700 GSM long-staple cotton | Colors: 20

Best Bath Sheet

Brooklinen Classic Bath Sheets

$29 at Amazon View on Brooklinen

If you're looking for a blanket you can wrap up in post-shower, this Brooklinen towel is the ticket. We loved the oversized feel of this bath sheet, which, despite its size, isn't too heavy. The Turkish cotton is extremely soft, which adds to the blanket feel. It comes in nine colors, so there's a decent amount of variety to choose from when selecting a towel for your bathroom.

After running the towel through the wash, we didn't notice any difference in terms of quality. In fact, the towel continued to soften, which was a bonus. We were only slightly disappointed that the dry time was nearly two hours, but since you'll likely hang your towel to dry and move on with your day, we don't think this is a dealbreaker.

Measurements: 37.3 x 65 inches | Material: Turkish cotton | Colors: 9

Best Turkish

Cacala Turkish Bath Towel

$25 $23 at Amazon View on Cacala.com

This Turkish cotton bath towel is quite different from other Turkish towels we tested, given its thin material and unique design. Some of our team even questioned why it was included in the bath towel test, but it proved its stripes shortly thereafter. The Turkish towel has a lovely weave pattern and is extremely lightweight. As such, it dries incredibly fast (in about 30 minutes). It also comes in a ton of colors to brighten up any bathroom. The most impressive quality was how soft the towel became after washing. We think this Turkish towel is a great find, especially considering the cost. 

Measurements: 38.2 x 71 inches | Material: Turkish cotton | Colors: 38

Best Luxury

Coyuchi Temescal Organic Bath Towel

$78 at Nordstrom View on Wayfair $18 at Coyuchi.com

The Coyuchi Temescal Organic Towel won us over with its luxe ribbed appearance and high absorbency. In a hand-drying test, we were pleasantly surprised by its instant absorption and barely-there wet marks on the used towel. After soaking up the majority of water it was submerged in for the soak test, it easily wrung out with minimal effort. Though this organic towel is expensive, the quality is well worth the investment. With its fluffy material, high absorbency, and luxurious construction, you can rest assured that you are receiving the spa treatment you're paying for.

Measurements: 39.25 x 72.5 inches | Material: Turkish cotton | Colors: 6

Best Waffle

Cozy Earth Waffle Bath Sheets

$140 at Amazon View on Cozy Earth $140 at Macy's

Cozy Earth is a popular bedding and loungewear brand with celebrity fans like Oprah, and after testing these bath towels, we’re fans, too. The waffle bath towel is well-constructed with a honeycomb-like pattern that draws the eye and adds texture to any bathroom. The dual-sided towel offers one decorative side and one functional side: The waffle portion isn’t as soft, so this is the side you should display, and the soft backing is the side you should use. 

To test durability, we threw the bath towel into the washing machine and dryer to track any changes. We were blown away by the quick drying time of the waffle towel — it was among the fastest of all the towels we tested.

Measurements: 41.5 x 65 inches | Material: Viscose from bamboo | Colors: 5

Best Egyptian Cotton

Home Decorators Collection Egyptian Cotton Bath Sheet

$32 at Home Depot

Egyptian cotton is known for its luxurious feel. We can confirm this bath towel (more of a bath sheet, given its large size) is extremely soft. It has a dense, thick feel to it, and completely envelops you when you step out of the shower. Comparing the towel that was washed to the unwashed towel sample, there was a slight loss in softness and some shrinkage, but we experienced this with almost every towel on our list.

The towel took its time drying and was completely dry around the two-hour mark. We believe this is a durable and luxurious towel that, considering the low price, is a great value. Its extensive size adds to the quality, and it has options for multiple colors and sets, for added convenience.

Measurements: 34.1 x 72 inches |  Material:  Egyptian cotton | Colors: 7

Best Quick-Dry

Parachute Soft Rib Towels

$89 $19 at Nordstrom $19 at Parachute View on Zola

The neutral, earth-toned Parachute Soft Rib Towel stood out during the PEOPLE Tested process with its high absorbency and resilience. We were in awe that it dried our hands after just one swipe, and the towel completely absorbed one-quarter of a cup of water in seconds. It seems like this towel will only get better with time, as the long-staple Turkish cotton was unharmed by the washing process. We feel that this ultra-absorbent option may be a bit too high for some budgets, as there are other cost-effective options available.

Measurements: 28.75 x 53.25 inches | Material: Turkish cotton | Colors: 7

Softest

Boll & Branch Plush Bath Towel

$49 at Bollandbranch.com

After our tests, there was one plush towel that stood out from the stack. We loved the Boll and Branch Plush Organic Cotton Bath Towel, which was made softer by its 100 percent organic cotton material. We appreciated the luxurious feel of this thick towel, which dried in just around an hour. It absorbed some water, but we noticed it actually repelled it more than anything. We were impressed with the towel’s durability and saw little to no changes after washing.

Measurements: 29.6 x 59 inches | Material: 100% organic cotton | Colors: 5

Best Large

Hammam Linen Jumbo Bath Sheets

$39 at Amazon

This is a towel you can completely wrap up in — perfect for post-shower lounging or when your favorite robe is in the wash. We usually prefer a larger towel, and this one is generous. Despite its size, this Turkish towel feels lightweight and is extra comfy. We won't say it's super plush, but it feels good wrapped around our shoulders.

For the absorption part of testing, the towel scored a perfect five-star rating. It also dried our hands after several passes and did not feel saturated or overly wet after these tests. It's machine washable, but we did notice a few inches of shrinkage after washing.

Measurements: 34 x 68 inches | Material: Turkish cotton | Colors: 15

Best Monogrammed

Ralph Lauren Payton Bath Towel

$39 at Nordstrom View on Bloomingdales View on Dillards.com

If you want to bring five-star hotel luxury into your home, consider adding the Ralph Lauren Payton Towel Collection into your rotation. It comes in 20 different colors, so you're sure to find one that fits in with your style. You can even add a monogrammed touch during checkout.

Upon initial inspection, we loved that it's thick but not overly plush (remember, it's a towel, not a blanket, so it needs to dry quickly). We washed it three times in the lab for good measure, and it came out of the machine stain-free, softer, and fluffier. Considering how thick it is, we were shocked at how quickly it dried (11 minutes!).

Measurements: 35.5 x 72.5 inches | Material: Cotton | Colors: 20

Most Absorbent

Serena & Lily Fouta Bath Towel

View on Serena And Lily

If you're searching for a Turkish bath towel that will absorb water as quickly as regular cotton, this lightweight option from Serena and Lily is for you. We loved that the towel has a simple but beautiful design, great color, and feels soft to the touch. During testing, both sides of the towel dried our hands fairly quickly and absorbed water without issue.

After a run through the washing machine, the towel's appearance didn't change, and it seems to have a durable construction that will last for a long time. Sometimes Turkish towels have the reputation of being too thin and not absorbent, but we liked that this one had a loop weave on the inside because it creates a stylish look and still dries really well.

Measurements: 31 x 57 inches | Material: 420 GSM Turkish Aegean cotton | Colors: 3

Best for Guests

Parachute Cotton Bath Towel

$79 at Parachute

When it comes to guests, you’ll want a bath towel that is both comfortable and durable. We particularly liked the Parachute Organic Cotton Bath Sheet. It’s a plush, thick towel that’s large enough to be a bath sheet rather than just a standard bath towel. It has a classic textured design with a hanging loop to rest the towel on any bathroom hooks you have. The towel was extremely soft to start and did have a slightly rougher texture after we washed it. It has a decently thick pile but isn’t heavy.

Measurements: 39.5 x 69 inches | Material: 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton | Colors: 3

Best Lightweight

Coyuchi Air Weight Towels

$148 at Amazon $48 at Wayfair $8 at Coyuchi.com

This towel is slightly smaller than other towels on our list, but in its small stature, it's extremely lightweight. And this quality, as well as the subtle ribbed design, makes it quick to dry your skin (as well as itself). Made with organic cotton, this towel feels similar to others we tested, not overly plush, but still soft.

It's not as thin as Turkish towels; it has a medium thickness, but it's still thinner than standard bath towels, which helps it absorb water quickly. The material felt softer after washing and even took on a slightly more fluffy appearance. So if you're looking for a lightweight towel with good absorption and soft material, this is the one to add to your linen closet.

Measurements: 28.1 x 51.3 inches | Material: 100% organic cotton | Colors: 6