The best bath towels for 2024, tested and reviewed

When was the last time you looked — I mean really looked — at your bath towels? They're one of the most-used items in your household, and unfortunately they have the tendency to thin, shrink and unravel over time. I haven't even mentioned the fading and staining that can happen, which becomes all the more unsettling when it's time to host guests.

Whether you're due for a total restock or a light refresh, rest assured that you've come to the right place: As a home editor, I've evaluated dozens of bath towels from the biggest home brands in the biz, and I recently put a bunch of them to the test, judging for design, absorbency and durability, to see which ones are the best.

Keep scrolling to discover the best bath towels for 2024: high-quality soft, plush, quick-drying towels that will enhance your bath experience. Then read on for tips on how to shop and care for your bath towels, along with insight into our review process.

Shopping tip: Towels go on sale regularly, and you can often get additional savings if you buy large quantities or sets at once. I've also included some honorable mentions at different price points in the "others we've tested" section.

Table of contents:

• Best bath towel overall

• More top bath towels we recommend for 2024

• What to look for when choosing a bath towel

• How we tested

• Other bath towels we tested

• FAQs

Best bath towel overall

Frontgate

Best bath towel overall

Frontgate Resort Towel

Fabric: Long-staple Turkish cotton | Dimensions: 30" x 58" | Colors: 27 options | Certifications: Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex 

Topping my list is the Frontgate Resort Towel, a large and cushy, but still breathable, towel that comes in a cornucopia of colors and iterations.

It's woven of long-staple Turkish cotton and was among the softest towels I felt in early assessments. It has a quarter-inch hem and a four-inch honeycomb-like dobby (the row of threading at a towel's top and bottom) for a look that's classic yet modern.

This towel absorbs about three liters of water in one go and measures 30" x 58" (29" x 55.5" post-wash/dry), similar to other premium brands I tested. But it's unique in that it maintained nearly all of its softness and color throughout the process. 

Despite being on the thicker, more absorbent side, it also dried fairly quickly. It took about 40 minutes, versus comparative styles that typically took close to an hour.

Last time I checked, this Frontgate towel was available in 27 colors — with or without monogramming — and several sizes. It's meant for the bathroom, but its bold, bright hues would make it a great pool or beach towel in a pinch.

Pros

• Smooth, plush feel
• Widest color assortment
• Monogram option
• Quick-drying

Cons

• No loop for hanging
• Shrank significantly in length

$46 at Frontgate

More top bath towels we recommend for 2024

Garnet Hill

Best plush bath towel

Garnet Hill Cloud-Loft Towel

Fabric: Long-staple Turkish cotton | Dimensions: 28" x 55" | Colors: 11 options | Certifications: Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex

For a slightly plusher, slightly heavier, slightly more absorbent towel, I recommend Garnet Hill's Cloud-Loft.

Woven of long-staple Turkish cotton, it lived up to its name. It felt more like a lofty throw blanket at the start of my evaluation and retained most of its softness and plushness throughout five wash and dry cycles.

In my absorbency test, the towel held as much as four liters of water at a time, more than any other towel I tested. Despite how much it guzzled, it was dry in about 45 minutes.

The dreamy design features a half-inch hem and 2.25-inch dobby on both ends for a look that falls between preppy and minimalist. It comes in 11 colors (I tested the Sage Green) and is available as a bath towel, hand towel and bath sheet, with or without custom embroidering.

The only con is that it did shrink a bit — in this case down to 51.5 inches in length. But that happened with all the towels I evaluated, so it didn't affect my opinion.

Pros

• Silky, plush feel
• Monogram option
• Wide color assortment
• Quick-drying

Cons

• No loop for hanging
• Shrank significantly in length

$49 at Garnet Hill

Pottery Barn

Best quick-drying bath towel

Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Organic Quick-Dry Towel

Fabric: Organic cotton | Dimensions: 28" x 55" | Color: 15 options | Certifications: Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex; certified by Ecocert Greenlife

If a fluffy, fast-drying towel is what you seek, look no further than this bestselling Pottery Barn pick. 

The first thing I noticed upon delivery was just how soft it is, made of long-staple Turkish cotton that's ultra smooth. And, for a regular towel (versus one marketed as plush), it was pretty thick. Like my other top picks, I could not stop touching it.

I would describe the design as fairly classic: There's a narrow hem (just shy of an inch) and it has a dobby measuring just over two inches wide.

In my absorbency test, the towel was able to hold two liters of water without dripping, on the higher end for a towel in the traditional (versus plush) terry category. After five wash and dry cycles, the towel was just as absorbent and almost as soft as it was to begin with — plus it felt fluffier. The clincher: It dried faster than any towel I tested, in only 30 minutes.

The towel is not only cozy, but eco- and cost-conscious, made with organic materials and ringing in at less than $35. It comes in a generous range of colors (15 total), complete with optional monogramming. Con: It shrank three inches to 52.5 inches in length after some use.

Pros

• Soft, fluffy feel
• Monogram option
• Wide color assortment
• Quickest-drying

Cons

• No loop for hanging
• Shrank significantly in length

$35 at Pottery Barn

Brooklinen

Best waffle bath towel

Brooklinen Dreamweave Waffle Towel

Fabric: Long-staple Turkish cotton | Dimensions: 30" x 58" | Color options: 3 core options, plus seasonal shades | Certifications: Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex

For a touch of texture, it doesn't get much better than this "Dreamweave" from Brooklinen.

It's designed like a traditional waffle towel in that it has fairly deep, spongy square pockets. The fabric has an almost gauzy feel, as does the flat 1.5-inch border on each end for a more cohesive look than waffle towels with traditional hem stitching.

The towel is fairly absorbent, holding about one liter, and the size is generous: The brand states 30" x 58" (I measured 30" x 57.5") and it only shrank a little over an inch in length in my testing.

What really sets the "Dreamweave" apart — and what earned it top spot in our best waffle towel guide — is its amazing hand feel. Made of 100% long-staple Turkish cotton that's been prewashed for softness, it was the coziest towel in my initial waffle towel assessments and remained so after five wash-and-dry cycles. 

It didn't seem to lose any color (if anything, it appeared a tad more saturated in the end). And it was the fastest drying: When tumble-dried on low, it was ready to go in about 10 minutes, whereas others took 30 minutes or so.

Brooklinen sells its waffle pattern as a hand towel, a wash cloth, a bath sheet and a robe, along with towel bundles that can save you up to $100 (full collection here). The brand offers three core colors, plus seasonal shades — among current offerings, an earthy yet vibrant Botanical Green, shown. You just have to act quickly because these limited shades tend to sell out.

Pros

• Ultra-soft
• Quick-drying
• Wide size assortment

Cons

• No loop for hanging
• Limited colors

$45 at Brooklinen

What to look for when choosing a bath towel

In need of a refresh? Here are a few things to consider when scanning the bath towel aisle:

Dimensions: Most of the bath towels we tested measured 30" x 58", which we consider standard. Their bath-sheet counterparts typically measure 40" x 65", so if you like more coverage, the bath sheets are the way to go. Thicker, plusher towels tend to be more absorbent. Smaller, thinner towels take up less room and often dry faster.

Fabric: Most towels are made with 100% cotton, some with other materials such as bamboo for added strength or sustainability. Long-staple cotton has longer fibers, which typically equate to greater strength and durability. Turkish cotton towels are made from long, strong, smooth fibers for a heavier weight and feel. Common labels include "organic" and/or "Standard 100 by 0eko-Tex," the latter of which is a certification that indicates that a given textile has been tested and cleared against more than 1,000 harmful substances.

Weave: Traditional terry is lightweight and fluffy and can feel either rough or soft. It may not absorb as well as long-staple or Turkish blends, but it can be quicker to dry. Long-staple or Turkish terry tends to be thicker and heavier, similar to what you might experience at a high-end hotel. Waffle towels, which have a textured pattern, are generally the lightest and fastest drying of all. A thicker dobby (the row of threading at a towel's top and bottom) lends a more classic look, whereas thinner stitches (or no dobby at all) have minimalist appeal.

Size and color assortment: Many brands offer their towels in different versions, such as hand towels, washcloths, bath sheets and bath mats, to lend a more cohesive look. Tentpole collections/colors (versus seasonal options) tend to stick around longer and are therefore easier to replenish (i.e., you can scoop up a replacement without having to invest in a whole new collection in order to match). Consider mixing and matching a few colors to give yourself some options. It can also be helpful to designate a different towel color for each person living in your house so you don't have to worry about who's using what (same goes for repeat overnight guests).

Cost: Like many home essentials, we consider quality bath towels a worthy investment that will hopefully pay off over time. That said, you don't necessarily have to splurge in the name of good quality: See the "others we tested" section to get a sense of what's available across budgets.

Other bath towels we tested

So many bath towels, so few top spots! Below, some honorable mentions that made an impression in my testing:

Lands' End Premium Supima Cotton Bath Towel ($35): This is a fairly large towel with good absorption, available in 17 colors. It's almost as soft as Pottery Barn (though not as fluffy) and as silky as Frontgate (though not as thick), but became slightly less so after five wash/dry cycles, with a 40-minute dry time.

Casaluna Organic Bath Towel ($12): This one felt a tad rougher and thicker than the Lands' End towel. It absorbed just over two liters of water and dried in about 40 minutes. It's not as soft as what you'll find in my top options — and it comes in only eight colors — but it's a solid budget bet for someone who prefers a cleaner design (it doesn't have a dobby). I've used this towel for about two years and can confirm it holds up with regular washing.

Riley Spa Towel ($60): I consider this towel a traditional terry towel, meaning it's less soft. It has a minimalistic style and some serious absorption capabilities: It soaked up three liters of water, the most of any towel that wasn't marketed as "plush," and still dried in about 40 minutes. I like that it has a loop for hanging, but I wish it came in more more than six colors. That and the hefty price tag knocked this out of the list of top contenders for me.

West Elm Everyday Textured Towel ($19): I scooped up a set of these towels a few years back and have added multiple colors to my collection since. Though it's one of my favorites, it's lightweight and therefore not as absorbent as some others on this list — it held just over 1.5 liters of water in my test — so it didn't make the top spot. That said, I use mine in spring and summer months, and even with regular use, I can attest my towel colors are still vibrant.

Threshold Performance Plus Bath Towel ($14): Another personal favorite, this towel from Threshold pulled its weight in my absorbency test (2.5 liters, to be exact) and was done drying in 40 minutes flat. It's not as soft and plush, though, as the towels from Garnet Hill and Frontgate, and it did shrink. Last time I checked, it came in 24 colors, so it's a decent option if you want to mix and match towels without breaking the bank.

Boll & Branch Plush Spa Towel ($49): Like many towels in this section, this traditional terry towel isn't as soft as Garnet Hill and Frontgate, but it's among the thirstiest I tried (it sopped up three liters of water) and was surprisingly quick to dry (around 45 minutes). I also like that it's made of organic cotton and has a loop for easy hanging.

Brooklinen Super-Plush Towel ($89 for two): This towel is similar to Boll & Branch's plush offering (same original length; absorbed about three liters of water). It felt a tad softer and measured a little over an inch longer. Brooklinen offers more color and pattern options, but the tradeoff is that this towel took longer to dry than Boll & Branch's version.

Cozy Earth Luxe Bath Towel ($140 for two): Out of dozens of towels tested, Cozy Earth's "Luxe" is the only one that felt as silky post-washing and drying as it did when I first got it. But it's not quite as fast-drying, big or plush as some of the other options here, and at $70 per towel, it definitely falls in the pricey category.

Baggu Bath Towel ($44): Patterned towels shimmy from the bathroom to the pool to the beach, making them a great choice for those who don't have a lot of storage — plus, they're fun! This one from Baggu didn't feel as silky as those in my top picks, but it's fairly absorbent (it soaked up two liters), and it's sizable: I measured 57.5" long, post-wash and dry cycles. I've given this towel, along with the brand's funky hand towels, as gifts.

Dusen Dusen Reversible Bath Towel ($58): This bath towel from Dusen Dusen comes close to what I experienced with premium brands like Boll & Branch and Brooklinen. Despite its heavier weight, it dried in about 40 minutes and the saturated colors remained vibrant. It's reversible — you can find it in various patterns including stripes — so it's kind of like getting two towels in one. But it's expensive.

Casaluna Waffle Bath Towel ($15): This waffle bath towel from Target's elevated home brand, Casaluna, is similar in aesthetic to Brooklinen's, complete with deep, square pockets. It measured around the same size (30" x 58.25", larger than its stated dimensions) and was as absorbant. It took slightly longer to dry (about 20 minutes), but still took second place in the waffle race. And it's not as soft — more along the lines of a linen-flax — but it appears more durable than softer waffle fabrics and you can't beat the price.

Parachute Waffle Towel ($49): I referred to Parachute's waffle towel as the "Tigger" of my waffle towel testing group because it was the bounciest and stretchiest by a long shot. It was absorbent, quick to dry and appeared to retain all of its color, though it did lose more length (about five inches) than Brooklinen's waffle towel, and wasn't as cozy-soft.

Onsen Waffle Towel ($50): Onsen has made a name for itself in the waffle weave category, and after testing its offerings, I can see why: The fabrics are soft, absorbent and seemingly durable, with a flatter weave. The towel shrunk only about half an inch in length and width, but it took about 30 minutes to dry, thanks to its stitched borders. Though I love the extensive color range, this towel is not quite as billowy as some (like Brooklinen), and it's on the costlier side.

Boll & Branch Waffle Terry Bath Towel ($49): Boll & Branch's hybrid offers the texture of a waffle towel and the absorption of a terry towel in one package. It was among the largest waffle towels I evaluated — a true 30" x 58". It was also among the thirstiest: In the absorbency test, it could make three liters of water disappear in no time. It's not cheap, but it's a worthy investment if you want something versatile and high-quality. It was also beautifully packaged — wrapped in a bow, inside a decorated box — for an impressive gift.

How we tested

I tested these towels by — you guessed it — doing a lot of laundry! Here's a more detailed rundown of my evaluation process:

Design: I assessed each towel carefully upon arrival, taking note of things like softness, fluffiness, thickness, color and various design elements. I also laid each towel flat and used a ruler to measure the actual size versus what was stated on brand websites.

Absorbency: With first impressions out of the way, it was off to the bathtub. Each towel was dunked in a bucket of water and balled up gently to assess how much water it could hold.

Laundry: I then headed to the laundry room, putting each towel through five wash-and-dry cycles to see how they held up to water, heat and being tossed around. I used the same laundry detergent when cleaning and used wool balls when drying — in the same quantities — for consistency. I washed all of the towels in warm water and tumble-dried them on low.

Longevity: After the fifth drying, it was back to the drawing (er, assessment) table. I compared each of the tested towels with a fresh version for look and feel and remeasured size to surmise how each would stand up over time.

FAQs

What is the best way to wash a bath towel?

Most of the brands we featured recommend washing towels in cold or warm water, using a gentle cycle, and tumble-drying them on low. Using dryer balls helps separate laundry pieces for better aeration and quicker drying times. Avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach when washing colored textiles to help towels last longer. Some of the brands recommended avoiding dryer sheets as well.

What is the fastest-drying bath towel?

Waffle towels typically dry the quickest because they have a more breathable weave. Thick edges/borders and dobbies (bands of stitching along the top and bottom of a towel) can also affect a towel's drying time.

What is the best waffle towel?

The best waffle towel is soft, absorbent and quick to dry — one that will look good in your bathroom, feel good on your skin … and last a long time. Ultimately, it comes down to the one that best suits your personal budget, needs and style.

We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.