The Best Bath Towels of 2023
-
Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towel -
Matouk Milagro Bath Towel -
The Onsen Bath Towel -
Riley Spa Bath Towel -
Parachute Waffle Towel -
Buyer's Guide
Whether you’re a morning or night showerer, you’ll want a soft, comfortable towel to wrap up in when you’re finished. That’s why the Bestcovery team has scoured hundreds of soft towel reviews and best bath towels consumer reports to find our picks for the best bath towels of 2023. We looked at different factors like size, absorbency, dry time, and more to ensure you can find the best bath towels for your bathroom.
Price Legend:
$: 0 - 49
$$: 50 - 99
$$$: 100+
Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towel
- Bigger than standard bath towels
- Extremely soft
- Comes in a wide variety of colors
- Takes longer to dry
- Decorative bands can be scratchy
- Colors can easily bleach and fade
Matouk Milagro Bath Towel
- Extremely soft
- Can be monogrammed
- Luxurious and comfortable
- Slightly more expensive than other options
- Can feel too puffy on a wet body
- Stains can be challenging to remove
The Onsen Bath Towel
- Unique design
- Towels get softer with each wash
- Lightweight
- Thinner than other options on the list
- Fewer color options
- Feels different than traditional terry towels
Riley Spa Bath Towel
- Unique design with rounded edges
- Extremely soft
- Convenient hanging loop
- Thinner than some other options
- Could feel more like a beach towel than a luxurious spa towel
- Some shrinkage after laundering
Parachute Waffle Towel
- Lightweight
- Quick-drying
- Thinner and not bulky
- Lower absorbency
- Can be less durable
- More basic design
Bestcovery’s Top Picks for the Best Bath Towels of 2023
Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towel - Best Overall
If you’re looking for a plush, comfortable, highly absorbent bath towel at an excellent price, Frontgate Resort bath towels are the right choice for you. This tops our best bath towels list because it combines softness and absorbency to keep you comfortable and dry you off faster after your shower. Plus, it comes in 26 different colors, meaning you can easily match it to your current bathroom design.
- Bigger than standard bath towels
- Extremely soft
- Comes in a wide variety of colors
- Takes longer to dry
- Decorative bands can be scratchy
- Colors can easily bleach and fade
Size: 30” x 58”
Absorbency: 97.5%
Dry time: 3 to 4 hours
Weight (Plushness): 700 GSM
Colors available: 26
Price: $
Matouk Milagro Bath Towel - Best Luxury
Do you want your showering experience to feel more luxurious? Consider the Matouk Milagro bath towel. These towels are incredibly soft and highly comfortable; plus, they can be monogrammed — that screams luxury to us! While Matouk towels are the most expensive option on our list, we think they are worth the price as they are perfectly plush and highly absorbent. You’ll probably want to stay wrapped up in this one for a while, and we wouldn’t blame you.
- Extremely soft
- Can be monogrammed
- Luxurious and comfortable
- Slightly more expensive than other options
- Can feel too puffy on a wet body
- Stains can be challenging to remove
Size: 30” x 60”
Absorbency: 97.5%
Dry time: 2 to 3 hours
Weight (Plushness): 550 GSM
Colors available: 23
Price: $$
The Onsen Bath Towel - Unique Design
Is your current towel still wet or damp hours after your shower? Swap it out for the Onsen Waffle bath towel! This towel has a lattice “waffle” weave design, gets softer every time you wash it, and is one of our best bath towels of 2023 due to its speedy drying time. This waffle towel is thinner than other towels on the list but is also bigger than any of the alternatives, so you can truly wrap up in the towel.
- Unique design
- Towels get softer with each wash
- Lightweight
- Thinner than other options on the list
- Fewer color options
- Feels different than traditional terry towels
Size: 31”x57”
Absorbency: 99%
Dry time: 1 to 2 hours
Weight (Plushness): 600 GSM
Colors available: 9
Price: $$
Riley Spa Bath Towel - Modern Design
If you’re looking for the best bath towels to give your bathroom a modern feel, the Riley Spa bath towel is an excellent choice. Unlike other towels on this list, the Spa towel has unique rounded edges instead of harsh corners and features a convenient hanging loop that helps prevent the towel from falling off a hook.
- Unique design with rounded edges
- Extremely soft
- Convenient hanging loop
- Thinner than some other options
- Could feel more like a beach towel than a luxurious spa towel
- Some shrinkage after laundering
Size: 30”x58”
Absorbency: 97%
Dry time: 2 to 3 hours
Weight (Plushness): 700 GSM
Colors available: 7
Price: $$
Parachute Waffle Towel - Lightweight Design
In our search for the best affordable bath towels, the Parachute Waffle towel caught our eye. This lightweight, quick-drying towel has a thinner profile, meaning you can fit more in your linen closet since they aren’t bulky. While this towel has one of the fastest drying times on our list, it does have a lower absorbency score. If you don’t mind taking a little extra time to dry off, this towel might be an excellent option for you.
- Lightweight
- Quick-drying
- Thinner and not bulky
- Lower absorbency
- Can be less durable
- More basic design
Size: 30”x56”
Absorbency: 75%
Dry time: 1 to 2 hours
Weight (Plushness): 240 GSM
Colors available: 4
Price: $
Buyer's Guide
Notable Test Results
To help us narrow down the best bath towels of 2023, we tested them against several different factors, including absorbency, longevity, dry time, and more. The towels we’ve selected above ranked highly in our tests, and we feel confident that these are the best bath towels on the market today.
Care and Maintenance for Your Towels
The best way to keep your towels soft, fluffy, and absorbent is to follow standard care and maintenance practices.
- Wash towels before first use: Doing this removes any leftover coatings from the manufacturing process and can improve absorbency.
- Wash towels separately: Avoid washing your towels with other fabrics as this can lead to your towels picking up lint and other fibers, reducing their effectiveness and longevity.
- Use the right detergent: Pick a mild, bleach-free detergent that doesn’t include fabric softener, which can coat the fibers of the towels over time and reduce absorbency.
- Use warm water: Avoid using hot water when washing your towels. Hot water damages towel fibers, which makes them rough and scratchy.
- Skip dryer sheets: Dryer sheets can coat the fibers just like fabric softener does, so your towels will become less absorbent if you use dryer sheets.
- Refresh with vinegar: If your towels have a musty smell even after being washed or you notice they aren’t drying you as well as they once did, wash them again with a cup of vinegar added to the load. Vinegar helps eliminate those pesky smells and cuts through any buildup affecting absorbency.
How to Choose Your Bath Towels
When choosing the best bath towels for your home, consider the following factors.
- Construction: What is the towel made of? 100% or cotton blends are the best, most popular options.
- Density and weight: Dense towels are more absorbent and fluffy, while lighter-weight towels dry faster and are typically easier to clean.
- Absorbency and dry time: Towels that are more absorbent will dry your body faster, though they may take longer to dry after you use them.
- Durability: How durable is the towel? Towels with higher GSM (grams per square meter) scores are typically better quality and will last longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best bath towels to buy?
The best bath towels depend on your personal preference and how you use them. Cotton towels are durable and absorbent, while microfiber towels are quick-drying and an excellent option for traveling.
Is Turkish or Egyptian Cotton better for towels?
Both Turkish and Egyptian cotton are great options for towels, though they have different characteristics. Egyptian cotton towels are usually thicker, softer, and feel more luxurious, while Turkish cotton is lightweight, absorbent, and quick-drying.
How do you stop towels from shedding?
The best way to avoid shedding is to follow the care and maintenance practices listed above. Additionally, buying higher-quality towels usually means they are more durable and will be more resistant to shedding.
