By Annie Blackman and Sarah Madaus
The best bath towels can make or break a relaxing bathroom experience. With the wrong one, your skin can feel dried out and scratchy — but the right fluffy bath sheet can leave your skin feeling revitalized and soft. And that's not even mentioning the transcendent effect of wrapping yourself up in the plush comfort of a vast, fluffy bath towel — it's enough to transport you to the most luxurious of five-star hotels in the blink of an eye. Bathroom Rug Sets
Whether you're looking for a new set of high-quality, Egyptian cotton towels, quick-drying towels with a sumptuous waffle weave to recreate a spa-like setting right at home, or you want to try your hand at a bathleisure look, we've rounded up our top picks for the best bath towels that are ultra-absorbent, ultra-soft, and straight-up indulgent. These soft towels will brighten up your linen closet — and probably your life.
Brooklinen Super Plush Bath Towels
Why We Love It: Before you ask: Yes, Brooklinen's towels are as good as its sheets. They only use long-staple Turkish cotton for peak smoothness, strength, softness, and durability, and you can really feel it. In addition to its large bath sheet, which is slightly larger than your average bath towel, the collection also features a standard-size bath towel, hand towel, washcloth, and bath mat. Flex your creative muscles by mixing and matching essential colors like Eucalyptus with limited edition colors like Starflower or Striped Midnight Navy.
Product Specs: 100% Turkish cotton, extra thick, zero-twist construction, 820 GSM, 58" x 30"
Why We Love It: Saatva's Plush Towel Collection comes in three neutral colors: White, Sand, and Slate — adaptable to any design scheme. Not only is the fabric super soft on first use, but thanks to the magic of long-staple cotton, it gets even softer after every single wash. Saatva's towels don't compromise plushness for absorbency, which might remind you of the towels they hand out at your favorite spa. Also, the brand is Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, meaning it meets the internationally accepted standard for non-toxic textiles.
Product Specs: 100% cotton, 30" x 58" bath towel, 20" x 30" hand towel, 13" x 13" face towel
Frontgate Resort Collection Bath Towels
Why We Love It: Available in a slew of gorgeous colors, you won't have any trouble finding the perfect Frontgate Resort Collection Bath Towels shade for your bathroom. But their aesthetic versatility is only the beginning. The 700 GSM of Oeko-Tex-certified Turkish cotton makes these absorbent bath towels as lovely against your skin as they are to look at hanging from the rack. You can add a monogram (which comes in a bunch of typefaces) to your new fave towel for a few bucks extra.
Product Specs: 100% long-staple Turkish cotton, 700 GSM, 30" x 58"
Riley Home Plush Bath Towel
Why We Love It: It's hard to pick our favorite thing about the Riley Spa plush towels, but we'll go with the built-in hanging loops that keep your precious towel off the ground. Everything else about this generously sized bath sheet is a close second, like the two-ply Egyptian cotton, low-lint fibers, easy care, and durability. The towels also feature a sweet, hand-crafted binding along its edges, lending a unique look. Riley also values sustainability and works with family-owned farms.
Product Specs: 100% premium fine-combed z-twist Egyptian cotton, two-ply construction, 40" x 70"
Boll & Branch Softest Organic Plush Bath Towel
Why We Love It: The substantial, velvety feel of Boll & Branch's Softest Organic Plush Bath Towel makes for the dreamiest dry-off. The 100% organic cotton towels come in a handful of soothing hues like Pewter, Stone, and Shore. Boll & Branch values sustainability and invests in manufacturing practices free from toxins, GMOs, and pesticides (they use marigold flowers as a natural pest repellent). If you're not in love with the towel after 30 days, you can send it back for a full refund. We doubt that'll happen, but still!
Product Specs: 100% organic cotton, dense weight, low-twist yarn, 30" x 58"
American Soft Linen Luxury 4-Piece Bath Towel Set
Why We Love It: Turns out you can still find a stellar set of terry towels without breaking the bank. Case in point: These American Soft Linen towels are ultra-soft and super absorbent. You'll get four full-size bath towels for under $50, and they come in 20 different color options. You can opt for a jumbo size, too, if you're the kind of person who sits in their towel for 30 minutes post-shower. (No judgment here!)
Product Specs: Four 100% Turkish cotton bath towels, 27" x 54"
Cozy Earth Premium Plush Bath Towels
Why We Love It: We can't get enough of Cozy Earth's bedding and loungewear, so why not let the obsession pour into the bathroom, too? These thick towels are so plush, you'll feel like you're being wrapped in a hug. They're also a generous size, and their high-quality construction ensures loose threads won't snag on jewelry or furniture.
Product Specs: Two 40% Bamboo-derived viscose, 60% cotton towels; 800 GSM; 30" x 58"
Matouk Milagro Cotton Terry Bath Towel
Why We Love It: The plush feel of these terry cloth towels is truly something of a miracle. Like many of the picks on this list, the cotton is OEKO-Tex certified for safety and efficacy, and it's evident in the way these towels dry you off with ease and stays soft wash after wash. Trust us, you'll want to buy a face towel for yourself too. These also come in more than 20 different colors, and if you're looking for a housewarming gift, you can get 'em monogrammed.
Product Specs: 100% long-staple, z-twist cotton, 550 GSM, 30" x 60"
Coyuchi Temescal Organic Cotton Ribbed Bath Towel
Why We Love It: These organic towels don't have the waxy finish that some do (which actually repels water), and instead are some of the most absorbent towels on the market. Plus, the ribbed texture enhances the drying time, so you aren't forced to dry off with a damp towel the next morning. And they come in a handful of on-trend, warm hues you and your guests will adore.
Product Specs: 100% organic cotton grown and woven in Turkey, 600 GSM, 54" x 27"
Onsen Waffle Bath Towel Set
Why We Love It: If you can't get enough of the towels and robes you find at bathhouses and spas, Onsen's Waffle Bath Towels are the option for you. Not only are they fast-drying, but they're tightly woven to ensure your jewelry won't pull or snag. These are soft, but not so soft that you still feel damp after drying off. Bonus: They can easily double as beach towels, too. (We've done it.)
Product Specs: 100% USA-grown extra-long-staple Supima cotton, 31" x 57"
Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Organic Quick-Dry Bath Towel
Why We Love It: Pottery Barn's Turkish towel sounds sophisticated because it is. The special method that the Turkish cotton is woven makes its fabric 10X more absorbent than regular cotton terry. Still, the towel stays super smooth, pill-resistant, and remarkably strong. The extra-large 40" x 72" monogrammable design is available in several tranquil colors. You can count on Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Oeko-Tex certification, too.
Product Specs: 100% organic long-staple Turkish Cotton, 550 GSM, Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, 55" x 28"
Parachute Classic Turkish Cotton Towel
Why We Love It: Parachute promises the fluffiest of fluff with its soft and absorbent Aerocotton technology. The 100% Turkish cotton towel set comes with a washcloth, hand towel, bath towel, and bath sheet that dry quickly and maintain their thickness and softness with each wash. The towels also feature a modern-looking ribbed dobby design and come in grounding colors like Moss, Bone, Dusk, and Coal. We also love how Parachute's products are free of synthetic dyes and are shipped using carbon-neutral transportation. As of 2022, the company is also Climate Neutral Certified.
Product Specs: 100% long-staple Turkish cotton, 700 GSM, Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, 56" x 30"
We've written before about how a super-soft microfiber towel is ideal for your hair because the gentle, low-friction material can efficiently wick away moisture without roughing up the cuticle. But when it comes to skin care, Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, says that soft fibers like cotton are great for reducing harmful friction on the skin. A higher GSM (grams per square meter) is ideal, as that amps up the absorbency and softness. And Shereene Idriss, MD, an NYC-based board-certified dermatologist, agrees. "When it comes to choosing the best towel for your skin, you want to look for soft, gentle towels made from natural fibers like cotton, especially if you have skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis," she says.
The general rule of thumb is to swap out your bath towel every three to four uses, especially if you're an avid exerciser or you live in a pollution-heavy city. "Every three to four uses is a safe frequency to avoid a fungus among us," says Dr. Idriss. "This helps prevent the buildup of bacteria, mold, and mildew that can thrive in damp towels." Now, if you lead a low-key life or simply don't have the time, in-unit washer, or towels to wash them that frequently, once per week is satisfactory.
This is an oft-debated question for those who prioritize skin health and convenience, but ultimately, Dr. Idriss suggests a separate face towel. "Using a bath towel on your face is an absolute no in my book," says Dr. Idriss. "Your face deserves better than that! In fact, I have seven different face towels — one for every night of the week. You don't want to introduce grime back onto your face and you should treat your face better than your tush."
More bath and shower goodies this way:
Now, watch Lori Harvey's 10-minute beauty routine for '90s soft glam:
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