10 Best Bath Towels 2023
1. BEST OVERALL BATH TOWEL
Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Quick-Dry Towel
PROS
- Soft and plush
- Highly absorbent
- Held up well to 20 wash cycles
CONS
- Not quick-drying compared to other towels we tested
Not only is this towel made of luxurious Turkish cotton that’s certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), but it also earned the highest overall score in our tests and stood out for being super soft and ultra-absorbent. In fact, it earned perfect absorbency ratings in our evaluations, soaking up all fluid without any liquid running off. Our testers unanimously gave it high scores, referring to it as “comfy,” “so fluffy” and the “ideal towel.”
Beyond that, it held up well to our laundering tests — the fabric looked and felt great even after 20 wash cycles. Just note that although the name claims these towels are quick-dry, they actually took longer to fully dry than other bath towels in our test. That’s to be expected, as plush and absorbent towels often hold onto moisture.
2. BEST VALUE BATH TOWEL
Amazon Basics Quick-Dry Bath Towels, 2-Pack
PROS
- Low cost for a set of two
- Made of absorbent cotton
- Available in a variety of colors of sizes
CONS
- May not feel as substantial or luxurious as pricier towels
If you prefer to buy towels on Amazon, its own brand has an assortment of bath towels that have impressed our analysts with their performance both in our Lab and with at-home consumer testers, especially given the brand’s low prices. In fact, this pair costs less than other individual towels and comes in a wide range of colors and sizes. We’ve found that similar towels from the brand have soaked up fluid in our absorbency tests, and users told us they felt both soft and absorbent in real use after their showers.
The most recent towel we tested from the brand is no longer available, but this one has a similar fabrication and comes in a variety of colors and sizes. Though some reviewers say it feels a bit thin — Amazon doesn’t list the weight online — it’s hard to beat this price for 100% cotton bath towels.
3. SOFTEST BATH TOWEL
Riley Home Plush Bath Towel
PROS
- Perfect softness rating from all testers
- Strong fabric
- Highly absorbent
CONS
- Some shrinkage after laundering
Riley’s towel uses a zero-twist combed cotton construction, meaning the fibers are longer and stronger so it’s softer, more absorbent and more durable. At-home users unanimously gave it perfect scores for softness and raved about its luxurious feel. In fact, one tester said, “It was the softest towel I’ve ever used,” while another told us, “I expected the softness to disappear with washing, but it stayed soft. And the fluffiness didn’t decrease with washing either.”
In addition to the rave reviews from consumer testers, our analysts were amazed by how soft it remained after repeated laundering cycles in our standardized tests, though it did have some shrinkage. It also earned perfect absorbency scores in the Lab and dried fairly quickly, which is impressive for a plush, 100% cotton towel.
4. BEST QUICK-DRY BATH TOWEL
Everplush Diamond Jacquard Bath Towel
PROS
- Lightweight and soft
- Aced absorbency and drying time tests
- Loved by GH Textile pros
CONS
- Showed signs of wear in laundry evaluations
This quick-dry towel is a GH staffer favorite thanks to its unique construction: It has cotton on the outside for softness, but microfiber on the inside for enhanced performance. The result makes it an excellent balance of absorbent, quick-drying, strong and shrink-resistant. Testers also noted that they liked the texture, which looks different than typical cotton loops.
One thing to note is that the fabric surface showed fuzzy signs of wear more quickly than other towels in our laundering evaluations. Still, it was a top performer and the only towel to ace both absorbency and drying time tests. We’re also fans of the brand’s Hokime Ribbed Towels for those who prefer even more of a textured feel; they were another top performer in our tests.
5. BEST HEAVYWEIGHT BATH TOWEL
Brooklinen Super-Plush Bath Towels, 2-Pack
PROS
- Plush and thick
- Super absorbent
- Year-long return policy
CONS
- Some shrinkage in the wash
This style isideal for anyone who prefers the comfort of a soft, dense towel: Its cotton fabric has the heaviest weight of all our picks at a whopping 820 GSM. This helped it achieve excellent absorbency in Lab evaluations and superior softness ratings in our consumer tester reviews. One tester noted, “It is a very thick towel that absorbs the water off your body practically in one pass,” while another proclaimed, “It’s the best towel I’ve ever used.”
Another highlight is that it didn’t shed lint in the wash, which is a common concern with plush towels. It did have some shrinkage after laundering and it wasn’t quick-drying, but both of these areas still scored average compared to other towels in our test.
6. MOST ABSORBENT BATH TOWEL
RH Ultra-Soft Turkish Bath Towel
PROS
- Top absorbency scores in Lab tests
- Thick and fluffy
- Luxurious feel
CONS
- Takes a while to dry
This 100% cotton towel was by far the most absorbent in our tests, quickly soaking up all fluidwithout any runoff. Plus, our panel raved about the fluffiness and gave it the highest rating in a blind comparison. They specifically liked the heavy, blanket-like feel and described it as super plush.
On the flip side, these towels took a while to dry, which is not surprising with such high absorbency. It also shrunk a bit in our wash tests. Still, if you want to wrap yourself in a thick, cozy towel that dries you off quickly, this is the one for you.
7. BEST BATH TOWEL SET
StyleWell Hygrocotton 6-Piece Towel Set
PROS
- Good value for a set
- Soft and absorbent
- Fade-resistant colors
CONS
- Some signs of wear after laundering
This basic all-in-one set is a total steal for bath towels, hand towels and washcloths, plus you can buy it in 12- and 18-piece configurations. Despite the low cost, the cotton fabric was soft and had excellent absorbency in our evaluations. In fact, the set impressed us enough to earn the Good Housekeeping Seal.
Our textile pros also appreciated this towel’s construction, especially with its hollow core design so it doesn’t feel too heavy. It held up well in our wash tests; there was some shrinkage, but only minimal signs of wear and low lint after repeated laundering. Plus, the set comes in a variety of colors that proved to be fade-resistant.
8. BEST BATH TOWEL VARIETY
Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towels
PROS
- Many colors and personalization
- Soft and absorbent
- Testers loved the appearance
CONS
- Not quick-drying
If you’re looking to add a pop of color to your bathroom, this 100% cotton towel is available in 25 shades with the option to personalize it at no added cost. It’s also soft, dense and uses zero-twist construction, helping it to get consistently high ratings — and outperform most other towels — throughout both Lab and consumer tests.
At-home users said it felt fluffy and looked great after repeated use, plus they highlighted the pretty appearance. One even noted it was “a perfect size to wrap around my body.” In our Textiles Lab, analysts found it to be highly absorbent during our evaluations. It had moderate drying time scores plus some shrinkage in the wash, but it had overall good durability ratings.
9. BEST WAFFLE BATH TOWEL
Parachute Waffle Bath Towel
PROS
- Lightweight
- Quick-drying
- Thin and not bulky; easy to pack
CONS
- Low absorbency scores
The waffle-weave construction on this100% cotton towel is super light and dries quickly.The thinner design is also more compact if you need to pack a towel on the go. Plus, it has a pretty texture that looks more like a spa towel for a decorative touch in your bathroom.
Just note that it won’t dry you off as well as plush towels with loops. In fact, this one had one of the lowest absorbency scores in our test. The trade-off is that it’s not bulky like a traditional towel with loops. If you’re looking for one that’s plusher, the brand’s Classic Towel was highly absorbent and an overall great pick.
10. BEST ORGANIC BATH TOWEL
Coyuchi Temescal Organic Towels
PROS
- Certified organic
- Soft and absorbent
- Low linting and looks great after washing
CONS
- Not quick-drying
- Some shrinkage
Coyuchi proves you don’t have to sacrifice performance to go green: It had a perfect absorbency score in our Lab tests and was highly rated among testers who unanimously said it felt both soft and absorbent. It also held up to laundering despite some shrinkage. Just note that like some other 100% cotton fabrications, it wasn’t quick-drying in our evaluations.
While many towels claim to be made with organic cotton, this one’s certified by GOTS so you know the entire manufacturing process follows strict standards. In fact, Coyuchi is one of the leading and most trusted organic cotton brands on the market.
