The Best Bath Towel

Buying Guide

It’s a chilly winter morning, and you’re rushing to make it to work on time. You wash up in a nice warm shower and step out only to be hit with a cold, scratchy towel that leaks more water than it absorbs. Oof. 

You don’t have to sing the Rough Towel Blues every time you step out of the shower. If you know how to shop for bath towels, you’ll turn every shower into a luxury experience.

You’ll obviously want your bath towel to be very absorbent, and 100% cotton towels will absorb the most water. However, sometimes pure cotton towels take a long time to dry. Cotton/polyester or cotton/rayon blends are a good choice if you’re looking for a quick-dry towel.

The softest towels are made with Egyptian or Pima cotton or regular cotton with a bit of rayon added. “Zero twist” cotton means that none of the cotton loops on the towel are twisted together, increasing surface area for a plusher, more absorbent towel. Towels often feel softer when you first purchase them because manufacturers cover them with a fabric softening finish. That finish wears off after a wash or two. Rely on the information about your towel’s construction, not its feel, when you’re buying. 

Durability is key when you’re buying towels — you don’t want to have to buy another set a few months after your initial purchase! Heavier towels will last longer than lighter ones, and they’re also more absorbent. Towel weights are given in GSM, which stands for grams per square meter. Towels in the 500-700 GSM range are the sturdiest, but some brands go as high as 900 GSM. 

Ring-spun cotton is also more durable than other kinds of cotton. “Ring-spun” means that the cotton loops on the towel are twisted tightly together, so the loops are strong and smooth. Towels with a high twist or towels with combed cotton (where the cotton is brushed to remove shorter fibers) are also more durable. 

Check out our Tips & Advice for care and cleaning instructions that will help your towels last.

• You should always wash and dry your bath towels before you first use them. This will get rid of any coatings the manufacturer has placed on the towel and create better absorbency.
• Colored towels can bleed badly during their first few washes unless you choose a colorfast option. Wash them with like colors in warm water the first few times you throw them in the washing machine. You can use color-safe detergent or use half of your regular detergent with a half cup of white vinegar. This helps set your towel’s color.
• Wash and dry towels in a separate load from your other clothes and linens. You’ll need to use the hot water and the higher heat setting on your dryer cycle to successfully wash your towels, and that can shrink and damage your clothes. 
• Make sure your towels are completely dry before you fold them up and place them in your linen closet. Damp towels are a breeding ground for mold. 
• Wash your towels frequently. Every three to four days is ideal. Towels that are double-stitched are durable enough to withstand frequent washings.