The Best Bath Towels I Tried While Testing 22 Different Towels Over Six Weeks

Best All-Around Bath Towel

Italic Ultraplush Australian Cotton Towels

View On Italic.com $16

This towel stood out among all those I tested, because it has a dense, weighty feel that alludes to luxury—but costs less than $20 each, making it an absolute steal. When it was tested in the Lab, Italic’s Serene towel earned a perfect score in our absorbency testing, soaking up all 4 ounces of water in just 10 seconds. Considering it’s the heaviest towel on our list at 800 grams per square meter (GSM), we were sure the dry time would be outrageous. But much to our surprise, the towel was completely dry in just 90 minutes. 

I had high expectations for this towel when I started testing, and it did not disappoint in any category. Its excellent absorbency is a true standout feature—despite its weight, I felt that it was easy to dry myself off, and it air-dried relatively quickly after use. Compared to the similarly plush towels I tested, this one was the most quick-drying and absorbent by far.

After washing, the towel shrank by about 6.5% and didn’t lose any of its weight (though it was slightly less soft than it was before washing). In our Lab testing, it didn’t sustain any significant damage after we ran a scrub brush over it 50 times, and all the stains we applied to the fabric came out easily in the wash. In my home testing, I was shocked at how similar the used and unused towels were. While it did lose some of its softness, as all towels do, it stood out among the others as being one of the most similar to its unused counterpart. There were no snags, loose threads, flattening, or balding—the only difference between the two is that the color got a bit dingier. 

This towel offers excellent coverage for a standard bath towel, and all members of my family felt comfortable using it. It comes with the Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certification, ensuring it has been tested for harmful substances. In the future, I would love to see more color options, as the towels are currently only available in four neutral hues (white, gray, cream, and charcoal). Plus, it has no special features, like a hanging loop or dobby (which is a decorative weave added to some towels), and it’s sold as a set of two and cannot be purchased individually. 

Overall, the Italic Serene Ultraplush Towel stands out for its long-lasting softness, impressive absorbency, and durability. It’s a true luxury towel that costs much, much less than expected—it was just as plush and soft as more expensive towels, but even more absorbent, making it an excellent value.

Material: Australian cotton | Size: 30 by 54 inches (shrunk to 28 by 51 inches) | Weight: 800 GSM | Certifications: Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex

An Affordable Towel That Actually Holds Up

Better Homes & Gardens Signature Soft Towel

View On Walmart $9

I’ve used a wide variety of budget towels from a mix of brands, including Amazon, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s, and Macy’s—but none of them come close to this bath towel from Better Homes & Gardens’ Walmart line. (Better Homes & Gardens is owned by Real Simple’s parent company, Dotdash Meredith.) 

The key is in the construction: Instead of being made from 100% cotton, it’s made of 90% cotton and 10% viscose, which is a semi-synthetic fiber made from wood pulp. Viscose is known for its silky smooth feel, and combining it with cotton results in a long-lasting softness that rivals that of typical terry cotton towels. The GSM isn’t listed, but it has a nice mid-weight feel that’s more thin than plush. It’s not a luxurious spa-like towel, but for the price it’s definitely one of the best options.

It’s worth noting, though, that there was a difference in quality between the Lab test and my own at-home test. This towel scored pretty low in our Lab’s abrasion test, which involved swiping a scrub brush on the towel back and forth 50 times—by the end, the abraded part looked very worn. Plus, after washing the towel three times in the Lab, it showed fraying and loose threads. I did not have that issue at home and noticed zero imperfections in the towel after weeks of use and washing. What this tells me is that the quality isn’t consistent with these towels, which isn’t unusual for budget towels but is something to keep in mind when shopping.

In terms of style, the BHG towel has a decorative dobby that gives it more of a spa-like feel, and it comes in eight colors. Plus, it has the Made In Green certification from Oeko-Tex, so it’s free from harmful chemicals and is manufactured in environmentally friendly facilities under safe and socially responsible working conditions. At 30 by 56 inches, it’s a decent size for a towel, and it only shrunk by about 4% overall. The not-too-heavy, not-too-light weight, extra-soft feel, and overall durability make this a truly above-average budget towel that pretty much anyone could be happy with.

Price a time of publish: $10 

Material: 90% cotton, 10% viscose | Size: 30 by 56 inches (shrunk to 30 by 54 inches) | Weight: Not listed | Certifications: Made In Green by Oeko-Tex

A Durable Bath Towel for Busy Households

Lands’ End Cotton Bath Towel

View On Landsend.com $35

I put all the towels through the ringer, including multiple launderings and 50 swipes with an abrasive scrub brush in our Lab. Out of all those I tested, I was the most impressed with how well the Lands’ End Premium Supima Cotton Bath Towel held up. Post-wash, the towel remained very soft and fluffy. The color (of which there are 17 to choose from) remained just as saturated, and the stains came out easily. 

There was not a single pull or loose thread either, and after six weeks of consistent use, the towel’s texture didn’t change whatsoever. What’s more, after running a scrub brush over the towel 50 times in our Lab, there was no damage to the towel that we could see or feel, so we can almost guarantee that it will stand up to whatever abuse you put it through. 

Made from American-grown Supima cotton, this towel is plush with a medium-heavy weight (650 GSM). In our absorbency tests, it was able to collect all 4 ounces of water from a bowl in a matter of seconds, leaving the bowl bone dry. Afterwards, it required about 85 minutes to dry, which is on par with the weight of this towel. While using it at home, I found that it dried me off quickly and easily, and air-dried in a short amount of time. Out of all the towels I tested, this one was the group favorite, with all five members of my household identifying it as one of their top three favorites for its softness, medium-weight feel, and absorbency.

The Lands’ End towel has a generous size of 30 by 56 inches, though it shrunk by about 7% after six weeks. It’s also available for monogramming, making it a great choice for a gift. Keep in mind, though, that it doesn’t come with any certifications, which might be an immediate no for some people. But, given the size, durability, and quality of the materials, I think the price is more than reasonable—but Lands’ End does run frequent sales, so it’s likely you can get it for less while shopping. 

Price a time of publish: $35

Material: Supima cotton | Size: 30 by 56 inches (shrunk to 27.5 by 52 inches) | Weight: 650 GSM | Certifications: N/A

A Seriously Cozy Towel That Doesn't Lose its Softness

Southern Living Turkish Cotton and Modal Bath Towel

View On Dillards.com

Made from 80% Turkish cotton and 20% modal—a semi-synthetic fabric that’s even more absorbent than cotton—this towel from the Southern Living line at Dillard’s is amazingly soft and durable. (Southern Living is owned by Real Simple’s parent company, Dotdash Meredith.) It’s constructed with soft and absorbent zero-twist fibers, meaning the fibers are longer and can be looped through the towel as opposed to being twisted out from the towel. It was among the most absorbent towels of all those tested in our Lab, although we did find it had a long dry time, requiring a full two hours to fully dry. 

After laundering at home, it remained just as soft and plush as the unwashed towel, even after six weeks. In fact, it felt just as soft, if not even more so, than the very expensive luxury towels I tested. It was a favorite in my family for that unbeatable softness as well as its generous size and durability. It shrank just about 5%, which ended up feeling like the perfect size—large enough for good coverage but not enough to be unwieldy, which is important considering it’s on the weightier side. It was a particular favorite of my brother, who at 5-foot-11 prefers a slightly larger towel.

The Southern Living towel is available in a wide variety of colors, each of which comes with a decorative border that gives it some extra style. I tested the Raspberry color and noticed that there was no change in its vibrancy after several weeks. Given the price, performance, and durability, this is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a towel that’s luxuriously soft yet not too much of a splurge. 

Material: 80% Turkish cotton, 20% modal | Size: 30 by 56 inches (shrunk to 28 by 54 inches) | Weight: 700 GSM | Certifications: N/A

A Bath Towel That Feels Like it Belongs in a Spa

Ralph Lauren Payton Bath Towel

View On Bloomingdales View On Dillards.com $29 View On Ralphlauren.com

This 100% cotton bath towel has a weighty, plush feel that immediately signals luxury and absorbency. In fact, it was able to soak up an entire half-cup of water in just one minute. Given its weight (700 GSM) and absorbency, we were sure it would take a long time to dry, but it proved us wrong: In the Lab, it dried in just 11 minutes—one of the fastest dry times of any towel we’ve ever tested. This is thanks in part to its high-loop terry weave, which creates air pockets for faster drying. To be fair, I didn’t think it dried quite that fast in my bathroom, but it was better than the other thick towels I tested.

This towel is thick and plush to begin with, and it maintains that plushness over time. It suffered no wear and tear during washing, and stains came out of the fabric very easily during Lab testing. Plus, the color remained rich after weeks of washing (I tested it in the vibrant True Lacquer Red color).  

There are two potential cons to this towel. First, although it’s extremely plush and weighty, it’s not the softest option. That’s not to say that it’s not soft, but I did notice that it lost more of its initial softness compared to other plush luxury towels. Second, it’s a large towel that might feel a bit unwieldy for shorter people. (My 5-foot-3 sister and 5-foot-3 mother both agreed that it was too much for them.) But, I still think that it’s the best plush option. Unlike other towels, it has extremely impressive absorbency and a much faster dry time, which is unusual in a heavy towel.

This towel comes with the Oeko-Tex Made In Green certification, meaning it is made without harmful substances and in environmentally friendly facilities. The sateen weave hem and double-banded border add to its luxurious appearance, and it’s available in 19 different colors. Plus, monogramming is available, making this an excellent wedding or housewarming gift. Although it’s not a cheap towel, I’ve noticed that it goes on sale a lot at department stores, so there are definitely opportunities to save.

Material: Cotton | Size: 30 by 58 inches (shrunk to 29 by 55.5 inches) | Weight: 700 GSM | Certifications: Made In Green by Oeko-Tex

A Truly Luxe, Heavyweight Bath Towel

RH Turkish Bath Towel

View On Rh.com

I was immediately impressed by how soft, plush, and luxurious this RH towel felt out of the box. It's made from long-staple Turkish cotton and is slightly oversized, so you can completely wrap yourself in its cozy fabric. It maintained its quality even after laundering; I didn't notice any fading after washing it multiple times, except for one snag. And it was easy to remove stains after spilling mascara and foundation on it.  

After six weeks, this towel is still delightfully soft and fluffy, and it feels like a towel you’d find at a fancy hotel or spa. After the Lab test, there was some noticeable damage that occurred after abrading it with a scrub brush, though the towel remained in good condition overall. While the fabric became frizzier, the loops didn't unravel, and no loose fibers fell off. Unless you regularly rub your towels with a scrub brush, I think this one will hold up to years of normal use. 

This towel has a hefty GSM of 750, and it did take two hours for it to be about 80% dry. That longer dry time isn't the most convenient, but it is expected with such a thick towel. While using it at home, I did find it to be a bit unwieldy to use—it’s heavy and not the most absorbent, so when it’s wet it feels even heavier. Still, it’s undoubtedly the fluffiest option I tested, and the heaviest. It looks and feels totally luxurious and maintains its softness. Given its luxe fabric and durability, I think this towel is a standout option.  

Material: Cotton | Size: 30 by 56 inches (shrunk to 28.5 by 56 inches) | Weight: 750 GSM | Certifications: Not listed

A Textured Bath Towel That Dries Quickly

Brooklinen Organic Ribbed Bath Towels

View On Brooklinen View On Zola $89

The thin-ribbed texture isn't the only thing that makes the Brooklinen Organic Ribbed Bath Towel towel a stellar pick, though it definitely helps. That extra texture adds a cozy, luxe touch to this towel and makes it extra absorbent. In fact, it had an absorbency percentage of 150% in our Lab test, which is one of the highest on this list, and it soaked up 8 ounces of water in under one minute. It didn’t dry as quickly as others, but I found it to be mostly dry within two hours. After laundering it three times and staining it with foundation and mascara, the fabric still felt as buttery as ever, and there was zero indication that it had even been stained in the first place. 

That’s about as good as it got in terms of durability, though: After a few weeks, it lost quite a bit of softness and plushness, and the edges look worn when you look closely. It also had the most significant shrinkage out of all the towels I tested, losing about 9% of its original size. This is definitely disappointing, but in all fairness, I washed it in hot water with other towels even though the care instructions say it should be washed in cold water and tumble dried on low heat.

This towel is made from Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic Turkish cotton and has a hefty feel to it. Drying off with it is fast and easy, and the textured appearance gives it some extra visual flair. While it’s not the most durable option, I still think it’s the best textured towel I tested and is an ideal option for people who don’t like the feel of a too-soft towel. It’s better-suited for a smaller household where it won’t be put through the wringer quite so often, or it could be alternated with less expensive towels to add a bit more style to your bathroom. 

Material: Organic cotton | Size: 30 by 58 inches (shrunk to 27 by 54 inches) | Weight: 560 GSM | Certifications: GOTS, Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex

An Oversized Bath Towel That's Worth Splurging On

Matouk Milagro Bath Towel

View On Nordstrom $11 View On Perigold.com View On Bloomingdales $18

At 550 GSM, this is not the thickest towel we tested; but what it lacks in thickness, it more than makes up for in surface area. While it’s not quite a bath sheet, it still provides significantly more coverage than your standard bath towel (although it is also available in a bath sheet size). I really liked the size of this towel, which surprised me because I expected it to feel too unwieldy. I think the fact that it’s not very heavy made it feel more manageable, and the very soft feel contributed to its ultra luxurious vibe.

In terms of absorbency, this towel was able to absorb an entire half-cup of water from a bowl in one minute, though its dry time was just average at 58 minutes. While using it on myself, I found that it had better absorbency than most plush towels, and the water didn’t feel like it was just sitting on top of the towel. This probably also contributed to its manageable feel, as I never felt like I was wearing a wet blanket (a surprisingly common occurrence with thick towels). 

After washing, this towel shrank by 4%, which is well under what you would expect from a 100% cotton towel, and it never lost its soft feel. In fact, I couldn’t believe how soft it remained, with very minimal difference between the washed and unwashed towels. It’s the Platonic ideal of a bath towel: plush, cloud-like, and not too heavy. This towel also stands out for being available in 22 colors, and it comes with the option to add a monogram, too. 

Material: Cotton | Size: 30 by 60 inches (shrunk to 28 by 57 inches) | Weight: 550 GSM | Certifications: Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex

A Soft, Absorbent Towel That's Not 100% Cotton

RHH Bath Towel Bamboo Bliss Resort Bamboo Collection

View On Dillards.com

There are a few cotton-blend towels on this list, but this one is my favorite. It also has the distinction of being the only towel on the list that’s made from a combination of cotton and bamboo fibers. Now, for some clarity: When we talk about bamboo, we’re not talking about bamboo specifically, but instead the fibers from bamboo wood pulp. This is typically referred to as “rayon from bamboo,” which can be confusing since rayon is a synthetic material, while bamboo is a natural resource. 

Similar to lyocell and modal, bamboo fibers are known for their softness, strength, and absorbency. This towel is definitely all three—after six weeks, it’s still delightfully soft and plush, and there are no signs of damage. In fact, I actually think it looks better than the unwashed towel, as the color looks richer somehow. We haven’t tested this one in the Lab yet, so it hasn’t gone through the abrasion or absorbency tests, but I found it to be seriously quick-drying and easily able to dry me off. 

One thing I really like about this towel is that it feels like the best version of an all-cotton towel. The unwashed towel has that silkier bamboo feel, but the used towel feels like a very soft cotton towel, which I think makes it more appealing for people who aren’t very adventurous and want to stick to what they know. It's also a really good mid-weight—not heavy yet still soft and plush; not light but not too thick. I think this towel would please just about anyone. 

Material: Cotton, rayon from bamboo | Size: 30 by 56 inches (shrunk to 28 by 52 inches) | Weight: 550 GSM | Certifications: Not listed