Credit:
Reviewed / Camryn Rabideau
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Credit:
Reviewed / Camryn Rabideau
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
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Shopping for the best bath towels can get confusing, yet these essential linens are important household staples. We rounded up some of the most popular bath towels made from all types of cotton and subjected them to extensive testing. While we mainly looked at how efficient each towel was at absorbing water, we also took into account the weight, feel and type of each towel.
We also determined how easy it was to remove stains from them, whether they got musty and more. While some products rose to the challenge, others gave a lackluster performance. Our results found that the best towel you can buy is the Parachute Classic Towel (available at Parachute) . It's highly absorbent, plush, and very comfortable. The Threshold Spa Bath Towels ($14 at Target) are our best value pick for plush towels on a budget.
The Parachute Classic Towel soaks up water like a champ.
These towels are super plush and great for your budget.
For a luxurious option, try Frontgate's plush towels.
While these aren't the softest towels we tested, they're a comfortable lightweight option.
Lightweight
Made from OEKO-TEX certified cotton
Expensive
Lacked absorbency
I’m Camryn Rabideau and over the past few months, I’ve put essential household linens to the test—including bed sheets and comforters—and I was excited that my next task was to pit towels against each other. I studied textile science in college, so I‘m well-versed in the nuances of different fibers and construction methods. However, I was really interested to see if I could discern a difference in how certain manufacturing methods impacted bath towel performance.
I’m Samantha Mangino, a staff writer here at Reviewed. I’ve tested a boatload of household goods from trash bags to steam irons. Showering is one of my favorite parts of the day, and a good bath towel can make or break your steamy bliss.
We've already found the best kitchen towels and beach towels, but how do you determine which bath towel is the best? Naturally, we wanted to evaluate how each towel performed when used after a shower, whether it could dry quickly, and how well it soaked up a puddle of water.
To do this, I used each product after my nightly shower for two days, to see how well would the towel feel, whether it would dry me off, and evaluate its size, texture, and weight. I also tried each one out as a hair towel to see whether it was comfortable, or if it weighed down my head.
Next, I evaluated how effectively each towel soaked up a cup of water. I poured the water onto a hard surface, then placed the towel on the liquid, letting it sit for 10 seconds of dry time. When I picked the towel up, I evaluated how much water, if any, was left behind.
We also ran more technical tests, like weighing the towels when dry and then while completely saturated to determine just how much water they could absorb. After these tests, the products were left to air dry, then I checked for any musty smell. (This smell develops if mold and mildew grow while the towel is drying—yuck.) I ran a stain test, too, spilling some soda on the towels and seeing if the spot came out in the wash with just regular laundry detergent.
Finally, I logged my own thoughts about the overall experience of each towel. I weighed in on things like how comfortable each was, how easy they were to store, and if I’d want to use them again.
Most super plush bath towels have a few things in common. For one, the majority of towels you see are made of cotton, as it’s one of the softest and most absorbent fibers. Some specialty products are made from bamboo and polyester, but they’re not widely sold.
Similarly, the vast majority of bath towels are constructed of terrycloth, which is a fabric made from cotton and recognizable by all its little loops. Terrycloth is preferred for towels because the loops make it soft and absorbent, creating more surface area to soak up water.
However, bath towels can be surprisingly complicated from a manufacturing standpoint. Several kinds of cotton and yarn-construction techniques can be used to make towels, and these nuances can result in a different look, feel, and performance.
There are several types of cotton, and while they’re all similar plants, the fibers they yield can be rather different. Egyptian and Turkish cotton plants are known for producing longer strands of fiber—also called staples. As such, the fibers don’t need to be wound as tightly when they’re made into yarn. This results in a softer, more plush fabric.
By contrast, cotton grown in the U.S. generally has a shorter staple and must be wound tighter to stay in place. If you see a label that just says “100% cotton,” it’s probably made from this standard cotton.
Additionally, “organic” cotton has risen in popularity in recent years. This fiber is grown from non-genetically modified plants, without the use of pesticides or fertilizers. The appeal here is that the process is more eco-friendly.
As if the many faces of cotton aren’t confusing enough, there are also differences in how the yarn for towels is spun. Cotton can be combed or ringspun. These processes remove any short, rough fibers, creating long strands of yarn that are as soft and durable as can be. That’s not to say regular cotton yarn is rough or weak—ringspun yarn is just slightly more luxurious.
Many different combinations of fibers and construction methods can go into making a bath towel. Certain decisions, such as using high-end Egyptian cotton or ringspun cotton yarn, result in significantly higher manufacturing costs, which explains the wide range of towel prices.
Just like you want to buy clothes in the right size, do the same with your bath towels. The measurements of a standard bath towel are around 30 x 58 inches, although you’ll likely come across a variety of sizes when shopping for your perfect bath towel.
The next most common size is a bath sheet, which measures 35 x 70 inches.
Bath towels can run on the smaller side so be careful to read the dimensions before purchasing. Since they're both longer and wider, bath sheets are a more suitable option for taller or plus-size people.
The weight of a bath towel is measured in grams per square meter (GSM). The weight of a bath towel typically falls anywhere between 300 and 900 GSM. If you’re looking for a lightweight option, you might prefer a towel that weighs below 500 GSM.
However, the higher the GSM, the thicker and more plush (and oftentimes more absorbent) a towel tends to be. So, if you’re someone who likes a super thick towel that feels almost blanket like, you should aim to purchase a bath towel that weighs over 600 GSM.
Camryn Rabideau is a full-time freelance writer and product tester with eight years of experience. She's been lucky enough to test hundreds of products firsthand, and her specialties include bedding and pet products, which often require help from her two dogs, three cats, and flock of rambunctious chickens.
Samantha Mangino is a self-proclaimed homebody. Conveniently she is a home staff writer at Reviewed, covering cleaning, appliances, furniture, and home furnishings and décor. She knows her way around a house and has tested everything from furniture, sponges, steam irons, to Legos. She’s always on the hunt for the latest internet trends and wants to help make your home cleaner and cozier.
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