Bath towels are a daily necessity, but the best ones transform a routine shower into a luxurious experience. After rigorous testing, we’ve compiled a list of the top 11 bath towels for 2025, focusing on absorbency, softness, durability, and style. These towels were evaluated in real-world scenarios, from daily showers to intense laundering cycles, to ensure they meet the needs of various preferences and budgets.
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Our Top 11 Bath Towel Picks for 2025
- 1.1 1. Frontgate Resort Collection Bath Towel
- 1.2 2. Brooklinen Super-Plush Bath Towels
- 1.3 3. Parachute Classic Turkish Cotton Towel
- 1.4 4. Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Organic Quick-Dry Towel
- 1.5 5. Lands’ End Supima Cotton Bath Towel
- 1.6 6. Target Threshold Spa Plush Towel
- 1.7 7. Onsen Waffle Weave Bath Towel
- 1.8 8. Boll & Branch Plush Bath Towel
- 1.9 9. Kassatex Atelier Bath Towel
- 1.10 10. Coyuchi Cloud Loom Towels
- 1.11 11. Crane & Canopy Plush Towel Bundle
- 2 Comparison Table of Top Bath Towels
- 3 Testing Scenarios and Methodology
- 4 Buying Guide for Bath Towels
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- 6 Conclusion
Our Top 11 Bath Towel Picks for 2025
1. Frontgate Resort Collection Bath Towel
The Frontgate Resort Collection Bath Towel is the softest, warmest, and most comfortable plush towel we’ve tried. Thicker than our other picks, it feels luxe and substantial, like a high-quality hotel towel. It comes in more than two dozen colors¡ªmore choices than any other pick. It’s available in a large bath-sheet size, and it coordinates with a range of matching accessories, including bath mats and washcloths. If a plush, luxurious towel is what you want, this is a great one. Of all the budget towels we’ve ever tested, this one comes the closest to the plush, luxurious feel of our longstanding top pick. It doesn’t age as well, though.
- Pros: Exceptionally soft, wide color variety, durable construction
- Cons: Higher price point, slightly longer drying time
2. Brooklinen Super-Plush Bath Towels
The best bath towels are Brooklinen’s Super-Plush Bath Towels, according to our home writer, who also reviewed waffles, mildewproof, and flat-weave Turkish sets. Luxuriously soft and the perfect combination of thick and fluffy, Brooklinen’s Super-Plush Turkish Cotton Bath Towels earned our pick as the best plush option. The towels are made from 100 percent Turkish cotton, a superior cotton material with longer fibers that provide a softer and fluffier texture. We were very pleased by how well they absorbed moisture and quickly dried after use.
- Pros: Ultra-absorbent, quick-drying, vibrant colors
- Cons: Expensive, may feel too heavy for some
3. Parachute Classic Turkish Cotton Towel
The Parachute Classic Towel checked all the boxes for texture, performance, and overall experience. It’s a solid investment if you want to turn your bathroom into the lap of luxury. This quality towel is made from long-staple Turkish cotton, which is supposed to be stronger, softer, and more absorbent than regular cotton. While it feels wonderful and soaks up water like a champ, its performance wasn’t noticeably superior.
- Pros: Luxurious feel, excellent absorbency, muted color options
- Cons: Pricey, slight musty smell if not dried properly
4. Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Organic Quick-Dry Towel
The Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Organic Quick-Dry Towel is our top pick for the best bath towel because it feels and looks high quality. During our testing, we found that it absorbed water well and dried quickly as its name promises. Though this towel only has a GSM of 550, it is made with a 100% organic long staple Turkish cotton that feels soft, plush, and luxurious. We also love that these bath towels are available in 14 different colors, which makes it easy to match these classic towels to your existing bathroom decor.
- Pros: Quick-drying, soft and plush, organic certification
- Cons: Some pilling after abrasion testing
5. Lands’ End Supima Cotton Bath Towel
The Lands’ End Premium Supima Cotton Bath Towel impressed us with its coziness, absorbency, and durability, earning it the title of our overall best bath towel. Not only does it have cloud-like softness, but it’s also hefty, highly absorbent, and is built to last, no matter how often you use or launder it. We immediately took a liking to the texture of the towel, which is notably soft and slightly plush, almost cloud-like, yet highly durable at the same time.
- Pros: Durable, cloud-like softness, stain-resistant
- Cons: Shrinks slightly after washing, no certifications
6. Target Threshold Spa Plush Towel
Target’s Threshold Spa Plush Towel is the softest, most-plush towel we’ve tested under $20. It really feels like a budget-friendly version of our popular top pick from Frontgate. The terry is thick and luxe, and the towels are well stitched and constructed. They come in almost a dozen colors, two bath-sheet sizes, as well as hand towels and washcloths, and they’re one of the few towels we’ve tested with Oeko-Tex’s Made in Green certification.
- Pros: Affordable, plush feel, Oeko-Tex certification
- Cons: Less durable after multiple washes
7. Onsen Waffle Weave Bath Towel
This inexpensive waffle towel is great and washes beautifully. It doesn’t come in as many colors as our other picks, though, and it’s not as soft as terry. The Onsen towel has definitely stretched out of shape a little, but my 11-year-old daughter has been using our test towel since she was 6, and it still looks fantastic considering all the abuse it’s taken¡ªit’s often left on the floor, it’s been used as a grooming mat for her pet bunnies, and it’s survived several hot, sanitizing wash-and-dry cycles thanks to bouts of stomach flu.
- Pros: Lightweight, quick-drying, durable
- Cons: Limited color options, less soft than terry
8. Boll & Branch Plush Bath Towel
Multiple products on this list are made with GOTS-certified organic cotton, including one of our best heavyweight options, the Boll & Branch Plush Bath Towel. The towel feels luxurious and ultra-thick on first pass, though that initial feel does shrink a small amount after its first run through the washer (it went from “very plush” to “just plain plush”). I didn’t count that as a mark against the product; subsequent washes revealed that it maintained that same post–first-wash feel.
- Pros: Organic cotton, thick and luxurious, highly absorbent
- Cons: Slight shrinkage after first wash
9. Kassatex Atelier Bath Towel
Our top pick is the luxuriously plush and absorbent Kassatex Atelier Bath Towel; it also has the classic dobby border many people prefer in a towel. It maintains its softness wash after wash. For a more modern design, the Riley Home Spa Towel was a close contender, but proved slightly less durable over long-term testing.
- Pros: Plush and absorbent, classic design, durable
- Cons: Higher price point
10. Coyuchi Cloud Loom Towels
At nearly $70 per piece, the Coyuchi Cloud Loom Towels are one of the most expensive linens we tested, and they definitely add luxury to a bathroom. It comes in over 15 colors, many of which are rather unique, and there are matching hand towels and washcloths available, as well. However, it didn’t necessarily perform any better than our top pick, so don’t believe all the hype about Egyptian cotton being king.
- Pros: Luxurious feel, unique colors, matching accessories
- Cons: Very expensive, may develop musty smell
11. Crane & Canopy Plush Towel Bundle
The soft, fluffy, high quality Crane & Canopy Plush Towel Essentials Bundle is our pick for the best bath towel set. This set includes two washcloths, two hand towels, and two bath towels which, considering the quality of these bath towels, is well worth the price tag. We also love that the towel set can be monogrammed, which will add a personalized touch to your bathroom. During testing, this towel set impressed us with its softness.
- Pros: Soft and plush, monogrammable, great bundle value
- Cons: Hook loop may wear over time
Comparison Table of Top Bath Towels
| Towel | Material | GSM | Price (Approx.) | Key Features | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontgate Resort | Long-staple Turkish Cotton | 430 | $40 | Plush, wide color range, durable | Oeko-Tex |
| Brooklinen Super-Plush | Turkish Cotton | 820 | $49 | Ultra-absorbent, quick-drying | Oeko-Tex |
| Parachute Classic | Long-staple Turkish Cotton | 700 | $45 | Luxurious, highly absorbent | Oeko-Tex |
| Pottery Barn Hydrocotton | Organic Turkish Cotton | 550 | $15 | Quick-drying, soft | GOTS, Oeko-Tex |
| Lands’ End Supima | Supima Cotton | 650 | $110 | Cloud-like softness, durable | None |
| Target Threshold Spa | Cotton | Not disclosed | $14 | Budget-friendly, plush | Oeko-Tex |
| Onsen Waffle | Cotton | Not disclosed | $50 | Lightweight, quick-drying | None |
| Boll & Branch Plush | Organic Cotton | 820 | $39 | Thick, absorbent | GOTS |
| Kassatex Atelier | Cotton | Not disclosed | $60 | Plush, classic design | None |
| Coyuchi Cloud Loom | Egyptian Cotton | Not disclosed | $70 | Luxurious, unique colors | None |
| Crane & Canopy Bundle | Long-staple Turkish Cotton | 600 | $100 (bundle) | Soft, monogrammable | None |
Testing Scenarios and Methodology
To determine the best bath towels, we tested 14 products for absorbency, durability, and comfort and also interviewed several textile experts. We started our testing process by laying out the towel on the table and measuring it before washing. This made it possible to determine whether or not each towel shrank after being laundered. We also recorded fiber content, and inspected the quality and feel of the towel, noting any features, like an extra loop for hanging, piping, or edging. Then, we washed and dried each bath towel two times, drying them once.
We observed not a single pull or loose thread, either, and after six weeks of consistent use, the towel maintained its soft hand. Even after running a scrub brush over it 50 times in our lab, there was no damage to the towel, indicating that it will stand up to whatever abuse you put it through. To measure absorbency, we weigh every towel after a rinse cycle in the washing machine to see how much water it’s soaked up. There’s no point trying to dry yourself with a towel that’s still damp. So we check whether every towel will dry in under four hours.
Buying Guide for Bath Towels
When choosing a new bath towel, consider the way you’ll use it. If you’re looking for a towel to use after swimming or gym sessions, opt for a lightweight option with polyester listed on the label. While it won’t have that plush spa-like feel, it will still work as well as a thicker towel and won’t take hours to dry afterwards. For a more indulgent feel, choose a towel made of 100 per cent cotton that feels heavy when held.
- Material: Most towels will be made from cotton, but within cotton, you’ll find several types. Egyptian cotton is known to be some of the best in the world because of its long- to extra-long, durable fibers that result in soft, plush, and particularly thirsty towels. Turkish-cotton fibers are shorter, which means they’re lighter and faster drying than Egyptian-cotton towels (if not quite as absorbent). Then there’s American-grown Supima cotton, which has extra-long fibers like Egyptian cotton but might not feel quite as plush.
- GSM (Grams per Square Meter): GSM is a lot like sheet thread count or silk momme count. The higher the GSM, the more dense the towel is and the better quality, which also means more expensive. Anything under 400 GSM won’t be very absorbent post-shower, and it also won’t be that soft. Most medium-weight towels fall between 400 and 620 GSM. Super plush 620 to 900 GSM towels are typically sold as luxury linens, and, oh, are they soft!
- Certifications: Oeko Tex: This label means the final product has been independently tested for more than 100 harmful chemical substances and is safe for human use. GOTS: The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is another certification used specifically for organic textiles. GOTS-certified sheets contain at least 95% certified organic fibers and meet environmental and social standards at every stage of processing and manufacturing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best material for bath towels?
The best material depends on your preferences. Egyptian and Supima cotton are ideal for plush, absorbent towels, while Turkish cotton offers a balance of softness and quick-drying properties. For eco-conscious buyers, organic cotton with GOTS certification is a great choice.
How often should I replace my bath towels?
Bath towels typically last about two to five years with proper care. Replace them if they develop a musty smell, show signs of fraying, or lose absorbency, as these indicate bacterial buildup or material degradation.
How can I keep my towels soft and absorbent?
Wash towels in warm water with a mild detergent, avoiding fabric softeners, which can reduce absorbency. Dry on a low heat setting or air dry to maintain softness. Adding a cup of white vinegar to the wash occasionally can help remove residue.
Are higher GSM towels always better?
Not necessarily. Higher GSM (620-900) towels are plush and absorbent but take longer to dry, which can lead to mildew in humid environments. Medium GSM (400-620) towels offer a balance of absorbency and quicker drying.
Conclusion
The top 11 bath towels of 2025 cater to a range of needs, from luxurious plushness to budget-friendly durability. Whether you prioritize quick-drying performance or hotel-style comfort, our tested picks ensure quality and satisfaction. Explore these options to elevate your daily routine. For more home essentials, check out Wirecutter’s towel reviews or Good Housekeeping’s testing insights.