Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
The 8 Best Bath Towels Our Editors Love
Never skimp on style when it comes to your self-care routine.
Everyone needs a good bath towel. They're a bathroom necessity. So you might as well invest in a high-quality one that looks just as nice as it feels.
Think of buying a bath towel like purchasing a set of cotton sheets—it's a linen you're going to use all the time, so they need to be high-quality enough to stand up to tons of wear and tear. You should do your research—and not just buy the first result you see when you search "bath towels" on Amazon. These are pieces you use everyday, so why not make drying off after a shower feel more like a spa experience? Here are eight selections to get you started.
Pros
- High-quality organic materials
- Fun color options
Cons
- Pricey for just one towel
When it comes to both quality and style, Baina's towels rank among the top–and are a personal favorite for some editors. All their products are made in Portugal with organic cotton, but their high quality doesn't stop them from being low maintenance. Simply toss them in with the rest of your laundry. Our editors have owned this set for years, and they're just as soft and vibrant as the day they arrived.
Features at a Glance
| Materials | Organic cotton |
| Includes | One 27.5" x 55" bath towel |
Pros
- Affordable
- Ultra soft
Cons
- Hand towels and wash cloths sold separately
When you purchase a piece from Preston Konrad's Preston Lane homewares line, you can rest assured you're getting a good deal that doesn't skimp on quality. Every piece from Preston Lane is ethically made, and that can be readily seen in the craftsmanship of these towels. ELLE Decor's editors were especially surprised by how sumptuously soft they are.
Features at a Glance
| Materials | 100% cotton |
| Includes | Two towels |
Cozy Earth Cozy Earth Charcoal Waffle Bath Towels
Pros
- Absorbent
Cons
- Pricey
As delightful as a soft cotton towel is, waffle weave can be a little more practical. The textured design means better absorbency, quicker drying, and a lighter weight (which is especially useful for any small apartment dwellers). We'd recommend this reversible set from Cozy Earth that offers the best of both worlds.
Features at a Glance
| Materials | 60% cotton 40% viscose from bamboo |
| Includes | Two towels |
Pros
- Luxurious high-quality
Cons
- $$$
After being established in 1860, Frette has spent the last 160 years creating the best linens and towels for hotels like the Ritz and other go-to destinations. Their Unito bath towel is made in Italy using organic cotton, and features piping around the edges to prevent fraying.
| Materials | Organic cotton |
| Includes | One 27" x 55" bath towel |
SFERRA Bello Nuovo Combed Cotton Bath Towel
Pros
- High thread count
- Tons of color options
Cons
- Can feel super weighty
If you're obsessed with high quality bedding, you may already be familiar with SFERRA's linens. But don't forget on their towels, either. Made in Portugal, their organic cotton towels have a 700 thread count, which makes them one of the softest, and most luxurious options.
| Materials | Organic cotton |
| Includes | One 30" x 60" bath towel |
Pros
- Stylish pattern
Cons
- On the thinner side
If you're in the market for something more visually striking, opt for these mosaic towels from Parachute. They feature a jacquard weave made of 100% yarn-dyed organic cotton—but what really stands out is the visually textured pattern that weave creates.
Features at a Glance
| Materials | 100% organic cotton |
| Includes | One towel |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are bath towel sets better than individual towels?
If you're on the hunt for a new bath towel, you often have the option to buy them individually or as part of a set. There are pros and cons to each. While opting for a set often means you get more bang for your buck, towel sets often come with multiple sizes of towels, so you may end up with hand towels or bath sheets in addition to regular bath towels.
Which towels are the most absorbent?
If you want your towel to dry you off quickly, lookout for terms like "plush" in the product description. While this often means the towels are thicker and therefore better at absorbing water, the other side of this equation means they may take more time to dry in between uses.
How should towels be washed?
It's important to pay close attention to your towel's care instructions. Because all the towels on this list are made with cotton, they can all be machine washed. However, various colors and dyes could mean that some towels should be washed with cold water only to prevent bleeding.
What To Look For
Material and feel: Consider how you want your towels to feel. If you want something more lightweight and absorbent, opt for a waffle weave. If waffle weave feels too rough and you prefer something plush, go for cotton.
Absorbency: Material can also impact the absorbency of a towel. Cotton will oftentimes absorb better, but this might mean they don't dry off as quickly. The waffle pattern on a waffle weave towel, meanwhile, also absorbs water well (though not as well as cotton) and it dries quickly.
Price: Not all of the towels on this list come as a set, and you might need to pay more for extra towels. Assess the material of the towels and how many you're buying, and if the price appropriately reflects that.
How We Picked
We rely on a combination of first hand testing, brand knowledge, and design tastes when curating our product selections. Many of these towels we've used first hand for many years. Any towels we haven't tested ourselves come from brands we're familiar with and trust.
Why Trust Us
For more than three decades, ELLE DECOR has covered stylemakers, trendsetting interiors, and must-have home furnishings. With a focus on the latest design trends and ideas about how to incorporate them into improving your own space, we’re your go-to resource for elevating and beautifying your home. Our team of editors and interior design pros research and review every new article we publish to ensure you have the most up-to-date, expert-approved information.
Tatjana Freund is Hearst's Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor, covering beauty, fashion and more across multiple brands. Previously, she worked at ELLE.com and Marie Claire. She's a fan of whiskey neat, podcasts that give her nightmares, and one time Zoë Kravitz laughed at a joke she made.
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