The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?
From hotel-style luxury bath towels to indulgent pile counts, our experts tried and tested the best out there
One of life’s simple pleasures is stepping out of the shower in a lush hotel and wrapping yourself in its large, fluffy towels. So, we set out to find the best bath towels that will help you replicate this experience at home.
If your bath towels are looking worse for wear, feel rough or are no longer drying you properly, it’s probably time for some new ones. But which to go for?
If you’re a regular at your local gym or swimming pool, a lightweight, polyester option could be a good choice – they’re quick to dry and easy to carry. However, when only five-star hotel extravagance will do, look for a towel made of 100 per cent cotton. Select one with dense, long loops of yarn that will be extra absorbent and make you feel like you’re in a high-end spa.
The weight of a towel is measured in GSM (grams per square metre), which will give you an indication of how plush and durable it is. Look for one with more than 600 GSM for the full hotel-towel experience.
Care is important if you wish to retain the fluffy quality, so, for the best bath towels, you should air them between uses, preferably wash them only with other towels (to avoid snags) and never use fabric softener, as this can reduce absorbency.
We washed every towel before use, as advised, then used them after baths and showers to judge how quickly they dried us, how snuggly they felt and how long they took to dry – no one wants something soggy cluttering up the bathroom. We noticed if any towels left stray fluff behind and how good each one looked on our towel rail, paying particular attention to how well each towel washed. One thing’s for sure: we’ve never been cleaner.
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
If you take your towels seriously, you’ll be relieved to know Scooms’s founders Emily and Jonathan Attwood share your concerns. They spent a year researching different yarns, weights and construction methods to come up with this heavenly, hotel-like towel that lost none of its softness during testing, even after several washes.
It’s made from a heavy, 100 per cent long-staple Egyptian cotton with a whopping 720 GSM, using a zero-twist loop to give a smoother finish that won’t irritate skin. The towel also meets Oeko-Tex Standard 100 to verify it has been tested for harmful toxins and chemicals.
Though we were reluctant to get dry and be parted from it after showers, the towel is amazingly absorbent, so did the job in half the time. We also liked the fact it comes with a hook sewn in for easy hanging, has double-stitched edging and has hand towels, bath sheets and bath mats to match. The only downside: when wrapped in this towel, our youngest tester was even more reluctant than normal to get dressed after bath time.
Bored of the same old white towels? Deck out your bathroom in a shade that makes you smile, as this soft option from Next is available in more than 40 colours, so you’re guaranteed to find one you love. Couples or families could even buy different colours to avoid a mix-up. Best of all, there was zero colour-run during washing, and didn’t notice any fading, even after several washes.
Though there’s a decent weight to this 600 GSM towel, we were also impressed by how quickly it dried after use. Even on an unheated towel rail, it was completely dry within a few hours – essential, if you tend to shower twice a day. Absorbency was excellent, too, so we were bone dry in seconds. A great buy all around.
Proof that top-quality towels don’t need to have a wince-worthy price tag, this large, luxe towel set from Soak & Sleep is a dream to dive into after a long bath. Available in nine colours, including dusky blue, light grey and classic white, the towels can also be paired with bath mats and face cloths. We also love that they’re sold in bundles for a discount.
Made from 100 per cent certified Egyptian cotton, the towels have ultra-smooth yarns and are terry woven to an impressive 700 GSM using a twisted loop pile. This makes the towel astonishingly absorbent and durable, so you won’t spot annoying snags within a few washes. We also found it got us dry fast, yet was still ready to use again in no time. There’s a sewn-in hook for hanging up the towel after use but, if you have a towel this nice, we’d recommend airing it properly on a radiator instead.
There’s no need to compromise on softness just because you need a towel that will dry and be ready to use again in a hurry. This bestselling version from The White Company is made of luxe 100 per cent cotton but has clever low-twist technology that makes it extra fluffy, yet fast drying. At 500 GSM, it’s not quite as heavy as some of the other towels we tested, which means it was much speedier to dry when hung up on an unheated towel rail after use.
We assumed this softness would fade with washing but it stayed just as snuggly as the very first use and felt divine to dry with after a shower. We especially loved the ribbed texture, which looked elegant in the bathroom, making it a great choice if you want a medium-weight towel. It comes in four neutral colours and all sorts of sizes, from a face cloth to a bath sheet, but we’ve got our eye on the superjumbo option for major hotel-bathroom vibes.
Say no to bog-standard towels, and make a statement with this super-swish option from Soho Home, the interiors collection from Soho House. Its covetable bath towels are the very same classic cabana stripe towels used in the House swimming pools, so you’re guaranteed that decadent hotel feel (without the membership fee). Each House has its own colours, so you can choose the shades or destination you prefer, from the bold red and white of Shoreditch House to the turquoise candy-stripes of the Little Beach House, Barcelona.
We tested the towel from White City House in west London and loved the distinctive, broad burnt-orange, black, and white stripes, which mean it will always be a talking point. It’s embroidered with the White City House logo and has a smart monochrome trim inspired by the TV test card.
Made of heavyweight Turkish cotton, it was one of the smoothest towels we tested but still dried wet skin in a flash. We also loved how huge it was, making it a dream to wrap up in after a bath. Don’t worry if you like to dry washing on the line either – it’s been tested and developed not to fade in sunlight.
Proof that you don’t need to break the bank if you need to replace your towel, this soft version is a fantastic price yet comes from esteemed British manufacturer Christy. The brand produced the first looped terry towel in the 19th century and then presented its design to Queen Victoria, who liked it so much she ordered more. Christy has since produced special towels to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and is the official towel supplier at Wimbledon.
But you don’t have to be royalty to dry off in style. Weighing 550 GSM, the towel comes in 11 different colours and is made of 100 per cent combed cotton, with Christy’s signature terry cloth weave and a neat dobby border. It felt especially soft after washing and drying, yet still looked smart hung up in our bathroom after several uses, as it dries quickly. If it’s good enough for royalty…
Don’t get too distracted by how soft a towel is when you first see it. Instead, lift it up and feel the weight. GSM is a measure of how heavy a fabric is in grams per square metre. Towels of 600 GSM or more will feel fairly weighty, like those in five-star hotels. If you want a lighter (and cheaper) towel that will dry quicker, go for a mix of cotton and either linen or polyester.
Generally, heavier towels are better quality but they will take longer to dry after use. If you want to up the plush quota, look out for 100 per cent cotton towels with dense yarn. It’s also worth checking the edges to make sure they’re sealed well to prevent fraying. Twisted terry pile makes towels stronger while putting polyester in the mix will help them dry speedily, which is useful if you want to take one to the gym.
This varies depending on the quality of the towels, how often they’ve been used and how well they’ve been looked after. As a general rule, it’s worth buying a new bath towel every three to four years but they may last longer if you have more than one set you can rotate. If you notice lingering smells despite washing, pulled threads or just don’t feel dry after using one, it’s definitely time to ditch it. Remember old towels can be disposed of in dedicated textile recycling banks or given to local animal shelters.
Experts reckon bath towels should be washed every three to four uses to keep them hygienic, so that works out around twice a week if you’re showering every day. Spread out the towel and air it properly between uses to help it dry, rather than just slinging it on a hook. It’s also essential you always wash every towel before its first use to stop it from shedding and maximise absorbency.
Give yourself a treat every day and dry off in the Scooms Egyptian cotton bath towel pair for serious hotel softness, generous sizing and fantastic absorbency. We also loved the range of colours, price and divine fluffiness of Soak & Sleep luxury Egyptian cotton towels. However, if good looks trump all else, you won’t be disappointed by the gorgeous Soho Home pool towel, White City House.
Improve your dental hygiene with our pick of the best electric toothbrushes for healthy teeth
Or if you would prefer:
Want an ad-free experience?
View offersHi {{indy.fullName}}