The 9 Best Luxury Bath Towels of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

To be named the best overall bath towel, the winning style had to excel in multiple areas and tests — and the Pottery Barn Hydrocotton Organic Quick-Dry Towel did just that. Right away, we noticed its softness and thicker texture, and, given these qualities, we were slightly skeptical of the “quick-dry” descriptor. During the drying test, however, it far surpassed our expectations. Even with its fluffier material, the towel dried completely in 60 minutes, a true feat for a style this dense. While exploring how the Pottery Barn towel would perform with everyday use, including washing and stain exposure, we found there was little it couldn’t handle. Following multiple cycles in the wash, as well as an abrasion test, it maintained its “like new” texture; even the stains we purposefully introduced — mascara and foundation — disappeared once properly treated. 

This secret to its multifaceted success can be attributed to both the material and the construction. Made with long staple Turkish cotton, the towel combines softness with durability; the longer the staple length, the silkier and less likely to pill it will be. Turkish cotton is also known to get softer with each wash, so we expect this towel will maintain its status as a much-loved favorite for many months (and years) to come. 

The Details: 28 x 55 inches | 100 percent organic Turkish cotton

If there’s anything more luxurious than a fluffy towel, it’s a bundle of fluffy towels. The Crane & Canopy Plush Towel Essentials Bundle — which comes with two wash clothes, two hand towels, and two bath towels — immediately stood out due to its cotton construction and supremely soft texture. We did find that the diamond dobby trim is a touch rougher, but it also helps give the towel its elevated look.  Following a wash cycle, the towel remained plush, although it did lose some of its original smoothness as most towels do; still, it showed no signs of wear, fraying, or damage. The plushness of the fabric didn’t affect the dry time at all; in fact, it only took 30 minutes for the towel to dry about 50 percent during our testing period, and it was nearly 100 percent dry after an hour. You can also add a monogram to the hand towels in a variety of fonts and colors for luxurious personalization, though you can’t monogram the bath towel.

The Details: 30 x 56 inches | 100 percent long staple cotton

Lightweight towels aren’t as synonymous with luxury as plush ones, but the Pottery Barn Terry Waffle Towel manages to combine the best of both worlds. It’s also highly functional. The lighter waffle weave is still quite absorbent, and it didn’t look any worse for wear about a wash cycle (although the texture seemed to lose a bit of softness). The towel also passed our stain and durability tests with flying colors; it did, however, have a less-than-impressive performance when drying. After an entire hour, it was still damp. Slower dry-time aside, the towel’s most defining feature is the loop that you can hang on a bathroom hook; it’s a small, oft-overlooked design detail but one that’s incredibly useful and appreciated. 

The Details: 28 x 55 inches | 100 percent cotton

Any towel that’s marketed as “plush” should always deliver in the coziness and quality departments. According to our tests, the Frontgate Egyptian Cotton Bath Towel succeeds in both areas. Not only does the cotton towel feel good — it’s substantial and heavy — but it also retains its softness after going through the wash. One of the most unexpected findings was the fact that, even though the fabric is a luxurious 800 GSM (learn more about GSM below) and fairly absorbent, the towel dries just as fast as some of the thinner towels we tested. It’s on the pricier end of the spectrum, coming in at $50 per bath towel, but you’ll have it for years to come — maybe even longer if you choose one of the colorways that won’t stain as easily, like the pewter or midnight blue.

The Details: 30 x 58 inches | Egyptian cotton

Some bath towels are designed to feel like a warm hug right out of the shower, while others are manufactured for more on-the-go scenarios. The Brooklinen Ultralight Bath Towel definitively falls into the latter category. We noticed that the thin material doesn’t retain moisture for very long, fully drying after just two hours. We thought this was one of the thinnest, lightest bath towels we’ve ever experienced. Although it became a little rougher after washing, we found that it was still quite soft despite how thin it was, and it was relatively resistant to abrasion and breakdown for daily wear and tear. 

The Details: 30 x 58 inches | 100 percent Turkish cotton

With a length of 58 inches, the Boll & Branch Waffle Terry Bath Towel is technically categorized as an “oversized” bath towel, and the extra three inches feel extra luxurious. (Standard bath towels have a length of 55 inches.) The outstanding features of the towel, though, are its dual-texture design (with micro-waffle on one side and terry on the other) and a convenient hanging loop; no need to haphazardly throw it over the nearest chair or door handle. Our testing methods proved that both the terry and the waffle weave can withstand a bit of abrasion and common stains, and we think this is a great option for those who prefer a waffle towel after showering. 

The Details: 30 x 58 inches | 100 percent organic cotton

Like other ribbed towels, the Boll & Branch Spa Bath Towel is designed with absorbency in mind. That said, the textured channels that run the length of the towel give it a firm, durable feeling and help the towel dry quickly. Those who prefer fluffy, cloud-like towels might not like the coarser material, but the medium-weight, 100 percent long staple cotton fabric appears to be highly resistant to any wear; there was no change in texture following our wash test, and stains disappeared completely after treatment. We discovered there was a slight worn mark following the abrasion test — where the fibers are tested by a scrub brush — but once we smoothed the spot with our hands, the mark was barely noticeable. 

The Details: 30 x 58 inches | 100 percent cotton

Purchasing a towel set typically means you’re ready for a full bathroom upgrade — or you’re buying a thoughtful gift. Either way, the Saatva Plush Towel set is an excellent choice. The three-piece set comes with a bath towel, a hand towel, and a face towel, which are made of long staple cotton and designed with a decorative border. The bath towel was slightly longer than typical bath towels, which we liked for its generous surface area (there’s nothing worse than a towel that’s too short). Outside of one noticeable loose thread at the beginning of the testing process, we found no other issues with the towels. To the touch, they’re soft with tight, closely packed loops. Washing didn’t affect the texture or the color, and it dried relatively quickly despite its plushness. 

The Details: 30 x 58 inches | Long staple cotton

They say you get what you pay for, and the same can be said for the Threshold Quick Dry Ribbed Bath Towel Set from Target. You can get a two-pack for cheaper than any single towel on this list, so it’s a steal if you’re just looking for run-of-the-mill towels. Just don’t expect anything overly plush or mind-blowingly durable. The medium-weight fabric did earn our nod of approval in the quick-dry test, although it was still one of the most absorbent styles. As far as texture goes, it can only be described as average. Pre-wash, it’s soft; post-wash, the loops become flatter, and it loses its silkier feeling. We still think this is a solid option if you’re looking for affordable, everyday towels.

The Details: 30 x 54 inches | 100 percent cotton