Other reviewers praise their size. Clocking in at a slightly oversized 27″ x 54″, this set of luxe Turkish towels pushes the real estate just over the edge into extra-large territory. One buyer wrote that it’s the optimal balance of big enough to swaddle yourself in post-shower, but not so big that they “swallow you up.”
- Five star reviews: 46,500+
- Size: 27″ x 54″ inches
- Absorbency: 600 GSM
- Upsides: Typically on sale, available in 20 colors, plush feel
- Downsides: Might notice some discoloration over time with washes
“I’ve been using American Soft Linen bath towels for the last year, and let me tell you, they are the real deal,” says AD senior commerce editor Nashia Baker. “I bought the four-piece bath towel set in gray, and I immediately noticed how soft the towels felt as soon as I took them out of the packaging. I’d recommend these for daily use, as they’re highly absorbent and come in 20 colors to choose from to match your bathroom design.” These towels are made of 100% cotton for a plush feel, and they’re Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified and made without any harmful chemicals, so those with sensitive skin can also rest easy. After a year of testing these, Baker calls them “the real deal—after putting these towels through too many washes to count at this point, they’ve only felt softer over time. However, I have noticed some discoloration. With this in mind, I would recommend a mild laundry detergent to help keep them in their best condition.”
- Five-star reviews: 8,000+
- Size: 27″ x 54″
- Absorbency: 700 GSM
- Upsides: Solid price point, high-quality feel, 14 different colors available
- Downsides: Not as “fluffy” as some expected
These luxury bath towels are Oeko-Tex certified and made from high-quality combed cotton, with that double-stitch edge we favor. “My husband and I registered for a set of luxury bath towels ahead of our September 2022 wedding, and experts say to swap them after two years,” says AD contributor Blake Bakilla. “With this deadline in mind, and no wedding registry to lean on this time around, we ultimately decided to trust the thousands of happy reviewers about these under-$50 bestsellers. We were surprised to see that these affordable towels were just as fluffy as our original set, and they’ve remained plush after several washes.”
Perhaps the softest bath sheets on this list, their super-plush, luxurious feel also has other reviewers sold. One described their supersoft warmth as a “calm to my perpetual existential crisis,” while another compared them to “luxury five-star hotel” types of towels. And you can’t really go wrong with basic white, can you?
- Five-star reviews: 3,000+
- Size: 52″ x 30″
- Absorbency: 600 GSM
- Upsides: Super soft 21 different colors available
- Downsides: Shipped in flimsy plastic, higher risk of snags
A set of good quality white towels can be tough to come by, believe it or not. Each set comes with two hand towels, two face towels, and two bath sheets, all constructed with a durable and highly absorbent terry loop design. And if you’re looking for a pop of color, this set comes in 14 other hues. Commerce producer Lauren Arzbaecher sums these up well: “For such a low price tag, these towels were especially plush.” They’re also “super absorbent,” and with 20 colors to choose from, they can complete whatever your bathroom interior ideal might be—monochromatic, modern, maximalist. The “canary” colorway is especially tempting, while butter yellow is still having its moment.
- Five-star reviews: 27
- Size: 36″ x 70″
- Absorbency: Not listed
- Upsides: About 50% bigger than a standard bath towel, plush feel
- Downsides: Might experience slight thread snagging
“Luxome’s bath sheets are some of the biggest and softest towels I’ve ever experienced,” says senior commerce editor Nashia Baker. They’re also huge, designed with 50% more coverage than a standard bath towel. The cotton blend fabric makes for an ultra-plush feel, which Baker confirms is “luxurious.” Dual-loop technology accelerates the absorption process so you can halve your drying time. For something soft, swaddling, and super absorbent, Baker recommends this pick.
- Five-star reviews: 70+ on Amazon and Cozy Earth’s site
- Size: 58″ x 30″
- Absorbency: 600 GSM
- Upsides: Quick-drying, soft, aesthetically pleasing pattern
- Downsides: Pricier than most
Our contributor Megan Wahn uses these bath towels and notes that they are a great all-around pick, especially because of their absorbency and versatility.” The absorbency of the towel honestly felt abstract to me until I dunked a corner of it in a bowl of water to test how well it soaked up water,” Wahn says. “I could literally see as the parts of the towel that were not submerged soaked up the water, and it made me realize just how well this cotton could mop up liquid.”
- Five-star reviews: 34+ on Amazon, 2,400+ on Brooklinen’s site
- Size: 58″ x 30″
- Absorbency: 550 GSM
- Upsides: Soft yet lightweight, held up well after several washes, larger than most
- Downsides: Not the most absorbent
Another editor’s pick coming at you! You might know Brooklinen for their legendary bed sheets, but they also make top-of-the-line bath towels from Oeko-Tex certified Turkish cotton that come in seven subtle shades. “These are made from 100% Turkish cotton and feel very soft but not heavy,” says Katherine McLaughlin, digital features editor. “I’d describe their plushness as overall average, but Brooklinen does have an extra plush option. I have the towels in white, so it really feels and looks like a towel you might find in a hotel.”
- Five-star reviews: 72
- Size: 59″ x 28″
- Absorbency: 531 GSM
- Upsides: Energetic, playful designs in muted colorways and bolder hues, absorbent terry backing that gets softer with successive washes
- Downsides: May be too loud (in design) and thin (in fabric) for some shoppers
Marimekko’s graphic florals are an iconic way to dress up the bathroom. The cheery colorways (pink, red, beige, charcoal, and dark blue) are definite mood-lifters, and wrapping up in one post-shower feels heavenly. Our associate commerce director Lori Keong vouches that the towels are on the thinner side but still absorbent, and that “the plushy terry fabric feels exceptionally soft on skin.” The patterns are ideal for anyone who doesn’t like to dry off with boring towels. And there are also washcloths and hand towels, in case you’re a fan of matching sets (though playing with different colors could be fun too, just saying).
Oh, and just be sure to follow the proper washing instructions, as one five-star reviewer found out the hard way. “I made the huge mistake of washing the whole set (four towels) for the first time with a detergent that had fabric softener combined with it. I was soooooo disappointed when I took them out of the washing machine to find my towels [pilling all over.] I bought this towel (again) and washed it for the first time using a fabric strengthening detergent with cellulase enzymes. What a difference!”
Other Bath Towels on Amazon to Check Out
- Five-star reviews: 500+
- Size: 58″ x 13″
- Absorbency: 700 GSM
If you’re looking for a little something more in terms of design, check out this loop terry pattern. It’s available in more than 10 colors, Oeko-Tex certified, and you can choose between a diamond pattern (pictured) or a cable weave. Both patterns feature a low-twist terry cloth made of 100% organic cotton and a twill hem. They’re a little pricier than the other towels on this list, but if you’re looking for a specific aesthetic and this fits the bill, they’re not too much of a splurge.
- Five-star reviews: 600+
- Size: 55″ x 27″
- Absorbency: 600 GSM
A classic striped design straddles that gray area between “pattern!” and ho-hum solid color. If you want something with a hint of personality that’s not too polarizing, this super-plush towel set comes with two washcloths, two mid-size towels, and a pair of larger bath towels. Reviewers found the quality to be top-notch and with a great absorbency, as long as you forgo fabric softener. After multiple washes, consensus is there’s not much color fading. Sounds like these would have a nice, long life as your guest room go-tos.
- Five-star reviews: 300+
- Size: 54″ x 30″
We love waffle-textured cotton towels because they’re super absorbent and add some subtle pattern play into your bathroom. These Oeko-Tex Certified towels topped the list for many reviewers, some of whom expressed that these led them out of the black hole that is towel shopping on Amazon. In the end, these Tommy Bahama ones end up neck and neck with Brooklinen towels in the mix with their “thick but not too thick” texture.
- Five-star reviews: 1,700+
- Size: 57″ x 27″
Vibrant green can be just the pop of color a minimalist white space or nature-inspired powder room needs. This quick-drying, thick towel set feels downright decadent thanks to 100% Turkish cotton that’s woven together using a spinning technology that results in an extra-plush finished product. They also offer a bit of a choose-your-own-adventure design-wise, featuring a modern design with a varying pattern, so you can choose which look you like best. Despite washing these countless times on a regular spin cycle, reviewers found they’ve held up well over the years with minimal wear and tear.
- Five-star reviews: 35,000+
- Size: 70″ x 35″
- Absorbency: 600 GSM
If you’re of the “bigger is better” mindset, these are the ring-spun cotton towels for you. These large bath towels are the biggest on this list by far. In fact, they’re not even bath towels, but bath sheets, and live up to their “jumbo” name. Reviewers remarked that even their six-foot-four husbands could comfortably swaddle in these. Available in 19 colors and made of plush viscose, you could use these at home or bring them to the beach in a pinch if needed.
- Five-star reviews: 200+
- Size: 65″ x 35″
There’s a reason you see all of your most design-enthusiast friends packing a closet full of Turkish cotton towels. They’re great for the bathroom, they make great beach blankets, and they stand up to pool chlorine. This towel has a dual design of sorts, as well—one side has a terry cloth texture for quicker dry. And on that note: Reviewers have said these dry in half the time on the towel rack, as well as take up less space in the washer and dryer. In our book, a set of non-plush is a small sacrifice for a quick dry, especially when hosting.
How We Tested the Best Amazon Towels
Our mission when approaching Amazon’s merchandise, especially with soft goods, is to find the sweet spot between price point and quality. While we’re looking for towels that look good, we are just as vigilant about if they feel good. How absorbent are they? How do they wash? How quickly do they dry out, and how does their material stand the test of time? We keep an eye out for pilling or dye leakage, as well as a towel’s propensity to snag or break down. We’re looking for plush towels to stay soft, and absorbent towels to sponge up water without getting soggy, and—perhaps most challenging—white towels to stay white. Our testers considered all these factors while trying out the towels we selected, used them often, and washed them to get a solid idea of what a consumer might experience with each individual towel.
How We Chose These Towels
To decide which bath towels were ideal for a wide range of shoppers, we considered a number of factors, below: