Is your bath towel giving you all the right feels? If not, maybe it’s time to consider your options.
At the end of a relaxing shower or bath, all we really want is a luxuriously, cozy towel that leaves our skin feeling dry and comfortable. However, with so many bath towels on the market, how does one choose?
Thanks to the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, the decision process just got a whole lot easier. The Institute evaluated over 40 towel styles comparing various factors including absorbency, drying time, washability, and fabric strength. They also worked with a test panel of consumers to rate the fabrics after one wash and again after 20 washes.
Toss your scratchy, worn-out towels and upgrade to one of these top 10 picks.
Here are the best bath towels to buy in 2021 according to Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab:
1. Best Overall Bath Towel
Hydrocotton Quick-Dry Towel – Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn.com, $29.50
Earning the highest overall score, Pottery Barn’s Hydrocotton towels stood above the rest for being super soft and ultra-absorbent. They did take a little longer to dry, however, if you are in the market for a quality towel that will continue to perform, these 100% organic cotton towels looked and felt superb even after 20 wash cycles.
Why we love it:
- Super soft plush and absorbent
- Held up to 20 wash cycles
Take note:
- Takes longer to dry
2. Best Value Bath Towel
Performance 5.0 Bath Towel – Southern Tide
Amazon.com, $15.99
Southern Tide’s 5.0 Bath Towel received great scores for softness, fabric strength, absorbency and drying speed. These towels performed better than other more expensive styles. The 92% cotton, 8% polyester towels did feel “average” to some of the testers when given a blind comparison.
Why we love it:
- Good scores for absorbency, dry time, softness, and strength
- Budget-friendly yet beat out pricier brands
Take note:
- Some testers called them ‘average’
3. Best Quick-Dry Bath Towel
Everplush Diamond Jacquard Bath Towel – Everplush
Amazon.com, $37.99
Everyplush’s Diamond Jacquard bath towel was a top performer and received excellent absorbency and drying time scores. They are constructed with cotton on the outside for softness and microfiber on the inside for enhanced performance. This editor-favorite towel got high marks for strength and shrink resistance.
Why we love it:
- Cotton and microfiber blend for a plush feel and fast dry time
- Aced absorbency and drying time tests
- Available in a set
Take note:
- Showed signs of wear in laundry evaluations.
4. Best Heavyweight Bath Towel
Super-Plush Bath Towel Set – Brooklinen
Brooklinen.com, $69.00
Dreaming of a thick, billowy towel? Brooklinen’s Super-Plush towels were the heaviest towels in the test and were super soft and absorbent. They are 100% cotton and Brooklinen offers free returns for a year if you aren’t satisfied.
Why we love it:
- Thick, fluffy, and soft
- Heaviest towel we tested
- Free returns for one year
Take note:
- Plush cotton takes longer to dry
5. Best Lightweight Bath Towel
Waffle Bath Towel– Parachute
Parachutehome.com, $39.00
Testers found the 100% cotton, waffle-weave construction to be super light and fast-drying. It did receive the lowest absorbency score in the test but wasn’t bulky or heavy. The brand’s Classic Towel is very absorbent and an overall great pick.
Why we love it:
- Lightweight and quick-drying
- Thin and not bulky
Take note:
- Low absorbency scores
6. Most Absorbent Bath Towel
Ultra-Soft Turkish Towel – RH
restorationhardware.com, $46.00
Why we love it:
- Top absorbency scores in Lab tests
- Thick and fluffy
Take note:
- Takes a while to dry
7. Best Ribbed Bath Towel
Rib Hydrocotton Towels – The White Company
thewhitecompany.com, $42.00
These towels received great scores for softness and absorbency. They held up in hot water washings and outperformed all other ribbed styles. They were smaller in size than other picks but the texture of the ribbed towel was a panel favorite.
Why we love it:
- Soft, absorbent cotton
- Hot water wash-safe for killing germs and bacteria
- Textured design
Take note:
- Slightly smaller than standard sizing
8. Best Low Pile Bath Towel
Legend Bath Towel – Lacoste
Amazon.com, $31.91
The Legend Bath Towel by Lacoste doesn’t have a super-plush loop design, however, it was very absorbent according to the panel. It dried quickly and held up after laundering. The 100% cotton towel would be perfect for someone who doesn’t necessarily like an overly fluffy towel.
Why we love it:
- Absorbent and quick-drying
- Less fluffy than other picks
- Looks great after repeated laundering
Take note:
- Lower softness rating
9. Best Organic Bath Towel
Plush Bath Towel – Boll & Branch
bollandbranch.com, $45.00
- Fair Trade Certified
- Absorbent and durable
Take note:
- Pricey and not as fast drying as other picks.
10. Best Bath Towel Set
Plush Soft Cotton 18-Piece Towel Set – Home Depot
homedepot.com, $158.00
Thanks to Home Depot’s 18-piece towel set, you can buy quality towels in bulk. These 100% cotton towels are soft and very absorbent and earned the Good Housekeeping Seal. The panel noticed some shrinkage after laundering, however, the affordability and quantity is a win-win.
Why we love it:
- Soft and incredibly absorbent
- GH Seal-holder
- Affordably priced
Take note:
- Shrinks a bit in the wash
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