How to Identify High-Quality Bath Towels
High-quality bath linens are an important part of a comfortable post-shower experience, but how do you distinguish between a towel that will stay soft and absorbent for years and lower-quality options? Our experts share five tips for shopping for top-quality bath towels—including what to look for in material, construction details, and cost—to choose the best towels for your daily routines.
5 Things to Look for When Choosing Towels
When choosing towels, prioritize qualities that point to comfortable, absorbent bath linens that will last. Towel feel can be misleading, as many manufacturers add softeners that fade after a few washes. Plus, it’s impossible to tell at first glance whether a material will withstand frequent use. Instead, focus on the characteristics that indicate quality and durability. .
1. Premium Materials
The best bath towels are made from 100% cotton or a blend of pure cotton with other premium materials, such as linen, TENCEL™ Lyocell, or rayon made from bamboo. Not all cottons are equal, however: The labels Supima®, Turkish, and Egyptian cotton signify long- or extra-long–staple cotton, meaning the fibers are longer, softer, and smoother than conventional cotton fibers. Turkish or Supima®, Egyptian or organic—whichever type of cotton you choose, you can also look for the descriptor “combed” as an indicator of quality. Combed cotton has been processed specially to remove short fibers and impurities, so it’s exceptionally soft and strong.
2. Weight
The standard weight measurement for bath linens is grams per square meter, or GSM. Just as thread count is not necessarily an indicator of sheet quality, GSM isn’t always an indicator of towel quality. However, GSM can tell you important information about how the material feels and functions, which can help you choose the best towel for your preferences. Generally speaking, the higher the GSM, the thicker, softer, and more absorbent a towel will be (and, on the flip side, the longer it will take to dry). For reference, most quality bath towels will fall between 400 and 900 GSM.
3. Construction Details
The best towels are well-made towels, and the easiest way to determine the quality is to look at the construction details. Some construction elements signal quality. Browse product descriptions and catalog pages or take a close look at the product itself to see if you can spot these characteristics:
- Double-turned edges with double stitching help reduce fraying. This may not always be called out in a product description, but you can examine the product or online images to see how the towels are finished.
- Dobby and jacquard borders help improve towel durability while dressing up your towels with an eye-catching weave.
- As their name suggests, zero-twist cotton fibers are not twisted together, so they’re softer and more absorbent.
4. Certifications
Certain industry-wide certifications signal quality for bath linens and bedding alike. These certifications guarantee that the products are made of premium raw materials and meet the highest environmental and ethical standards. When buying high-quality bath towels, look for OEKO-TEX® and GOTS labels.
- A STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certification means the product’s source materials were tested and verified free from hundreds of harmful chemicals and substances.
- The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is an independent third-party certification ensuring environmental and social criteria have been met through all parts of the textile production and supply chain, including during harvesting, manufacturing, and shipping.
5. Cost
While cost alone isn’t indicative of quality, the adage is certainly true: You get what you pay for. Higher prices for the consumer often reflect higher costs for the creator, a result of the use of premium materials, ethical manufacturing processes, and a commitment to customer service. But, higher-quality bath towels can actually cost you less in the long run: Because they’ll last longer than cheap alternatives, you’ll likely replace your towels less frequently.
When shopping for bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths, consider material, weight, construction details, certifications, and cost as signs of quality, which can help guide you toward the right choice. For more on selecting the best linens and decor for your home, explore our other Guides.