5 Best Bath Towels That Feel Like Pure Bliss, Tested by AD (2026)

You can easily dress up a bathroom with a decorative shower curtain or bath mat for visual effect, but I actually put bath towels in the same category. Sure, they are the textiles you need to dry off after a shower, but details like waffle weaves, scalloped edges, and bright colorways can influence your bathroom’s style. After all, these accessories are always on display and you use them every single day.

To find the best bath towels out there, I asked around the office to see what other editors and contributors actually like using every day. I also kept a close eye on the material makeup, including grams per square meter (the weight). Organic fabrics like plushy long-staple Turkish-cotton fibers were favorites. Whatever your preference, I’ve found some of the most highly-coveted bath towels from brands the AD team and I use in our own bathrooms—including some high-end options on Amazon. Scroll below for picks that will transform shower time into a spa-inspired retreat.

Our Top Picks for the Best Bath Towels:

• Best Overall Bath Towels: Brooklinen Super-Plush Turkish Cotton Bath Towels
• The Luxury Pick: Matouk Milagro Towel
• An Affordable Spa Towel: Quince Turkish Ultra Plush Bath Sheet Bundle
• Most Intricate Design: Parachute Organic Cotton Mosaic Towels
• Best Organic Set: Coyuchi Air Weight Organic Towels

Best Overall Bath Towels: Brooklinen Super-Plush Turkish Cotton Bath Towels

I admittedly would spend all day any day at the spa if I could, which is actually why I love these towels so much. They have a really cushy texture (100% Aegean Turkish cotton) that’s comforting to wrap myself with post–body scrub. This is my first venture into Brooklinen’s super-plush bath towel collection, but AD contributor Jasmine Desiree actually put them on my radar after she tried the originals last year. “They’re thick, cushiony, and insanely soft—and somehow still manage to look elevated,” she tells me.

The ones I have are a revamp on the classic super-plush towels Desiree has, which are meant to dry faster and feel even softer. You can tell the difference based on the two GSM measurements (the original has 820 GSM, and my upgrade has 770 GSM), so the towel I have still has premium plushness but it’s lighter in weight and dries out quicker.

I usually go the route of neutral, solid-colored bath towels with my sunset-inspired shower curtain, but the striped abyss option has been a nice switch-up to bring a subtle statement to my bathroom decor. This pattern leans a bit coastal, and the muted tones available are just as nice for a minimal bathroom.

The Luxury Pick: Matouk Milagro Towel

Shopping editor Audrey Lee says these seriously soft towels are a treat to use after a shower. “Since these towels are plush, they’re great at absorption—you can dry your whole body in under a minute or two, even if you’re soaking wet,” she says. “So far, they’ve stayed ultra soft and the fibers haven’t matted or gotten stuck together.”

This hits in the luxury category because of the plush feel, fast-drying time, and custom design offerings. They are made with supersoft long-staple zero-twist cotton yarns but have 550 GSM, so the towels air-dry after just about an hour and a half. “The towels don’t shed when you’re using them, but I did notice after an initial wash a few of the terry cloth strings had pulled loose,” shares Lee. She did see “quite a bit of blue lint in the dryer after the first wash,” so that’s something to keep in mind in those first few uses. So family members don’t confuse whose towel is whose, you can also add a monogram for a personal touch.

An Affordable Spa Towel: Quince Turkish Ultra Plush Bath Sheet Bundle

These long-staple Turkish-cotton towels look and feel like they should be hanging in a hotel bathroom. I can’t get enough of these after stepping out of the shower—this set takes in water without getting soggy. They feel slightly damp, but I would feel comfortable using the towels again on the same day to dry off. The best part is how soothing the fabric feels on my skin. Guests who’ve used these towels say that they are some of the plushest towels they’ve tried, which I imagine is because of the dense 800 GSM.

What’s great about these towels is that they have a high-end feel at an approachable price point. After taking too many trips through the washing machine to count, the bundle has only gotten softer over time. The towels have sold out at least three times since I’ve had them in the last year, so I’d grab these quickly if they’re of interest to you.

Most Intricate Design: Parachute Organic Cotton Mosaic Towels

This set’s ochre and clay jacquard pattern is unlike any others we’re seeing in the market. It is the perfect complement for a vintage space, like Alpert’s Victorian-style bathroom with original tile. The material itself also one-of-one. “The mosaic design has a subtle texture to it, so it’s not this one smooth feel,” Alpert shares. “As a result, it feels a bit more exfoliating, but still super soft.”

She also says the towel has impressive absorption, even after back-to-back uses and repeated washes over her month-long testing period. “I reach for it while I am still in the shower and never find water droplets on the floor once I step out,” she says. “Because the construction of it is a mix of yarn bubbles and flat spots, the towel never feels sopping wet [and] it doesn’t take much longer to dry than other terry towels in my rotation.” These get high marks for durability, too, as Alpert mentions she hasn’t noticed any snagging.

Best Organic Set: Coyuchi Air Weight Organic Towels

Coyuchi’s organic towels have the most certifications in this list, namely GOTS, Fair Trade, and Made Safe, to help prove that your set is ethically-made and chemical-free. This and, of course, the feel of the towels sold contributor Blake Bakkila. Even though the “Air Weight” towels are highly absorbent, Bakkila says they live up to their name since the fabric is soft but incredibly lightweight. “Even just a half-hour after using one towel, I ran my hand over it and noticed it was completely dry,” she says. “This was the perfect towel to have during a summer heat wave in California, when the last thing I wanted to do was feel enveloped by a plush, cozy towel.”

Instead of a heavy, cashmere-like fabric, “these towels have a ribbed look from the textured twill weave, which adds more style to an otherwise classic lightweight bath towel,” Bakkila notes. The border is more straightforward with a simple selvage-edged finish rather than a decorative one, so it can help keep you from dripping as you dry off. Bakkila adds that they’ve kept the same shape and softness through a month’s worth of washes, minus one tiny loose string she spotted when folding one of the towels.

Onsen Supima Waffle Bath Towel

Lee is a faithful Onsen shopper—she’s had this waffle set, made of 100% extra-long-staple Supima cotton, for almost two years and says they still look and feel amazing. Waffle towels like these have a textured material that isn’t known for being plush, but Lee says these aren’t scratchy at all. This is also a super durable and quick-dry towel. “It’s easy to think that you’d accidentally pull a thread or two but the weave is tight enough that I haven’t seen any snags or areas unravel,” she says. “I leave it on for about 15 to 20 minutes and it gets my medium-length hair from soaking wet to damp in that time.” With several vibrant colors available, you can also skip white towels and easily add some visual interest to your bathroom.

Baina Claremont Bath Towel

My apartment has a midcentury-modern design, and even if it seems like overkill, I try to maintain the style everywhere—even my bathroom. Baina has been on my mind over the last year because the brand makes some of the most aesthetic towels I’ve ever seen, and the “Claremont” is proof. The vertical motif throughout looks simple, but it’s distinctly modern and anything but run of the mill. I have it in the “sand and noir” colorway and appreciate the reversible design so I can easily switch my bathroom’s style to something moodier or a bit lighter depending on which shower curtain I have up.

This towel is rare because it feels plush and sturdy at the same time. It’s not as delicate or supple as the other towels I’ve reviewed, but it’s not rough against my skin either. It reminds me of some of my favorite bathrobes that are highly absorbent and durable enough to absorb water as soon as I step out of the shower without leaving me feeling damp while I walk around the house. The border and fibers throughout the towel are tightly woven, so it doesn’t look or feel overly fluffy. If the last six months are any indication, the durable material will last years without fraying.

GreenRow Cotton Crochet Towel

Cottagecore fans, this one is for you. “These GreenRow towels look straight out of something from your favorite grandmother’s vintage bathroom—the crocheted lace inset looks like it was crafted by granny herself,” says Alpert. “Then there is the texture of the towel itself; if you look closely, it’s little pebbles—the loops come in pairs so the overall look is more refined than your typical terry cloth towel.” Alpert says the unique weave actually feels more exfoliating on her skin. These are some of the shorter towels in this guide, so you’ll want to keep this in mind when shopping if you’re usually a bath sheet shopper.

How We Tested

AD editors and I lived with and used the towels the old-fashioned way by using them after stepping out of the shower. We also ran a few specific tests to measure factors like absorbency, feel, and how quickly the towels would dry after use. This was really important when trying out waffle towels, since this specific type of weave is supposed to make the towel dry quicker.

Everyone timed how long the towels took to dry-off their hands or their body, also sharing how wet each towel seemed to get after using. All of us paid special attention to how well the towels dried our hair. We also considered the feel and look of the towels, and we factored in any unique features that set them apart from others.

Popular Types of Bath Towels

While your bath towel choices are up to your personal preference—especially when it comes to the color and design to match your bathroom—there are several different types on the market. Here are some of the most popular:

Waffle Towels: While they aren’t always as soft as a traditional terry towel, waffle bath towels are known for being incredibly absorbent. These towels typically have a weave with a hexagonal pattern that takes water into the individual pockets. The material can vary, but popular materials are cotton and bamboo.

Cotton Towels: We look for organic towels made from Egyptian cotton or long-staple Turkish cotton, as these materials are usually both absorbent and plush to the touch as a result of their long fibers.

Hybrid Towels: Hybrid towels are usually made up of a terry and cotton blend. Cozy Earth’s towels are a great example of this: they feature a dual-sided mini waffle weave and a soft ribbed terry to offer a soft and absorbent yet lightweight and quick-drying feel like you’d get in a traditional waffle-weave towel.

FAQs