Best Bath Towels That Last: GSM, Cotton and Care

A heavier towel is not always a better one. Decide how thick you want it and how fast it has to dry, then buy long staple cotton and stop using fabric softener.

By the Bonwits editorsUpdated September 25, 20264 picksSave to Pinterest

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Our top picks

4 picks, each linked to the exact listing

1
Best overallCoyuchi Cloud Loom Organic Towels
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2
The sensible entry pointBrooklinen Super-Plush Turkish Cotton Bath Towels Set of 2
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3
The one that dries fastOnsen Supima Waffle Bath Towel
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4
The hotel towelH by Frette Simple Border Bath Towel Set of 2, 100% Cotton
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Towels are the hardest working textile in the house. They are wet every day, washed every week, and dried hot more often than they should be. A good one feels better, dries you faster and lasts several times longer than a cheap one, and the gap in price is smaller than it is for sheets.

The number to know is GSM, grams per square meter. It measures how dense the towel is. Around 400 to 500 is light and quick drying; 550 to 700 is the plush weight most hotels use; 750 and up is heavy, thirsty, and slow to dry in a humid bathroom. There is no best number, only a trade between thickness and drying time.

The cotton matters too. Long staple fibers spin into stronger, smoother yarn that sheds less and holds its loops longer. Turkish, Egyptian and Supima are all names for long or extra long staple cotton from particular places, and each makes a slightly different towel. We looked at six towels from makers who publish the fiber, weight and country of manufacture, from a waffle weave that dries in hours to a hotel terry that costs as much as a sheet set.

How we chose

Published weight. Makers who state GSM, or a size and weight that let us work it out.
Fiber. Long or extra long staple cotton, named plainly. Organic certification counted where it applied.
Size. A bath towel of at least 28 by 54 inches. We note where a bath sheet is the better buy.
Drying time. How the weight and weave will behave in a bathroom without a heated rail.
Where it is made. Country of weaving, and the maker's care instructions.

We read makers’ specifications, warranties, care instructions and the sources listed at the end. We do not accept paid placements. How we choose

The 4 picks, in detail

Best overallNo. 1

Coyuchi Cloud Loom Organic Towels

Our take. Plush GOTS certified organic cotton grown and woven in the Aegean region of Turkey.

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Made in: Turkey
Keeps for: Many years with cold washing
Fiber: 100% organic cotton
Weight: 685 GSM
Certification: GOTS
Set: 2 bath towels, 2 hand towels, 2 washcloths
Care: Cold, gentle; tumble low

Cloud Loom is Coyuchi's thick towel: 685 GSM, 100 percent organic cotton grown and woven in Turkey's Aegean region, and certified to GOTS. It sits in the thick, plush hotel band, with the organic certification as the difference.

The six piece set holds two bath towels, two hand towels and two washcloths. Coyuchi lists its bath towels at 28 by 54 inches, a little smaller than some, and says to wash cold on gentle, tumble low and remove promptly.

Buy it for the certification, not for size or value. Colors and sizes also sell out, so check what is in stock before planning a full bathroom around it.

The catch. Smaller bath towel than most, and stock is uneven.

The sensible entry pointNo. 2

Brooklinen Super-Plush Turkish Cotton Bath Towels Set of 2

Our take. Heavy, soft Turkish cotton at a fair price per towel.

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Made in: Turkey
Keeps for: Four to six years with good care, by one long term reviewer's estimate
Fiber: 100% Aegean Turkish cotton
Weight: 770 GSM
Certification: OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Sold: Pairs
Lighter option: Brooklinen Plush, 500 GSM

Brooklinen's Super-Plush towels are 100 percent Aegean Turkish cotton at 770 GSM, by the maker's current figure, which puts them at the heavy end of this guide. They are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified and sold in pairs.

That weight feels like a spa robe when you step out of the shower. It also means slow drying: one reviewer reports close to 24 hours to dry fully in a humid bathroom. Expect some lint for the first few washes, which is normal for heavy terry.

Skip them for a small, poorly ventilated bathroom or a house where towels get hung on a single hook. Brooklinen's own Plush towel, at 500 GSM, is the better choice there.

The catch. Slow to dry, and older listings still quote a heavier 820 GSM spec.

The one that dries fastNo. 3

Onsen Supima Waffle Bath Towel

Our take. A light Supima waffle towel for damp bathrooms and people who hate a musty towel.

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Made in: Vietnam and China, from US grown Supima cotton
Keeps for: Several years; waffle weave has no loops to pull
Fiber: 100% US grown Supima cotton
Weave: Waffle
Bath towel: 31 x 57 inches, 470 g (about 410 GSM)
Bath sheet: 38 x 67 inches, 630 g
Returns: 60 days

Onsen makes towels in an open waffle weave from American grown Supima cotton, an extra long staple fiber. The bath towel is 31 by 57 inches and weighs 470 grams, which works out to roughly 410 GSM, the lightest towel here. The maker says it dries in about half the time of terry, and that is the reason to buy it.

Without loops, a waffle towel feels more like a thick linen than a plush terry. It absorbs by surface area rather than pile, it packs flat, and it has nothing to snag. Onsen says to wash cold on gentle and tumble dry low, without softener. It is OEKO-TEX certified, and Onsen accepts returns within 60 days.

Skip it if you want to be wrapped in something thick. People who expect a hotel towel often find it thin at first touch. Per a third party review of Onsen's FAQ, the towels are made in Vietnam and China.

The catch. Feels thin to anyone expecting plush terry.

The hotel towelNo. 4

H by Frette Simple Border Bath Towel Set of 2, 100% Cotton

Our take. The plain white towel from Frette's hotel line, with a pique border, the one you find in a very good hotel bathroom.

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Keeps for: Several years of weekly washing
Fiber: 100% cotton
Construction: Single twisted terry, pique border
Size: 27 x 54 in bath towel
Set: 2 bath towels
Color: White

H by Frette is Frette's line made for hotels, and the Simple Border towel is exactly what the name says: 100 percent cotton single twisted terry, all white, finished with a pique border. It is the understated hotel towel rather than a plush one.

Single twisted terry is a middle ground between dense, heavy loops and airy zero twist: absorbent and quick enough to dry, and it softens with washing. Each bath towel is 27 by 54 inches, and the set holds two.

Skip it if you want a thick, heavy towel to wrap up in. This is a lighter, crisper towel, and the Brooklinen Super-Plush or Coyuchi Cloud Loom will feel more luxurious out of the box.

The catch. Lighter and a little smaller than the plush towels here, which is the point for some people and a letdown for others.

Compare the picks

Pick	Best for	Made in	Keeps for	Buy
Coyuchi Cloud Loom Organic Towels	Best overall	Turkey	Many years with cold washing	Check priceAmazon
Brooklinen Super-Plush Turkish Cotton Bath Towels Set of 2	The sensible entry point	Turkey	Four to six years with good care, by one long term reviewer's estimate	Check priceAmazon
Onsen Supima Waffle Bath Towel	The one that dries fast	Vietnam and China, from US grown Supima cotton	Several years; waffle weave has no loops to pull	Check priceAmazon
H by Frette Simple Border Bath Towel Set of 2, 100% Cotton	The hotel towel	Not stated	Several years of weekly washing	Check priceAmazon

Compared.

Every comparison

Turkish, Egyptian and Supima

Turkish cotton, much of the best of it grown in the Aegean region, is long staple and makes towels that are soft, absorbent and relatively quick to dry. It is the fiber in most of the towels here. Egyptian cotton is prized for extra long staple varieties that make very absorbent, dense terry, but the name is a place of origin, not a guarantee of fiber quality, and it has been mislabeled on bedding before.

Supima is a trademark for American grown extra long staple Pima cotton, licensed by the Supima association. It makes strong, smooth yarn that holds color well. For a towel, the weave and weight you choose will change the feel far more than which of these three fibers is on the label.

How long towels really last

There is no industry standard. A reasonable expectation for a well made towel washed weekly is several years, and the long term reviewers we read estimate four to six years for heavy Turkish terry and five or more for Parachute's Classic. Cheap towels thin and fray far sooner.

Replace a towel when it stops absorbing after a proper wash, when a musty smell survives the wash, or when the terry loops at the center have worn flat. Hems and edges usually go first on poor towels and last on good ones.

Care that keeps them absorbent

Skip fabric softener and dryer sheets. Onsen says so outright, and the reason is simple: softener coats cotton and makes it repel water. Wash warm or cold rather than hot, and dry on low.

Hang towels spread out, not bunched on a hook, so they dry between uses. Heavy towels in a small, humid bathroom are the most common cause of the sour smell people blame on the towel.

Frequently asked questions

What GSM is best for a bath towel?

For most people, 550 to 700. Below 500 dries fast but feels thin; above 750 feels luxurious but can take a day to dry in a humid room.

Why do new towels shed lint?

Loose fibers from manufacturing wash out over the first few cycles. It is normal for heavy terry and should stop within a handful of washes.

Should I buy bath towels or bath sheets?

Bath sheets, around 40 by 70 inches, wrap a tall adult properly but take longer to dry and need more rail space. For most households, a generous bath towel of 30 by 56 inches or more is the practical choice.

How do I make old towels absorbent again?

Stop using fabric softener, then run a hot or warm wash with detergent and no other additives to strip residue. If they still repel water, the fibers have worn and it is time to replace them.

How many towels do I need per person?

Two bath towels per person lets one dry while the other is in use, plus one or two guest sets. Buying a matching set at once avoids color differences between dye lots.