A small but mighty addition to your home, the best bath towels have the potential to make or break your morning shower or relaxing evening soak. Sometimes the smallest purchases make the biggest difference in our day-to-day lives, so getting the purchase right is important. Whether you want to invest and spend a little bit more or you have a budget to stick to, this guide will have the right bath towel for your needs.
A bathroom can sometimes be a forgotten space, but injecting a spa-like feel will instantly make it feel like somewhere you actually want to relax in. While you want a wash space to feel clean and bright, adding plush towels and plenty of texture will make it warm and homely, too.
This is why we've rounded up the best bath towels on the Ideal Home team's radar in this guide, curating the best luxury bath towels from high street names like John Lewis and Marks & Spencer, as well as online retailers such as Bed Threads and La Redoute. From affordable picks to quick-dry towels that will have you ready for bed (or the day) in a flash, these are the best bath towels on our radar.
Best bath towels
Best bath towels
Material: 100% Egyptian Cotton
GSM: 675
Sizes: Face Cloth, Guest Towel, Hand Towel, Bath Towel, Bath Sheet, Bath Mat
Colours: 12
Our Kitchen Appliances Editor, Molly Cleary, has tried and tested these bath towels, and has nothing but good things to say, ‘These Egyptian Cotton Christy Renaissance towels are the perfect balance between quality and affordability and have certainly lasted me for a long while, making them great value for money. They're fluffy, feel luxurious, and don't shed. There's a decent colour range too, so you can match your new towels to whatever colour scheme your bathroom is.'
Material: 100% Egyptian Cotton
GSM: 600
Sizes: Face Towel, Guest Towel, Hand Towel, Bath Towel, Bath Sheet
Colours: 46
A Marks & Spencers' bestseller with almost 5000 positive reviews, it's hard to argue with the average 4.5-star rating given to these towels by happy customers. Infused with Marks & Spencer's 'StayNEW™ technology' to keep them looking and feeling fresh after several washes, there are a fantastic 46 colour options to choose from. Perfect for giving a bathroom a new style update. What's more they're a budget-friendly buy.
Material: 100% Egyptian Cotton
GSM: 700
Sizes: Face Cloth, Guest Towel, Bath Towel, Bath Sheet, Extra Large Bath Sheet
Colours: 35
If Marks & Spencer's doesn't have quite the right colour of bath towels for your bathroom set-up, then the John Lewis & Partners towel collection surely will. These Egyptian cotton towels are one of the brand's bestsellers, with over 2000 happy customers rating them 4.5 out of 5 stars on average. And while the 35 colour options certainly help them to satisfy shopper's needs, so does their performance. Reviewers rate their softness, thickness, generous size, and 'superb drying powers'.
Material: 100% Egyptian Cotton
GSM: 720
Sizes: Hand Towel, Bath Towel, Bath Sheet, Bath Mat
Colours: 4
Our Sleep Editor Amy Lockwood thinks the quality of these 720GSM towels is second to none, 'Scooms towels are thick, soft and wash brilliantly, mine still look like new after a year's use. They're also a little longer than most which means they drape brilliantly on a towel rail for an Instagram-worthy bathroom setup!'. The only downside is that there are just four colour options to choose from, and, they're expensive. If you want an ultra-absorbent towel with a luxury feel that washes brilliantly, Scooms are a safe bet.
Material: 100% Egyptian Cotton
GSM: 700
Sizes: Face Cloth, Hand Towel, Bath Towel, Bath Sheet, Super Jumbo
Colours: 5
The White Company screams luxury, so if you're rooting for a spa-like feel in your bathroom then they should be your first port of call. In the brand's signature crisp white, these towels will add a luxury hotel feel to any bathroom, although there are also four other colourways if you want a lower maintenance option. And it's not all about the label, they do the job too.
Material: 100% Cotton
GSM: 570
Sizes: Face Cloth, Wash Mitt, Guest Towel, Hand Towel, Bath Towel, XL Bath Towel, Bath Sheet, Supersize Bath Sheet
Colours: 48
Dunelm's Egyptian Cotton Towels have a staggering 11000+ positive reviews with an average customer rating of 4.7 out of 5. It's easy to see why when you consider that, as of writing, these are the most affordable bath towels in our round-up. A 70cm x 125cm bath towel comes in at just £11 and the more generous 100cm x 200cm 'supersized' bath sheet just £21. They may not feel as luxurious as a towel with a higher GSM, but the wide range of size and colour options make them a great budget buy.
Material: 100% Cotton
GSM: 480
Sizes: Flannels, Hand Towel, Guest Towel, Bath Towel, Bath Sheet
Colours: 7
If you’re looking for a slightly different feel to your bath towels, these terry towels from H&M could be the next addition to your bathroom. Featuring a high absorption rate and a loop on the side so you can choose to hang them up, these towels also come in a variety of colours. But the main draw of these towels is the look of them. With the thick rim around the edge, there’s no doubt that these towels look extra stylish, and, although they're thinner than some in our round-up, that does mean that they're quick to dry, and their affordable price tag is definitely a plus point.
Material: 100% Cotton
GSM: 500
Sizes: Face Cloth, Hand Towel, Bath Towel, Bath Sheet, Bath Mat
Colours: 6
The Monaco bath towel collection from DUSK makes a super-stylish addition to the bathroom. Plus, DUSK's regular more than 50% off sales can mean you can snap them up for an incredibly low price. At 500gsm they don't offer the same thickness or absorbancy as the higher GSM towels in our round-up, but that ribbed design looks great hanging on the bathroom door. And, if you roll them up or stack them, they're also a great way to add colour and texture to bathroom shelves to add a little more decorative interest in what can otherwise be a bit of a sterile room in the home.
Material: Cotton/Bamboo blend
GSM: 600
Sizes: Hand Towel, Bath Towel, Bath Sheet
Colours: 3
Panda has coined its bamboo towel 'the softest towel you can buy,' and we tend to agree. We know that bamboo makes one of the best duvets and some of the best bedding so it's no surprise that it also makes a silky-smooth towel, that's both fluffy and durable. Weighing a substantial 600gsm, it's extremely absorbent to boot and the more you wash, the softer it'll get.
Material: 100% French flax linen
GSM: 500
Sizes: Face Towel, Hand Towel, Bath Sheet, Bath Mat
Colours: 6
Bed Thread's newest check towel is made from 100% French flax linen which softens with every use, making it perfect for those who want to avoid a crusty-towel situation. The premium, all-natural fibre regulates your body temperature so you will feel cosy in winter and cool in summer months. Bed Threads is also 100% carbon neutral so you can feel good about your purchase. The checkered range is right on-trend and comes in 6 colours to satisfy those who want to be daring and those who want a neutral wash space.
Material: 100% cotton
GSM: 500
Sizes: Hand Towel, Bath Towel, Bath Sheet
Colours: 7
La Redoute's Malo towel has both style and substance. In terry cloth towelling, this striped towel features an on-trend fringed finish that'll look great hanging up in your bathroom. It's not the fluffiest or thickest of towels to use and thus not as water absorbent as others on the list, but it's soft and easy to wash.
Where to shop for the best bath towels
Got a specific colour in mind? If our top picks above haven't sorted your dream bathroom colour scheme then this is our round-up of the best places to shop for bath towels.
- Amazon bath towels
- Christy bath towels
- Dunelm bath towels
- Ethical Superstore bath towels
- John Lewis & Partners bath towels
- M&S bath towels
- Soak & Sleep bath towels
- The White Company bath towels
- The Towel Shop bath towels
- Wayfair bath towels
- Bed Threads bath towels
How to choose the best bath towels
Adding new bath towels to your bathroom is one of the best ways to make your bathroom look more expensive on a budget. But when choosing a bath towel for your bathroom, there are some key things you need to consider before taking the plunge. So, we’ve laid them out below so you can make the right decision for you and your bathroom:
The material: There are so many bath towels out there, made from so many different materials. It’s always a good idea to do your research and figure out what material works best for your needs and which one ticks more of your boxes.
The GSM: You’ll notice that GSM varies drastically when searching for new bathroom towels. On average, though, it’s best for bath towels to have a GSM of at least 500 or more.
The towel construction: Emily and Jonathan Attwood, Founders of bedding and bath brand Scooms, explain, ‘The yarns that make up the pile of your towel can either be woven into loops (zero twist) or they can be twisted. Zero twist towels are softer, feel more luxurious and dry faster. Twisted or low twist yarns use lower quality cotton, are harder and less absorbent.’ So, always check this before you buy, too.
The size: Most retailers will offer the same towel in various different sizes, ranging from a small face cloth to a large bath sheet. Always make sure you know what sizes you need and want before buying.
The colour: While the colour of your bath towels won’t have a big impact on the practicality side of things, they will allow you the chance to match your towels to your chosen colour scheme. You could either opt for neutral colours that blend in or go bold with bright colours that really pop.
FAQs
What is GSM?
You’ll see this abbreviation frequently when sourcing towels – it’s like the thread count associated with bedding. GSM stands for ‘grams per square metre’. Put simply, it’s the way weight is measured for towels. Typically speaking, the higher the GSM the higher the thickness of the towel. Therefore the higher the GSM attributed, the more luxurious a towel is considered.
'The GSM is a good indication of how heavy and dense a towel is. Generally, the higher the GSM, the thicker and more absorbent the towel will be. When deciding on the GSM, think about how you’ll use your towel and how often. Lightweight towels dry quicker, but heavyweight towels have a more luxurious feel', explains Lucy Comer, partner & bath shop buyer at John Lewis & Partners.
What is the best bath towel material?
'Cotton is the most traditionally used material for bathroom towels, as it is extremely durable and absorbent' says John Lewis & Partners' Lucy Comer. However, not all cotton towels are of the same quality. As well as GSM, which denotes the towel's thickness, look out for these terms when shopping to find the softest and longest-lasting pile.
Supima cotton is known as the 'cashmere of cotton' to quote Sarah Smith, Head of Buying at bedding and bathroom retailer Soak & Sleep, and for good reason! Grown only in the USA to exceptionally high standards, the fibres are longer and stronger than any other kind of cotton. They are therefore the most expensive towels, so consider them as a long-term investment.
Egyptian cotton towels are a good alternative to costly Supima towels. They are super soft, durable and highly absorbent thanks to the long, thick loops. These towels are only slightly less luxurious and this is reflected in their price.
Turkish cotton is another option. They can be a good choice for those who have less space in their bathroom and prefer a thinner, faster-drying towel. ‘Turkish cotton long staple fibres are thinner than Egyptian cotton, and though still strong and sleek, will produce towels that may be less absorbent but quicker to dry,’ explain Emily and Jonathan of Scooms.
Zero twist is a term you will see when researching towels. It means the cotton is spun with an open loop with no twist, giving a softer and more plush feel.
What is the best bath towel colour?
There are two camps when it comes to choosing bath towels; patterned and coloured vs plain white. There's no right or wrong, it just depends on the look you're going for.
Plain white bath towels will bring a hotel chic look to any bathroom and can complement any scheme, dark or light. But be mindful of keeping your whites bright – especially if you use a lot of beauty products as it can be tricky to remove those mascara and foundation marks!
If you want your towels to make a statement, choose a contrasting colour or pattern. For a more subtle look, choose towels that tone with your tiles and flooring.
Checkerboard towels are really on trend right now and act as a simple way of adding pattern to a bathroom. Picking a colour scheme for a bathroom can be tricky so if you're inclined to keep the design pared-back then consider adding an affordable twist through your towels.
How often should you buy new towels?
There's no general rule of thumb when it comes to buying new towels but if your towels are looking a tad threadbare, it may be a good time to invest in some new ones.
'You should replace your towels every one to two years, but if you buy top quality ones and care for them, carefully following the manufacturer’s instructions, they could well last up to three years,' explain Emily and Jonathan Attwood, Founders of Scooms.
'Once you notice your towel is no longer drying as well as it used to, it’s becoming rough to the touch or it’s not cleaning properly, then it’s time to replace it. Lingering odours, fraying edges and a scratchy feel are all signs that a towel needs replacing and that you’ll need to buy new ones.'
How we test bath towels
You'll find full details of the Ideal Home review process on our how we test page.
In order to select the best bath towels for this round-up, we've tried and tested bestselling product ranges, done a deep dive into specifications and technical details, quizzed the Ideal Home team for their expert knowledge and experience, and asked friends and family for their top-rated products. We've also taken multiple showers using the items in this guide to make sure they're up to scratch.
We also took into account third-party opinions via online reviews and only include products that have a 4-star rating or higher and plenty of positive customer feedback.
