Our selection spans a variety of textures, patterns, and designs.Photo: Jong Hyup; Styling: Christina AllenSave this storySave this storyYou 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.
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.
Material: 100% Aegean Turkish cottonDimensions: 65"L x 40"WSizes Available: Bath sheets (set of two), Standard bath towels (set of two and four available)Colors: White, stone, striped abyss, oak, cloud, pewter, slate, striped forest, storm, abyss, striped botanical green, striped lemon, striped persimmon, striped silver sage, striped stone, aloe, fresh mossWhat’s included: Two bath sheetsGSM: 770Upsides & Downsides
Audrey LeeShopping 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.