We’ve researched hundreds of towels and tested dozens, and we’ve recommended the Frontgate Resort Collection Bath Towel since 2017 because it’s the softest, warmest, and most durable we’ve found. If plush terry isn’t for you, we also have other options.
The humble bath towel is easy to overlook. A good one will dry you off and be forgotten till tomorrow. A great one is luxurious, a cozy bright spot in an otherwise mundane routine.
This textured towel is lighter, drapes better, and dries faster than any terry towel we tried. It looks luxurious but unfussy and costs a third of the price of similar lattice-weave towels. But the texture might not be for everyone.
If you find hotel-style towels too bulky and prefer a more modern feel in the bathroom, this towel looks chic and feels fantastic on the skin. It’s one of the most expensive terry towels we’ve ever tested, though.
This is the softest towel we’ve ever tested—like a plush towel from a luxury hotel—and it comes in a wider variety of colors than any other we’ve found. But it’s gone up in price over the years.
We time how long it takes for our wet test towels to fully air-dry in our bathrooms.
We use each towel after showering, assess how well it dries, how soft or rough it feels, and how it covers different-sized bodies.
We wash and dry all towels once, check for shrinkage or fraying, and then wash them again four more times throughout testing.
Towels are anything but standard in size, which is why we actually measure every towel we test.
This is the softest towel we’ve ever tested—like a plush towel from a luxury hotel—and it comes in a wider variety of colors than any other we’ve found. But it’s gone up in price over the years.
$44
fromFrontgate
The Frontgate Resort Collection Bath Towel is the softest, warmest, and most comfortable plush towel we’ve tried. Thicker than our other picks, it feels luxe and substantial, like a high-quality hotel towel.
After six years of use, our original test towel’s color is starting to fade (and it has a few bleached spots from run-ins with skin-care products), but it’s still cozy and absorbent.
The Frontgate bath towel comes in more than two dozen colors—more choices than any other pick. It’s available in a larger bath-sheet size, and it coordinates with a range of matching accessories, including bath mats and washcloths.
If a plush, luxurious towel is what you want, this is a great one. We’ve noticed the price of the Frontgate towel has gone up substantially over the years, so we’re keeping an eye on that trend (and looking for other towels that can compete on quality).
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If you find hotel-style towels too bulky and prefer a more modern feel in the bathroom, this towel looks chic and feels fantastic on the skin. It’s one of the most expensive terry towels we’ve ever tested, though.
$50
fromRiley Home
If you like thinner terry towels with more texture, the Riley Spa Bath Towel is our favorite.
Its terry loops are well defined and loosely woven, so you feel each individual loop move across your skin. (It’s not scratchy, though; it’s more like a silky exfoliation.)
It dries faster than the Frontgate towel, and its modern design—rounded edges, terry across the entire surface, and a loop to hang it on your bathroom hook—feels unfussy but chic.
Our test towel from 2021 looks almost new, with no pilling or pulled threads, and it’s still as luxe as it ever was. The Riley bath towel comes in eight colors and is also available in a larger bath-sheet size.
This textured towel is lighter, drapes better, and dries faster than any terry towel we tried. It looks luxurious but unfussy and costs a third of the price of similar lattice-weave towels. But the texture might not be for everyone.
$100
fromHuckberry
(set of two)
If you want a more minimal, upscale look or if you want a truly quick-drying towel, we recommend the Onsen Waffle Bath Towel.
It’s made with a lattice weave (sometimes called a waffle or honeycomb weave), which is thinner than terry and feels more drapey.
Made of American-grown Supima cotton, the Onsen bath towel is relatively expensive, but it costs a fraction of the price of similar lattice towels imported from Japan. It’s also softer and smoother.
We know waffle towels are prone to snags, but our five-year-old test towel has seen some heavy use (it’s one of my kid’s favorites), and it shows minimal damage.
Keep in mind that if you prefer plush terry, you may not like the light and textured feel of the Onsen towel.
If you have any questions on Solid Bath Towels. We will give the professional answers to your questions.